Verso
The blog of The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.
Beyond The H
Bamboo, To Go
Fri., March 20, 2015 | Lisa BlackburnWhen the pandas at the San Diego Zoo crave a bit of variety on their menu, zookeepers know exactly what to do. They order up some Chinese takeout. That's what led the Zoo to partner with The Huntington this year to obtain bamboo from the Botanical Gardens
Art
Open to Interpretation
Tue., March 17, 2015 | Diana W. ThompsonOne of the first things visitors encounter in the mansion that houses the Huntington Art Gallery is a series of first-floor period rooms that Henry and Arabella Huntington inhabited in the early decades of the 20th century.
History of Science
Einstein and the Astronomers
Fri., March 13, 2015 | Kevin DurkinOn the eve of Albert Einstein's 136th birthday on March 14, we invite you to consider a letter Einstein wrote in 1913 to renowned solar astronomer George Ellery Hale (1868-1938)—a letter reminding us of the dance between theory and experiment.
Botanical
Fantasy Aloe Hybrids
Tue., March 10, 2015 | Diana W. ThompsonWhen it comes to aloe collecting, Karen Zimmerman's hybrids are real show-stoppers. As The Huntington's propagator of succulent plants, Zimmerman has had amazing success breeding striking, jagged-toothed specimens permeated with red, orange, or yellow that produce delectable contrasts with the aloes' green to bluish-green leaves.
Art
Morse Among Friends
Thu., March 5, 2015 | Kevin DurkinWhat's the connection between Morse code and The Last of the Mohicans? It turns out that their creators were good friends, and one depicted the other in a monumental painting on display in "Samuel F. B. Morse's Gallery of the Louvre and the Art of Invention" through May 4, 2015.
History of Science
Newton’s Lost Copy of Mede, Revealed
Wed., Feb. 25, 2015 | Stephen D. SnobelenThe Huntington's library collection comprises nearly 9 million manuscripts, books, photographs and other works in such fields as American and British history, literature, art, and the history of science.
Art
Buying a Turner
Fri., Feb. 20, 2015 | Diana W. ThompsonInterest in the 19th-century British landscape painter Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851) is stronger than ever. Director Mike Leigh's biopic Mr. Turner was nominated for four Oscars
Botanical
A Chinese Cart Worth Discovering
Tue., Feb. 17, 2015 | Christine QuachYou're walking in the Chinese Garden. First you hear wheels crunching over gravel, and then you see a curious red-and-cream box approach. The intricate lattice design of the cart invites you to peek inside, but the bright fiery red sides shield its contents. What is this contraption? A food cart with Asian-inspired treats? Guess again.