At age 12, Franz Liszt performed a rendition of Beethoven's "Symphony in C-minor" as the master composer sat in the audience. Legend has it that after the superb performance, the great maestro kissed the juvenile Liszt on the forehead. Liszt's future as the most brilliant of pianists seemed to be sea

Death, Dramatic, Eclectic, Moody, Organic, Religious, Romantic music

As a young artist, Domenikos Theotokopoulos was fascinated by news of the Renaissance, which reached all the way to his home on the island of Crete. Crete was controlled by Venice, then an important center for commerce and the arts. Domenikos headed for this cultural hub around 1560, determined to le

Dreamy, Epic, Fantastic, Religious, Renaissance art

Giotto di Bondone, whom art historians designate the first painter of the Italian Renaissance, was apparently discovered while sketching sheep. A well-known Florentine artist looked over the boy's shoulder and was impressed by what he saw -- so impressed that he persuaded Giotto's father to let the l

Bright, Classical, Huge, Joyful, Monumental, Religious, Renaissance art

A whisper of light illuminates four figures, cloaking them in tenderness and warmth, and there arises a sense of the subtle anticipation of early morning, the relief that accompanies forgiveness, and the graciousness that rewards gentle touch. "The Return of the Prodigal Son" exemplifies the human

Baroque art, Dramatic, Intense, Pathos, Religious, Violent