An essay on principles and pandering- In America. Brian Keeler No Irish need apply- The New York Times ( June 28,2026) beat me to the punch with the headline for their opinion section in the Sunday edition, there's being, "It's America's Birthday, What Are We Celebrating?" Good question, and the obvious answer is we are celebrating the declaration of independence, the principles and revolution that separated us from the British monarchy and autocratic rule. It was a vision of hope and...

The Self-Portrait as Self Discovery; an essay- Brian Keeler Showing oneself from behind, in a painting is not the usual way we would think of as an ideal pose for a self-portrait. The self concealed in mystery is the seeming result of this pose- with no visible characteristics of the face, physiognomy or character, let alone soul or individual expression of the eyes or other features. Yet this is the way that one of the most iconic paintings in all of western art shows the artist Jan...

Reflections on Raphael- The Met Exhibit in NYC- May 2026- Brian Keeler To say the major exhibit of Raphael's work at the Metropolitan Museum is stunning is indeed an understatement- for the show of the high-Renaissance master is at once overwhelming and inspiring on many levels. The exhibit is the first comprehensive show of his work ever in America! It is quite amazing that no museum has taken the initiative previously. The show greets visitors with a small drawing of his self-portrait as...