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Four years of toil led Michelangelo to create arguably his greatest work. It came with plenty of headaches.

'My Poor Ass': Michelangelo Wrote a Poem About How Much He Hated Painting the Sistine Chapel

The legendary artist created a masterpiece inside the Sistine Chapel, and he was absolutely miserable while doing it.

Abraham Lincoln's hair was used to make the eagle's head in this one-of-a-kind sculpture.

This Priceless 'Hairy Eagle' Sculpture Is Made Out of Abraham Lincoln's Hair

At the height of the Civil War, a soldier advocacy group displayed a sculpture made from the presidential follicles of Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary to raise money for troops. Now it's a historical curio.

Robert E. Lee and company in the National Cathedral's stained-glass windows.

The National Cathedral Will Replace Its Confederate-Themed Stained-Glass Windows

Stained-glass windows depicting Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson were removed in 2017. Now, Kerry James Marshall is working on their replacements.

6 Interesting Facts About the Color Yellow

For some, yellow is the color of the gods—for others, it symbolizes controversy. Here are six facts about the color yellow.

Vincent van Gogh continues to surprise scholars.

A Newly Identified Vincent Van Gogh Sketch Is Going on Display for the First Time

The artist has left behind a body of work that keeps expanding. This time, it's a pencil sketch that's been in private hands since 1910.

The color purple has a fascinating history.

5 Facts About the Color Purple

Purple has long been viewed as the color of royalty. In some societies, only those with power were allowed to wear it.

5 Riveting Facts About the Color Red

As one of the oldest colors in the world, red symbolizes aggression, power, and passion. Here are some surprising facts about the hue.

The Mystery Model In Gustave Courbet's Most Scandalous Painting

For many years, the nude model for Gustave Courbet's 'L’Origine du monde' remained unknown.

7 Misconceptions About the Renaissance

There are a lot of things we don't quite get right about the Renaissance, including when it actually took place.

The Singing Ringing Tree in England plays a haunting melody.

The Singing Ringing Tree, a Steel Sound Sculpture in the English Countryside, Is Straight Out of a Horror Movie

The 10-foot-tall sculpture in England is an aerolian harp, playing haunting music as the wind blows through it.

Napoleon Sarony, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

9 Fascinating Facts About Oscar Wilde

'My own business bores me to death; I prefer other people's,' Oscar Wilde once said. Read on for more about this master wit, poet, and playwright.

Curious George lives up to his reputation.

The Time Curious George Got High

Beloved childrens' book character Curious George got himself into some real pickles, including knocking himself unconscious while high on ether.

Pencils have a long evolutionary history.

Who Invented the Pencil?

French engineer Nicolas-Jacques Conté created what is considered the modern pencil, though many have since made improvements.

12 Illuminating Facts About Mary Cassatt

Mary Cassatt, known for her intimate paintings of mothers and children, was the only American artist invited to join the French Impressionists.

Michelangelo May Have Left a Thumbprint on This Wax Sculpture's Butt

Michelangelo is one of the most celebrated artists in history. While he disliked signing his work, time and humidity changes may have just revealed a thumbprint on a wax butt.

Penner, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

More Than 300 Pairs of Prince’s Custom Shoes Are on Display at Paisley Park

The legendary singer and performer Prince's massive shoe collection is on display at his former home and studio, Paisley Park.

This Marilyn Monroe sculpture has raised eyebrows.

7 Controversial Modern Statues

These works of art weren't criticized for political reasons or historical evils. They're just plain weird.

An illustration of cochineal insects, which brought vivid red hues to Europe.

The Bug the World Fought Over

The Cochineal insect creates a red dye so incredible, Europe nearly went to war over it.

Activist Ida B. Wells now has a monument in her honor.

Chicago Just Unveiled a Monument for Journalist Ida B. Wells—the City's First Honoring a Black Woman

The sculpture pays tribute to Wells, who shed light on discrimination as a reporter and activist until her death in 1931.

Some artists have won Olympic medals for making medals.

When the Olympics Gave Out Medals for Making Medals

In the 1920s and 1930s, the Olympics bestowed medals on artists for excellence in medal-making. Even if they were dead.

Pallavi Padukone with her citronella-scented textile.

"Reminiscent": How One Designer Used Scented Textiles to Capture the Fragrances of Home

For her project 'Reminiscent,' designer Pallavi Padukone infused textiles with smells that remind her of people and places from her home in India.

David Bowie at his first solo art exhibition in London in the 1990s.

A Painting by David Bowie Bought at a Thrift Store for $4 Will Sell for More Than $60,000

Original David Bowie artworks don’t surface often—but one was recently unearthed in a donation bin in Canada.

N.C. Wyeth's The Duel was recovered from a Beverly Hills, California pawn shop in 2014, thanks to the FBI's National Stolen Art File database.

How the FBI's National Stolen Art File Reunites Lost Works With Their Rightful Owners

Works by Monet, Warhol, and Dalí; Super Bowl rings; Stradivarius violins; and 1930s comic books are just some of the items you'll find in the FBI's National Stolen Art File, a public database of more than 5500 missing items of cultural value.

A High Schooler Will Have Their Hannibal Fan Art Displayed at the U.S. Capitol

A high school student's 'Hannibal' fan art was selected as a winner of the Congressional Art Competition and will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol building.

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