Discover the oldest libraries in America, from Harvard's historic collection to Benjamin Franklin's Library Company of Philadelphia.

Explore Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Pluto and Proserpina, the dramatic Baroque sculpture capturing motion, emotion, and mythological power in marble.

When the Great Fire of London destroyed most of the city in 1666, ambitious plans were drawn up to rebuild it with straight streets and wide boulevards. They failed.

This newly discovered 17th‑century valuables cabinet stands as a monument to early Colonial American artistry.

Tucked away in a garden shed, retired furniture-maker turned miniaturist Terry Facey spends his days making something wonderfully small.

Discover the history and charm of "Daphne," a 17th-century English song that echoes with pastoral romance, lute melodies, and enduring legacy.

Olimpia Maidalchini was one of the most powerful women in 17th-century Rome. Her portrait, by Spanish painter Diego Velázquez has been missing since 1724 - until now.

Step inside the past with the 5 oldest houses in the U.S.—centuries-old homes that still stand, telling stories from before America was even a country.

In the annals of art history, few pigments have a backstory as macabre—and as oddly compelling—as Mummy Brown. This rich, earthy brown paint, favored by European artists in the 18th and 19th centuries, was not merely named for its resemblance to the color...

In 1672, the De Witt brothers were beaten, mutilated, and hanged before a crowd. It is even said that the people themselves committed an act of cannibalism with their severed body parts. Painter Jan de Baen captured this horrifying scene in an impressive...

The chalumeau is a woodwind instrument, considered a precursor to the modern clarinet. It first appeared in Europe around the 17th century, with origins possibly tracing back to earlier folk instruments.

Explore the eerie beauty of The Three Ravens, a 17th-century English folk song that blends loyalty, death, and mythic imagery into a timeless ballad.