Editorial Discoveries
484 articles
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The Original Wright Flyer Is Still Here — the Machine That Proved Powered Flight Could Work
The 1903 Wright Flyer is the aircraft Orville and Wilbur Wright used for the first successful controlled, sustained powered flights. Smithsonian Open Access makes the object record and eligible digital assets available under CC0. — via si.edu
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A 19th-Century Watercolour Captures the Temple of Dendur Before It Moved to New York
Long before the Temple of Dendur became one of The Met's most recognisable spaces, artists documented Egyptian monuments in watercolour. This public-domain image is a beautiful bridge between travel record, archaeology and the later life of the temple as a museum object. — via metmuseum.org
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Henry II’s Parade Armour Is Basically a Renaissance Artwork You Can Wear
This French royal armour is covered in embossed and inlaid decoration — classical figures, mythical creatures, foliage and Henry II's crescent emblem. The level of ornament turns defensive equipment into one of the most elaborate surviving objects of court spectacle. — via metmuseum.org
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This Tiny Blue Hippo Has Survived Nearly 4,000 Years
The Met's famous Egyptian faience hippopotamus is small enough to hold in two hands, yet its brilliant blue glaze and painted river plants make it instantly memorable. Objects this old rarely feel this playful. — via metmuseum.org
