Art
An 18th-Century Star in Stripes
Wed., Jan. 31, 2018 | Melinda McCurdy
What do a zebra and a musical genius have in common? In the case of George Stubbs’ painting Zebra and Thomas Gainsborough’s portrait of his friend, the composer and musician Karl Friedrich Abel, there is, surprisingly, more than one connection.
Botanical
A Botanical "Feathered" Friend
Wed., Jan. 24, 2018 | John Trager
As The Huntington's curator of desert collections, I, along with my staff, care for 2,000 species of succulents, including a vast range of cacti, in the 10-acre Desert Garden, plus thousands more in 20,000 square feet of greenhouse and other nursery space.
Art
For the Love of Flowers
Wed., Jan. 17, 2018 | Melinda McCurdy
Have you ever found yourself fascinated by the intricate shapes and features of plants, or even taken the time to draw or photograph a beautiful flower that caught your eye? In the exhibition "In Pursuit of Flora: 18th-Century Botanical Drawings from The Huntington's Art Collections,"
Conferences
British Theater Censorship in the Georgian Era
Wed., Jan. 10, 2018 | David O'Shaughnessy
I am convening a conference at The Huntington titled "The Censorship of British Theatre, 1737–1843," which will take place on Jan. 12 and 13 in The Huntington's Rothenberg Hall. Leading experts on 18th- and 19th-century theater will explore the implications of statutory theater censorship as Britain
Education
Deep Learning about “Visual Voyages”
Wed., Jan. 3, 2018 | Kevin Durkin
Last fall, roughly 100 sixth-graders from the Charles W. Eliot Arts Magnet Academy in Altadena, Calif., and 75 eighth-graders from the Arroyo Seco Museum Science Magnet School in Los Angeles came to The Huntington to take part in daylong learning experiences inspired by the exhibition "Visual Voyages
Uncategorized
Stories Worth Revisiting
Wed., Dec. 27, 2017 | Kevin Durkin
Before we bid farewell to 2017 and welcome 2018, we'd like to highlight several stories published over the past 12 months that are among our favorites. We launch our retrospective with one of our most popular stories of the year, an exploration of the tiny winged creatures known as fairies
Botanical
Drawing Enlightenment from Stones
Mon., Dec. 18, 2017 | Lisa Blackburn
If the hectic pace of the holiday season has you craving a bit of tranquility, try this centuries-old tip for restoring inner calm—spend some quiet time in the contemplation of stones.
Exhibitions
Graffiti in the Ellesmere Chaucer
Wed., Dec. 13, 2017 | Vanessa Wilkie, Ph.D.
In April 1917, the Cambria set sail from London for New York. Most of the passengers had no idea that one of the world's great libraries sat below decks in 101 wooden crates. Shakespeare folios and quartos were packed in with some 8,000 early printed books.
Conferences
Globalizing the Protestant Reformations
Wed., Dec. 6, 2017 | Ulinka Rublack
The origins of the Protestant Reformations are often traced to the German friar Martin Luther (1483–1546), who on Oct. 31, 1517, posted a document with 95 theses against the indulgence trade
Art
Nuestro Mundo
Wed., Nov. 29, 2017 | Linda Chiavaroli
To complement the exhibition "Visual Voyages: Images of Latin American Nature from Columbus to Darwin," The Huntington engaged young Angeleno artists, ages 18 to 26, to look at Latin America from their own viewpoints.
Exhibitions
Hummingbird Case History
Wed., Nov. 22, 2017 | Diana W. Thompson
Before leaving the foyer of the exhibition "Visual Voyages: Images of Latin American Nature from Columbus to Darwin," take a moment to examine two glass cases filled with tiny, exquisite hummingbirds frozen in motion. They are remarkable replicas of displays first created at the time of the Great Exhibition of...
Conferences
First Light
Thu., Nov. 16, 2017 | Daniel Lewis
In astronomy, the first time a telescope lens is exposed to the night sky for viewing is referred to as first light. Astronomers and the people who design and construct telescopes eagerly await first light