Something Beautiful

Fr. Robert Drinan, R.I.P.

I don't think I have ever posted about an individual person before.  And in fact, I've just added a new category, People, in order to have a place in which to put this post.   

Yesterday I read in the newspaper that Fr. Robert Drinan had passed away.   He was one of my heroes and, although I did not know him personally, I feel profoundly affected by this loss.   I am posting about him today because to me he truly was beautiful. 

You can read about him at these sites --

Anti-Defamation League
Boston Herald
Commonweal
Georgetown University
Linux Greenhouse
The Nation
Washington Post

Taisho Pond (Hasui)

And now for something distinctly understated -- Taisho Pond, a woodblock print by Kawase Hasui.

The Los Angeles County Museum site has online a total of 304 works by the excellent Hasui!

St Pantaleon Church (Germany)

It being Sunday, we shall to church.   You are hereby invited to step into the St Pantaleon Church in Cologne, Germany.   Just click on a word in the list at left, and you'll see a photo. 

Additional photos of the interior of the church are here. 

Madonna & Child, by Catena

Using the Norton Simon Museum's special viewer, you can get quite close to this Madonna and Child, with Saints Peter and Catherine of Alexandria, ca. 1512, by Vincenzo Catena.  The proximity truly adds to the viewing experience!

Children's Tea Sets

I have long had a soft spot for these children's tea sets.   Note that the zoom versions can be hard to reach - try right-clicking and then choose "Open in a new window." 

Child's tea service, ca. 1780-1790, England (earthenware) 

Child's tea service, ca. 1814, England (earthenware)

Child's tea service, ca. 1815, England (earthenware)  (Wedgwood - personal favorite)

Child's tea service, ca. 1820, England (black basalt)

Child's tea service, ca. 1830, England (earthenware) 

Child's tea service, 1862-1894, England (earthenware) 

Child's tea service, ca. 1863-1912, USA (sterling silver) 

"Nursery Rhyme" tea service, 1888-1892, England (porcelain) 

Chapel of the Three Kings (Gozzoli)

Feast your eyes on the Capella dei Magi, ca. 1460, by Benozzo Gozzoli.

  There is a lengthy feature on the frescoes of this chapel at the Web Gallery of Art.

Grand Canyon

Sunrise at the Grand Canyon.

Portrait by Correggio

There's something about this Portrait of a Scholar, 1525, by Correggio.

Three by Raphael

You can't go wrong with Raphael.  These three works are at the National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh --

Holy Family with a Palm Tree, 1506
Holy Family meeting the Infant St. John, ca. 1516
Virgin and Child (the Bridgewater Madonna)

Aran Island Scene

This photograph was taken on one of the Aran islands (probably Inish mor).    Here are the photographer's other Aran island photos.