Johannes Vermeer was called the Sphinx of Delft by Théophile Thoré, the man who rediscovered the Dutch painter’s art nearly two centuries after his death in 1675. And Vermeer has [...]
It’s the early twentieth century in the small Midwestern city of Freeport, and Dr. Deane Franklin is a member of its upper crust but strong-minded enough to go against the [...]
By my count, Karl Marlantes mentions the word “fear” or some synonym of it at least sixty times in his 2010 novel about the Vietnam War called Matterhorn, or about [...]
Glory Patrick T. Reardon One-Cent knew his name. Declare the glory — firmament, handywork. Tabernacle of the sun. From the darkness of the womb, One-Cent knew [...]
There is a knowingness to the man in this portrait, a sadness, not surprising given that it is a death painting, an image on wood that was placed at the [...]
This night Patrick T. Reardon “Worthy alone to know the time and hour” — Exsultet, Easter Vigil Just and right, ardent. Debt paid, blood washed. This [...]
Louis Sullivan and Daniel Burnham lived parallel lives. Both were born in the East and came to Chicago in their youth. Both were poor students and relatively aimless until they [...]
In the mid-1960s, Anne Keegan wore white gloves to apply for a job as a reporter at City News Bureau of Chicago. And she recalled riding the elevator to the [...]
Still By Patrick T. Reardon In Burger King, the Filipino singer is louder than the gold sparrows of Deuteronomy, Texas, as proud as the bearded eagles (technically hawks) of [...]
I drove down Cuyler Avenue the other day, and, as usual, I was reminded of Kiki Cuyler who played outfield for the Cubs from 1928 through 1935 during a 19-year [...]
