super-secret-deal

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Master Forger: Elmyr de Hory

Shown: An image of Elmyr de Hory, with a sketch, that originally appeared in Time magazine. Recently, reader Bethany suggested a "Feel Art Again" post on famous art forgers, including Tom Keating, David Stein, Eric Hebborn, Han Van Meegeren, and Elmyr de Hory. While I originally intended to post on all 5 at once, I soon discovered that de Hory's life is so fascinating he warrants a post all his own. So today, we'll delve into the life of the famed Hungarian forger. 1. Elmyr... READ ON

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An Olympic-Size Error

Year Montreal Hosted the Summer Olympics: 1976 Year Canadian Citizens Finished Paying for Those Games:... READ ON

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The Clothes Make the Painting: Auguste Toulmouche

In the late 1800s, costume paintings were quite the rage. One popular painter in the genre was Auguste Toulmouche (1829-1890), a Frenchman from a modest background. While all his paintings contain sumptuous costumes and intricate details, his 1866 painting "La Fiancée Hésitante" (The Hesitant Fiancée) is one of his most interesting paintings. 1. As the title indicates, "La Fiancée Hésitante" is meant to depict a woman, unsure about her upcoming marriage, being... READ ON

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5 Little-Known Pirate Stories (and a Quiz)

BY LAUREL MILLS AND KELLY FERGUSON 1. Yo-Ho-Ho and an... READ ON
  1. FIND THESE T-SHIRTS AND MORE IN THE STORE!

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Go Tell It On The Mountain: The Mistake Every Politician Should Remember

The Election Year: 1902, in Saint-Pierre, on the French-owned Caribbean island of Martinique The Huge Blunder: Governor Louis Mouttet's poor decision to treat Mt. Pelée, Saint-Pierre's... READ ON

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The Most Sobering Mistake in U.S. History

Prohibition: It certainly seemed like a great idea at the time: Just outlaw liquor and, bam!, goodbye social ills of every stripe—from the Germans to the Irish. Yes, pandering to xenophobia was the favorite tactic among Prohibition crusaders, who painted saloons as a filthy underworld brimming with undesirable foreigners. Ultimately, however, the event that probably did the most to push America toward Prohibition was the country's 1917 entry into World War I. Prohibitionists began arguing... READ ON

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Worst Pregnancy Ever

If there's a case to be made for intelligent design, we're not sure it should begin with the spiny dogfish. The fact is, their reproductive acts are nothing short of disturbing. If you're up for the nature's greatest argument for faking headaches, read... READ ON

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The Painter of Painters: Diego Velázquez

Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez (1599-1660) is often touted as one of the world's most famous painters, with his 1656 masterpiece "Las Meninas" said to be one of the most famous paintings. Today, in honor of the 348th anniversary of his death, we'll take a closer look at the man and the masterpiece, both requested by reader Fign. 1. The true subject of "Las Meninas" is difficult to figure out and is still debated by scholars. The painting depicts... READ ON

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That Sinking Feeling

The Problem: Already hounded by U-Boat submarines during World War I, the British military became extremely concerned when intelligence reports suggested that the Germans were developing an even faster version of their deadly subs. The Solution: Outfit the British Navy with a better ship. In 1915, engineers designed the K-Boat, a well-armed hybrid between a submarine and a... READ ON

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President Jimmy Carter's Carnal Mistake

In December 1977, President Jimmy Carter planned a trip to Poland, a country whose masses were, at the time, still fiercely huddled behind the Iron... READ ON

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