Friday links: secret ingredients, weird museums, slow art

Photographer: Robert Howlett | Isambard Kingdom Brunel, builder of the Great Eastern | ca. 1857-1858 | George Eastman House, eastmanhouse.org

Some stories we’ve been reading this week:

• The Roman Pantheon hasn’t crumbled, despite the lack of structural steel support. This feat couldn’t be accomplished today, so how did the Romans pull it off? It turns out they used a special ingredient.
• Persia conquered Egypt in 525 BCE and took away its tomb painters to work on building projects. The lack of skilled trainers led to some strange efforts by amateurs.
• This is just a sheer joy to watch, trust us: a video of Kandinsky improvising a drawing.

• Print this and keep it in your glove compartment: A list of offbeat museums across the U.S. It includes a dialysis museum. You’re welcome.
• We’re big fans of the Slow Art movement, so we inevitably loved this essay on the importance of deceleration by a Harvard University art historian.
• Chances are you’ve already seen these (three different people emailed us the link), but just in case you haven’t: classic art recreations in the office.
• And a bonus holiday link: a pictorial history of Santa Claus.