It's raining again.....
Yesterday we were back to rain all day and it cooled down again - 6C/42F when I left the house in the morning to head off to my last Art Appreciation lesson before we take a break for the Easter holidays. Our regular teacher was finally back after her operation - and it was good to get back into classes filled with interesting information. This week we looked at a comparison of miniature Byzantine paintings and art and then moved on to look at Maurice Prendergast's tapestry-like work. I'm glad that we got back to normality, although I'm not sure I'll sign up for the course again in September. We have a break of three weeks and then the final five classes (including a visit to the National Gallery).
That was about it for Tuesday apart from Pilates in the evening which was a tiny class of four of us, so we got to do harder stuff than usual. *g*
Today it's miserable again but much warmer (14C/57F) with a bit of sprinkly rain every now and again. This morning I went to the Royal Academy to see Spain and the Hispanic World (treasures from the Hispanic Society Museum & Library) exhibition which is in its last two weeks (lots of lovely videos on that linked page). I really enjoyed it - some gorgeous, gorgeous things - my absolute favourite thing was this trompe l'oeil panel which was so clever (Trompe L'oeil with Drawing Supplies and Print by Marco Fernández Correa painted in oil on canvas around 1670)
A few more photos of my favourite things under the cut - quite a few actually (sorry, not sorry).
Lovely, lovely enamelled glass made in Barcelona *g*
This was an astonishing wooden painted devotional sculpture by Andrea de Mena (made in 1675 - about 10cm/4" high). Andrea couldn't be part of the artistic community (because she was a woman and couldn't sign contracts in her own name or act as an independent professional). She had entered the Cistercian convent of St Anne in Málaga when she made this.
One of El Greco's (very rare) miniature portraits (of a Man in around 1656)
Diego Velázquez's Portrait of a Girl (c. 1638). No one knows who this little girl is, but I love how she's been captured (there's some thought that it might be his granddaughter Inés Manuela). I like the contrast between the very freely sketched dress and the detailed face.
José Agustin Arrieta's El Costeño (The Young Man from the Coast 1843). A portrait of a young man from the Gulf Coast region of Vera Cruz with a basket laden with succulent fruit reflecting the bounty of the area.
This is a portable writing cabinet - such amazing decoration.
Close up
The View of the Plaza and Cathedra of Mexico as it was in the year of 1796 (actually created by Ignacia López Aguado in 1810) from PAPER!
Unbelievable close-up...
This lovely silk shawl (or rebozo) from around 1780 was stunning with gold and silver threads and geometric patterns, pomegranates, flowers, vines, deer, dogs and birds.
Gorgeous...
I took this photo because of the frame.....
The Four Fates of Man: Death, Soul in Hell, Soul in Purgatory and Soul in Heaven (around 1775). Carved wood and painted (they are around 10cm/4" high).
The Duchess of Alba by Francisco de Goya 1797. I like that she's pointing to Goya's signature in front of her in the sand.
Another Goya - loved this sketch - the title is Ay Pulgas? (Are there fleas?) 1796
One of my favourite artists - Joaquin Sorolla (often called the "painter of light"). This is Louis Conform Tiffany (of the jewellery/windows/lamps) 1911
The same artist: Sea Idyll (1908)
Ignacio Zuloaga painted this staged portrait of The Family of the Gypsy Bullfighter in 1903. All models - but I love the vibrant colours.
It was fun and I spent about 90 minutes wandering around which was lovely before walking back to Charing Cross and getting home at around 1 pm.
Later we're going out for an evening Nordic walk, but in the meantime, I have questions to catch up with:
28 - Salt Awareness Week (UK): The recommended intake for salt is 6g per day, pick a meal today and share how much salt there is in it.
I don't eat a lot of salt (especially as I make most of our food myself so I know what's in it), so occasionally if we go out to a restaurant to eat I find the food a little salty. Case in point - I had a Subway sandwich on the way home this afternoon for lunch and I've already had a couple of glasses of water as I find their bread too salty. There are some things that always need salt though and one of those is potato (chips/french fries, baked, or mashed).
