1. Stendhal syndrome is a psychosomatic illness that causes rapid heartbeat, dizziness, confusion and hallucinations when an individual is exposed to art that is particularly beautiful or a large amount of art in a single place. The term can also be used to describe a similar reaction when a person is affected from beauty in the natural world.
2. The first movie poster was created in 1890 by French painter and lithographer Jules Cheret for a short film called “Projections Artistiques”. Most of the early film posters were signs with block text announcing the title, producer, and director. As the movie industry began to grow, studios realized the marketing value of creating colourful artwork that depicted scenes from their movies to promote the films and bring in more viewers.
3. Mount Rushmore was sculpted by artist Gutzon Borglum. Starting in October 1927, he and his team of about 400 men blasted away about 450,000 tons of granite, 90% by dynamite and 10% with jackhammers. Borglum died suddenly in March 1941, with the sculpture almost finished. His son, Lincoln continued working for seven months until funding ran out just before the U.S. entry into the World War II.
4. Neoclassical painter Jacques-Louis David was a key figure in the politics of the French Revolution of the 1790’s. He painted portraits that glorified the government’s leaders, and designed its festivals and funerals. He was a member of the Jacobin Club and was closely allied with Robespierre. When the government fell, David formed a new alliance with Napoléon Bonaparte who appointed him first painter to the Emperor.
5. Pop Surrealism and Low Brow is a wide spread art movement with origins in underground comix, punk music, hotrod street culture, Kustum culture, Street Art, Graffiti, Graphic Design, Tattoo, Surf Culture, Tiki Culture and other California sub-cultures. Well-known Lowbrow artists include Mark Ryden, Robert Williams (Juxtapoz magazine), Manuel Ocampo, Georganne Deen, and the Clayton Brothers.
Related Books:
The Art Lover’s Almanac : Serious Trivia for the Novice and the Connoisseur
Facts On File Encyclopedia Of Art ( 5 vol. set)
Sources: Wikipedia, DAF, Wall Street Journal,DAF, Newbrow The Movie