On December 13, 1545, around 30 bishops and other religious representatives gathered in the Cathedral of St. Vigilius in Trent, a town in northern Italy. It was the first session of the Council of Trent, the 19th ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. Summoned by Pope Paul III after a 25-year waiting period, the […]

Gothic literature is a popular and enduring genre. The influence in today’s culture can be seen in the popularity of horror, ghost stories and vampire romances. However, the original writers of Gothic literature drew their inspiration from an eclectic range of sources. The development of the genre also coincides with cultural, social and scientific […]

For over a thousand years, Chinese porcelain has been admired for its unique beauty. However, it has a deep history that transcends just utilitarian and decorative purposes. At one point in history, the white gold, as it was once called, symbolized power and an exotic taste. Its history can be traced from the ancient […]

Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) is today a globally renowned artist, but his lifetime was marked by profound struggles and limited recognition. Amidst immense personal adversities—from health issues to a tumultuous relationship with a fellow artist—Van Gogh proved extraordinarily prolific, completing over 2,000 artworks in just over a decade. Many of these now rank among […]

In the Arthurian legends, many of King Arthur’s knights undertake a quest to try to find the Holy Grail. Due to how special the grail was, it could not be acquired by just anyone. Of all of King Arthur’s knights, Sir Galahad was exceptionally virtuous. He was even viewed as the perfect knight. Because […]