October 24 is the birthday of Italian ceramic sculptor ANDREA DELLA ROBBIA (1435-1525). Kansas City's Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art has a beautiful example of Andrea's art which has been in the museum's collection since 1933, a Roundel with Bust of a Saint. To see samples of Della Robbia’s art, CLICK HERE.

October 24 is the birthday of Russian painter and set designer KONSTANTIN YUON (1875-1958). He went through several stylistic phases, Symbolism, Impressionism and finally, at the end of his life, he was forced to paint in the official Soviet style of Socialist Realism. To see examples of his art, CLICK HERE.

October 24 is the birthday of Belgian–French explorer, spiritualist, Buddhist, anarchist, opera singer, and writerALEXANDRA DAVID-NEEL (1868-1969). She was one of the most remarkable women in history. By her late teens she was studying in Madame Blavatsky's Theosophical Society, in her 20s she travelled across India by herself, and from 1914-1916, she lived in a cave near Tibet, deepening her study of Buddhism with Aphur Yongden. She eventually made her way secretly into Tibet becoming the first Western woman to visit Lhasa. She wrote 30 books on spiritual topics and died at the age of 101. To learn more about this extraordinary woman, CLICK HERE.

October 24 is the birthday of American comic book writer and artist BOB KANE (1915-1998). In 1939, Kane and Bill Finger created the DC Comics character BATMAN. To learn more about Kane and the creation of Batman, CLICK HERE.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On October 24, 1260, Chartres Cathedral was dedicated in the presence of King Louis IX of France. The cathedral is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To learn more about this magnificent monument, CLICK HERE.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On October 24, 1901, Annie Edson Taylor, a 63-year-old school teacher from Bay City, Michigan, became the first PERSON go over Niagara Falls in a barrel and survive. She did it as a stunt to raise money for her mortgage. Afterwards she said "No one ought ever do that again."