tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86849460399507332322024-03-05T00:14:46.086-08:00CEREBRAL BOINKFESTLinda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.comBlogger323125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-10601471498551523052012-03-16T04:30:00.000-07:002012-03-16T04:30:14.911-07:00Mystery Writer Solves Centuries-Old Mystery<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQIm7bLdfsMHIsYirPbGr_JNmkjpBkJQrL-ck2Ipw343zZV7I5TaARrauZ-Xw81RZu6jK89HQRm2DyxR4OYw6R45ZaJNKXaA3lP5D-Yg57igvUs9iLK7N8ngCZ_jYj36jqlc0z2UYRcI/s1600/15954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQIm7bLdfsMHIsYirPbGr_JNmkjpBkJQrL-ck2Ipw343zZV7I5TaARrauZ-Xw81RZu6jK89HQRm2DyxR4OYw6R45ZaJNKXaA3lP5D-Yg57igvUs9iLK7N8ngCZ_jYj36jqlc0z2UYRcI/s400/15954.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="318" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Elizabeth Mackintosh, aka Gordon Daviot,</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">aka Josephine Tey.</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Few people have heard of Elizabeth Mackintosh, even those familiar with her work. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She’s a mystery; she’s a writer of mysteries; she’s a mystery writer read by people who don’t like mysteries. Significantly, she solved a five-hundred-year-old mystery. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Playwright and author, she died in 1952 at the age of fifty-five. Born and raised in Iverness, Scotland, Mackintosh was trained as a physical training instructress, and taught for eight years at various schools in Scotland and England. When her mother died she quit to stay and take care of her invalid father. She started to write while tending him and sold some stories. She also began to seriously study playwriting and theater.</span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQT_LTaLhFWY8vI_OdwiooD2gOAFKLIdGw2OFcEYxURvQik5S9HtHcqgEUffUJJqyrBNDQBUv5v9lmuzkjV90134SbUIRxpFUjgkRfRfY7Z_9AOQG-kSwRE3Fo0jQ-sy0Jlg1IwsWEpEA/s400/1075-3.jpg" width="400" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Her most successful play was <i>Richard of Bordeaux</i>, which she wrote using the pen name Gordon Daviot. It was first performed in 1932, and was so successful that it established her name as a dramatist, and made a name for the young leading actor and director, John Gielgud.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-pMJbuFtPyRcdu3r0wW1OB-lWaUT8mG146fYl_PsEYkoK_5XGWGyspNcYdT9-DyUvRuFPJCbZ7hg2r4hyphenhyphenTDj-azEqljakS5TGgNvSbTQrO0DL32dMVeOPmtTJgn2r26zQu84FOzIHSxA/s1600/Richard_II_King_of_England.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-pMJbuFtPyRcdu3r0wW1OB-lWaUT8mG146fYl_PsEYkoK_5XGWGyspNcYdT9-DyUvRuFPJCbZ7hg2r4hyphenhyphenTDj-azEqljakS5TGgNvSbTQrO0DL32dMVeOPmtTJgn2r26zQu84FOzIHSxA/s400/Richard_II_King_of_England.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard of Bordeaux, aka King Richard II of England,<br />
artist unknown, circa 1390s.</td></tr>
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</span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Her interests informed her writing. An amateur psychologist, she studied people and tried to ferret out their personal mysteries – who they really were and what they kept hidden from the world. She prided herself on reading faces and facial expressions and even studied their penmanship. All of these skills she aptly applied to her most famous mystery, <u>Daughter of Time,</u> which she wrote under the nom de plume Josephine Tey.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6rqx7FpLQZO_CmKw8_fwXoXNA6eDk0Z4V0wNiDq9RoFXuopT4Gab8FZ6W6EgAnBqDOwRwy019HuAcSGNDINgNamXX5va7cemKrP0ZCgBWbY0N1Y1DFCkrWhxgXinu1fnBdlklLP0_tE/s1600/r3Natl.PortraitGallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6rqx7FpLQZO_CmKw8_fwXoXNA6eDk0Z4V0wNiDq9RoFXuopT4Gab8FZ6W6EgAnBqDOwRwy019HuAcSGNDINgNamXX5va7cemKrP0ZCgBWbY0N1Y1DFCkrWhxgXinu1fnBdlklLP0_tE/s400/r3Natl.PortraitGallery.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="271" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Richard III</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Artist unknown, Late 15th Century</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">National Portrait Gallery, London.</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The protagonist of five of her mysteries (and a minor character in another) is Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard. In <u>Daughter of Time,</u> Inspector Grant is laid up in a hospital. Like Tey herself, Grant studies faces. Given a portrait of Richard III, he finds him to be quite honorable, but ill at ease. He is horrified to find out the man’s villainous reputation - Richard is accused of killing his nephews, princes Edward V and Richard of Shrewbury, and Grant sets out to prove that his initial instincts concerning Richard III are correct. From his hospital bed, with the help of friends and a young researcher, he comes to the conclusion that Richard was not the heinous murderer he was thought to be, and offers another answer as to who really killed the princes in the Tower of London.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPyczd4UBTnOqECqxFdEQRppldVbo46qE8mB12HCff8iRt3LPU_mB0R3za09AAw6zo8GzPeR2qTG9gzfbU9ZdfKNOHbtOiE77K091aEjJ_qmlghXHWLN_cIHpVwAvGjxM5VRPD0Aeo4M/s1600/Richard_III_earliest_surviving_portraitc1520Soc.of+antiquaries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPyczd4UBTnOqECqxFdEQRppldVbo46qE8mB12HCff8iRt3LPU_mB0R3za09AAw6zo8GzPeR2qTG9gzfbU9ZdfKNOHbtOiE77K091aEjJ_qmlghXHWLN_cIHpVwAvGjxM5VRPD0Aeo4M/s400/Richard_III_earliest_surviving_portraitc1520Soc.of+antiquaries.