Marie-Madeleine is a writer and antique furniture restorer who has lived in Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. She holds an MA and BA in Art History and Archaeology from UCLouvain, Belgium. Fluent in English and French, she enjoys writing stories about art and history she encounters during her travels. She likes creative activities and hiking through the Swiss mountains in her free time.
Education
MA Art History and Archaeology — Université Catholique de Louvain, 2011
BA Art History and Archaeology — Université Catholique de Louvain, 2009
Degree in Antique Furniture Restoration — EFPME, 2015
Areas of Expertise
Johannes Vermeer: The Enigmatic Painter of the Dutch Golden Age
Read along to discover some interesting facts about the Dutch Golden Age master, Johannes Vermeer.
Ragnar Lodbrok: The Legendary Viking Who Besieged Paris
Discover Ragnar Lodbrok’s story; the legendary Viking who terrorized 9th-century Europe.
Harald Bluetooth: The Viking Who Gave His Name to Wireless Technology
Read on to discover why a 10th-century Viking king gave his name to the famous wireless technology. This is the story of Harald Bluetooth.
Antoine Watteau: His Life, Work, and the Fête Galante
French painter Antoine Watteau is known for the subtle eroticism depicted in the Fête Galante, a painting genre directly inspired by the Commedia dell'Arte.
The Beast of Gevaudan: Hunting the Monster of 18th Century France
The Beast of Gevaudan killed and harmed hundreds of people in 18th-century France, terrorizing the whole nation. Read on to discover more about the mysterious beast.
Elizabeth I: Portraying the Virgin Queen’s Rise to Power
Symbolism in the portraits of Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen was essential; the Tudor queen understood the power conveyed by her portraits.
Canaletto’s Venice: Discover the Details in Canaletto’s Vedute
The Republic of Venice was at the center of cultural life in 18th-century Europe. Discover the city through Canaletto's eyes, the master of vedute painting.
The Art and Artists of the Protestant Reformation
In Northwestern Europe, the 16th century was marked by the Protestant Reformation. While iconoclasts were destroying religious artworks, how could artists overcome this crisis?
What Does the Dance Macabre Symbolize? An Allegory of Death
The Danse Macabre art tradition emerged in the Late Middle Ages when hard times led to a morbid fascination with the harsh realities of death.
Giuseppe Arcimboldo: Turning Fruit into Faces
Giuseppe Arcimboldo was an Italian painter from the Mannerist movement. He is most famous for creating composite heads using fruits, vegetables, plants, and other objects.
Who Were the Real Knights Templar?
The Knights Templar are best known for the legends of their lost treasure, but who were these warrior monks? Read on to discover more.
Eugène Viollet-Le-Duc: The Architect Who Reshaped Notre-Dame de Paris
Notre-Dame de Paris made the headlines in 2019 because of the fire that nearly destroyed the gothic cathedral. Read along to discover who reshaped the monument during the 19th century.