29 - World Piano Day: have you ever taken piano lessons? What is your favourite piece of piano music or song?
I've tried to teach myself piano a couple of times and never followed through. I'd like to learn properly, but I need more time! LOL! My favourite piece of piano music is Gnossienne by Erik Satie.
That was about it for Tuesday apart from Pilates in the evening which was a tiny class of four of us, so we got to do harder stuff than usual. *g*
Today it's miserable again but much warmer (14C/57F) with a bit of sprinkly rain every now and again. This morning I went to the Royal Academy to see Spain and the Hispanic World (treasures from the Hispanic Society Museum & Library) exhibition which is in its last two weeks (lots of lovely videos on that linked page). I really enjoyed it - some gorgeous, gorgeous things - my absolute favourite thing was this trompe l'oeil panel which was so clever (Trompe L'oeil with Drawing Supplies and Print by Marco Fernández Correa painted in oil on canvas around 1670)
A few more photos of my favourite things under the cut - quite a few actually (sorry, not sorry).
Lovely, lovely enamelled glass made in Barcelona *g*
This was an astonishing wooden painted devotional sculpture by Andrea de Mena (made in 1675 - about 10cm/4" high). Andrea couldn't be part of the artistic community (because she was a woman and couldn't sign contracts in her own name or act as an independent professional). She had entered the Cistercian convent of St Anne in Málaga when she made this.
One of El Greco's (very rare) miniature portraits (of a Man in around 1656)
Diego Velázquez's Portrait of a Girl (c. 1638). No one knows who this little girl is, but I love how she's been captured (there's some thought that it might be his granddaughter Inés Manuela). I like the contrast between the very freely sketched dress and the detailed face.
José Agustin Arrieta's El Costeño (The Young Man from the Coast 1843). A portrait of a young man from the Gulf Coast region of Vera Cruz with a basket laden with succulent fruit reflecting the bounty of the area.
This is a portable writing cabinet - such amazing decoration.
Close up
The View of the Plaza and Cathedra of Mexico as it was in the year of 1796 (actually created by Ignacia López Aguado in 1810) from PAPER!
Unbelievable close-up...
This lovely silk shawl (or rebozo) from around 1780 was stunning with gold and silver threads and geometric patterns, pomegranates, flowers, vines, deer, dogs and birds.
Gorgeous...
I took this photo because of the frame.....
The Four Fates of Man: Death, Soul in Hell, Soul in Purgatory and Soul in Heaven (around 1775). Carved wood and painted (they are around 10cm/4" high).
The Duchess of Alba by Francisco de Goya 1797. I like that she's pointing to Goya's signature in front of her in the sand.
Another Goya - loved this sketch - the title is Ay Pulgas? (Are there fleas?) 1796
One of my favourite artists - Joaquin Sorolla (often called the "painter of light"). This is Louis Conform Tiffany (of the jewellery/windows/lamps) 1911
The same artist: Sea Idyll (1908)
Ignacio Zuloaga painted this staged portrait of The Family of the Gypsy Bullfighter in 1903. All models - but I love the vibrant colours.
It was fun and I spent about 90 minutes wandering around which was lovely before walking back to Charing Cross and getting home at around 1 pm.
Later we're going out for an evening Nordic walk, but in the meantime, I have questions to catch up with:
28 - Salt Awareness Week (UK): The recommended intake for salt is 6g per day, pick a meal today and share how much salt there is in it.
I don't eat a lot of salt (especially as I make most of our food myself so I know what's in it), so occasionally if we go out to a restaurant to eat I find the food a little salty. Case in point - I had a Subway sandwich on the way home this afternoon for lunch and I've already had a couple of glasses of water as I find their bread too salty. There are some things that always need salt though and one of those is potato (chips/french fries, baked, or mashed).
29 - World Piano Day: have you ever taken piano lessons? What is your favourite piece of piano music or song?
I've tried to teach myself piano a couple of times and never followed through. I'd like to learn properly, but I need more time! LOL! My favourite piece of piano music is Gnossienne by Erik Satie.