Bob Kirchman

Bob Kirchman is an architectural illustrator who lives in Augusta County, Va., with his wife Pam. He teaches studio art to students in the Augusta Christian Educators Homeschool Co-op.

Palazzo Davanzati: Florentine Medieval Mansion

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we visit a medieval-turned-Renaissance palace in Florence.

Traditional Culture March 4, 2026
E.W. Marland Mansion: A Palace on the Prairie

In this installment of 'Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,' we visit a Mediterranean Revival-style residence in ...

Traditional Culture December 3, 2025
The Thief Who Made the ‘Mona Lisa’ Famous

The theft of the "Mona Lisa" was considered one the biggest art heists of the 20th century.

Fine Arts November 6, 2025
Celebrating America’s Premiere Gilded Age Architect

'Richard Morris Hunt: In a New Light' showcased the architect's uncompromising mission to create a national identity in ...

Fine Arts November 5, 2025
The Augusta Resolves and the Declaration of Independence

Staunch Virginians pave the way for one of our country's most important documents.

American Essence April 27, 2025
The Ellicott Family and Their Gift to America

They were called 'dreamers and half-hearted fools' at the time, but yet they changed the course of American ...

American Essence March 5, 2025
Leonardo’s Portraits of Beloved Ladies

The three known women from Leonardo's oeuvre reflect the Renaissance artist's pioneering techniques.

Fine Arts March 5, 2025
The First Thanksgiving in America

America's first Thanksgiving wasn't in Massachusetts, and it didn't involve food.

American Essence November 28, 2024
Frontier Culture Museum: ‘Out of Many, One’

Virginia's living history museum celebrates the contributions of America's frontier culture.

American Essence November 16, 2024
The Washington Square Arch: Stanford White’s Monumental Style

As a collaboration between architects and craftsmen, the monumental arch commemorated the centennial of Washington's inauguration.

American Essence November 15, 2024
Wright Flyer: The First in Flight

Charles E. Taylor became the first airplane mechanic for the world’s first successful powered flight.

American Essence November 3, 2024
Stratford Hall: A Model Homestead for Generations

Stratford Hall’s stately homestead became an icon for subsequent generations of Lees and Virginians alike.

History November 3, 2024
The First Washington Monument

The first monument dedicated to George Washington struggled to stand tall in Boonsboro, Maryland for over a century.

American Essence October 18, 2024
America’s First Piano?

After almost two and a half centuries, America's first constructed piano was discovered.

American Essence August 7, 2024
Thomas Jones and the Last of the Bards

The Welsh Romantic artist Thomas Jones took nature as his teacher and his love of Wales as his ...

Fine Arts June 25, 2024
Clarkson Stanfield: England’s Cherished Scene Painter

Nicknamed the 'leader of our English Realists' by 19th-century art critic John Ruskin, Clarkson Stanfield’s dramatic landscapes gained ...

Fine Arts June 3, 2024
Saving Independence Hall

Independence Hall, a symbol of liberty throughout the world, was once fated for demolition.

History May 30, 2024
Stoking the Fire: A Writer Pays Tribute to His Mother Who Inspired a Lifelong Love of Learning

How one mother passed down her curiosity and love of learning to her future generations.

American Essence May 11, 2024
The ’Perfect’ Circle of Giotto di Bondone

Giotto di Bondone, the 14th-century Florentine painter, sculptor, and architect, won an important commission at the Vatican in ...

Fine Arts April 4, 2024
‘Behold the Man!’: The Passion of Christ

Antonio Ciseri’s theatrical scene depicting the decision to put Jesus to death became an iconic Christian painting.

Fine Arts March 29, 2024
Kindred Spirits: Sarah and Thomas Cole

The two siblings, Thomas and Sarah Cole, enjoyed a collegial relationship where both encouraged each other's artistic endeavors.

Fine Arts February 25, 2024
Bierstadt’s Beasts

The famous 19th-century landscape painter exquisitely rendered wild animals on his Western expeditions.

Fine Arts February 2, 2024
American Miniaturists: Pocket-Sized Masterpieces

Intricately painted portraits on lockets, pendants, and jewelry came into vogue during the 19th century, thanks to artist ...

American Essence February 2, 2024
The Free Republic of Franklin

The exceedingly brief history of the supposed 14th state of the new United States.

American Essence January 5, 2024
Tennessee’s Sgt. Alvin York

The famous World War I hero worked to improve the lives in his beloved state, especially the education ...

American Essence December 26, 2023
See Inside the Greek Revival Mansion That Became President Andrew Jackson’s Lifelong Home

The Greek Revival-style mansion that our seventh president called home from 1804 until his death in 1845.

American Essence October 5, 2023
How a Crippled Civil War Vet Invented Prosthetics and Gave the Wounded a Second Chance at Life

Driving through the small town of Churchville, Virginia, it is easy to miss the historical marker dedicated to ...

American Essence September 27, 2023