Something Beautiful

Pretty amazing

Want to see something really beautiful?  A bunch of such things?   Have a look at this page of marvelous photographs.  They comes to us courtesy of Dan, over at The Time Sink.   Gee, this man knows what he is doing!

Cats, dogs, other pets

As we leave April behind, here's a chance to take a last look at the --
       Cats;
       Dogs; and
       Other pets
                              . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . of that month.

Pisano - South Doors

After discovering the (to my mind) astonishing bust of St Rossore the other day, I thought I might be able to make some other discoveries by searching the Web Gallery site for "gilded bronze." Nothing quite comparable came up, but the search did yield a short treatment of Andrea Pisano's South Doors for the Baptistry of Florence.   These two doors tell the story of St John the Baptist. 

It will just take a minute or two to get acquainted with these doors.  First, have a look at WGA's basic info page.  Then take a look at this wonderful close-up.

Believe it or not, there are just three simple things you need know to understand these artworks:   
    - Each door has 10 panels depicting scenes from St John's life (for a total of 20);   
    - Each door has four more panels at the bottom portraying theological virtues (for a total of 8);
    - The area surrounding each of the 28 panels is filled with lions, heads, rosettes and studs.

Now to have a look at three of the ten scenes on the left-hand door:       
     - The Visitation (second row down, first panel)      
     - Birth of the Baptist (same row, second panel over)       
     - Naming of the Baptist (third row down, first panel) 

And one scene from ten panels on the right-hand door: 
     - Entombment of the Baptist (fifth row, second panel over)

Next, here are two panels from the lower part of the door, depicting the theological virtues --
     - Hope (sixth row, first panel)       
     - Fortitude (bottom row, first panel) 

Finally, a closer look at some of the inter-panel lions, heads, rosettes and studs --  Decorative objects (bottom row, first panel)

More stained glass

Here's a page with photos of some very fine stained glass.

 

Doing one's best

Today's quote from the Positive Press --

When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.  -- Helen Keller