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Patron saint of cooks, chefs, and comedians
Burned on a rack
As he endured the excruciating torment of being cooked, the story goes that he turned to his tormentors and calmly uttered:
“I’m done on this side, flip me over”
Patron saint of soldiers, archers, and plague
Shot by arrows
His survival from a rain of arrows did little to sway the Roman emperor who had issued his death sentence. He was then brutally beaten, and his lifeless body cast aside into a sewer.
Patron saint of girls, students, philosophers, and craftsmen working with wheels
Breaking wheel
Initially condemned to the breaking wheel, she left onlookers astounded when the wheel disintegrated at her mere touch. As the execution proceeded with a beheading, legend has it that instead of blood, a milk-like substance flowed from her severed neck...
Patron saint of inquisitors and midwives
Murdered by cleaver
Vengeful Venetian nobles hired his assassins in response to Peter's persecution of heretics.
Patron saint of the blind
Eyes removed
Paschasius commanded his guards to remove her eyes when she prophesied his impending punishment. Another version has Lucy taking her own eyes out in order to discourage a persistent suitor who was captivated by them.
A shared symbol among all martyrs is the palm leaf of victory, reminiscent of what Greek or Roman athletes received upon winning sporting contests. Martyrs are victorious in death, reborn in Heaven.
Spot a palm leaf - Spot a martyr!
Skip the awkward small talk over overpriced cocktails. Here's why a museum is your secret weapon for a memorable first date:
Side-by-side walking eliminates the awkward face-to-face restaurant staredown. This positioning creates a more relaxed atmosphere where conversation can develop organically as you move through the space.
Strolling through art and history shows you're cultured—without trying too hard. You don't need to be an expert; showing interest in something beyond Netflix and takeout speaks volumes about your curiosity and depth.
When words fail, point at any bizarre Renaissance baby and ask "Why does that infant have an eight-pack?" Instant ice-breaker. Art provides endless topics to discuss, from the sublime to the ridiculous, making those initial getting-to-know-you moments flow naturally.
Cheaper than dinner and drinks, and definitely fancier than a coffee shop. Many museums have "pay what you wish" options or free admission days. You get all the sophistication without emptying your wallet.
When you're done, you have a natural end to the date—or an easy excuse to keep going elsewhere if things are clicking. "I'm getting hungry after all that art appreciation. Want to grab a bite?" is a smooth transition if the chemistry is right.
Download MuseMuse first. Because nothing kills the mood like pretending to understand medieval tapestries.
In 1642, Captain Frans Banning Cocq commissioned Rembrandt to paint his civic guard company. Eighteen militiamen paid to be included, expecting equal prominence in a traditional group portrait. Instead, Rembrandt created a dynamic action scene with dramatic lighting that highlighted some figures while obscuring others in shadow.
The men in the shadows weren't pleased. They'd paid the same fee (roughly 100 guilders each, about $2,000 today) but appeared as mere background characters. Some were so dark you could barely make-out their faces. This wasn't just bad positioning: it was a social insult in 17th-century Amsterdam.
The painting's strangest element is a small girl in a golden dress, illuminated by mysterious light, wearing a dead chicken at her belt (a symbol of the civic guard). No one paid for her inclusion. Who is she? Art historians have debated for centuries. Some believe she's Rembrandt's deceased wife Saskia, who died that same year, inserted as a ghostly presence.
Recent analysis suggests the painting may reference a real scandal. The chicken claws on the girl's belt form a symbol that in 17th-century Amsterdam was code language used by members of a particular civic guard faction. The way certain figures' hands are positioned may indicate secret society signs. Was Rembrandt documenting internal power struggles and betrayals within the guard?
After the painting was delivered, Rembrandt's career mysteriously declined. He never received another major commission from Amsterdam's elite. Coincidence?
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