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="296" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Earliest known portrait of Richard III, 1520s,</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Society of Antiquaries.</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Without revealing the entire book, some of the salient facts presented by Tey are compelling. For one thing, Richard was never formally accused of either kidnapping nor murdering his nephews. One would think this would be an issue, since at that time his reign was being challenged. Secondly, their mother, Elizabeth Woodville, remained on good terms with Richard, which makes her the bigger monster if she had thought him guilty of the murders of her sons. Finally, there wasn’t any political advantage to get rid of them. They were more in the way of Henry Tudor (Henry II).</span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsJp-_-BGT5ZBLzf07qC4AnKQPoycgbU972Wd2vmLRKzLMgK7sp-NSgH99BRhl5hPaAGinJO4nCTPlyr6VyAMblis9Ak-WWTAj0ytWe06KlawBzyQ35ca3Puptetp0HcDild5v73WxeQ/s1600/Frontispage+of+1st+quarto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsJp-_-BGT5ZBLzf07qC4AnKQPoycgbU972Wd2vmLRKzLMgK7sp-NSgH99BRhl5hPaAGinJO4nCTPlyr6VyAMblis9Ak-WWTAj0ytWe06KlawBzyQ35ca3Puptetp0HcDild5v73WxeQ/s400/Frontispage+of+1st+quarto.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="238" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Frontispage of 1st Quarto</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Shakespeare's Richard III.</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That history is written by the victors has never been more true than in the case of Richard III. Sir Thomas More was the author of the unfinished <u>History of King Richard the Third</u> (1513), and he served Henry VIII, son of Henry Tudor who vanquished Richard. It is an understatement to say that More toed the party line. Also, More was eight years old when Richard died, so what he wrote was hearsay with a Tudor bent. Shakespeare has been known to tweak historical facts for the sake of his art, and unfortunately his play, <i>Richard III</i>, has been taken all these centuries to be a history rather than a tragedy. However, his play may be the reason that Richard III has remained in popular memory, whereas other British monarchs have been virtually forgotten. One also has to consider that at the time of these writings history was not even a genre of its own, but rather was considered a subset of literature. Therefore historical accuracy was not necessarily a focus or consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3g6Rms9u5l1HoAHS6iwtDnMyMhZ-MQJMlYtWKdLnxC4lMRXRwj_aDeTWNjnGiZWq58ri4q92jr7-667QBe6olmfwDqXhFWduy3B-4sWzA0ofccVRwrXkCgLYaYx_GlmzZrb_y-Sqrna8/s1600/1527hansHolbeinYounger+SirThos.More.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3g6Rms9u5l1HoAHS6iwtDnMyMhZ-MQJMlYtWKdLnxC4lMRXRwj_aDeTWNjnGiZWq58ri4q92jr7-667QBe6olmfwDqXhFWduy3B-4sWzA0ofccVRwrXkCgLYaYx_GlmzZrb_y-Sqrna8/s400/1527hansHolbeinYounger+SirThos.More.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="317" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sir Thomas More, 1527, by Hans Holbein the Younger</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">National Portrait Gallery, London.</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A recurring theme in Tey’s work is injustice, and in <u>Daughter of Time</u> she successfully demonstrates that once an idea becomes a part of culture it is hard to correct even with contrary evidence. Her keen detection, centuries after the fact, has been so impressive that the various Richard III societies that have sprung up internationally supporting his acquittal of this crime have made her their poster child. This book was called by American crime writer and literary critic Dorothy B. Hughes “not only one of the most important mysteries of the year, but of all years of mystery.”</span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE3sWfUGGpsB_e6CUdMEUyxO1bzW_4tRYRoTK-orCYcTWCaOlLgcxs5nrWCrov2PU2E-zj67nZKByRD3QB0TRu7uswmx6tF6zYJSaplZbhgNaeqNidGmx6zVkQs7eZG5Vh_9zz6C7izA/s1600/mail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE3sWfUGGpsB_e6CUdMEUyxO1bzW_4tRYRoTK-orCYcTWCaOlLgcxs5nrWCrov2PU2E-zj67nZKByRD3QB0TRu7uswmx6tF6zYJSaplZbhgNaeqNidGmx6zVkQs7eZG5Vh_9zz6C7izA/s320/mail.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="252" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">True First Edition. London: Peter Davies, 1951.</span></div></div></td></tr>
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</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span>And Elizabeth Mackintosh remained a mystery until the day she died. John Gielgud wrote, "Her sudden death...was a great surprise and shock to all her friends in London. I learned afterward that she had known herself to be mortally ill for nearly a year, and had resolutely avoided seeing anyone she knew. This gallant behaviour was typical of her and curiously touching, if a little inhuman, too.” </span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhc2ZGeUz9V3gRj35TTTEnYeDFsme3jaTdNnuke3t8gyIsrDHpLVe8lsuweA4vOlKmhyX0QJbgEHxOSF-Ft0C0sU3xio_uX9-ZcYAMGJxHlSJ3IoZ6l54hZF2nBI_CsPZJkFRl6kCiis79/s1600/Princes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhc2ZGeUz9V3gRj35TTTEnYeDFsme3jaTdNnuke3t8gyIsrDHpLVe8lsuweA4vOlKmhyX0QJbgEHxOSF-Ft0C0sU3xio_uX9-ZcYAMGJxHlSJ3IoZ6l54hZF2nBI_CsPZJkFRl6kCiis79/s400/Princes.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Princes in the Tower" by John Everett Millais, 1878.</td></tr>
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</span></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you are interested in the mystery of history, then <u>Daughter of Time</u> is the mystery for you. Think CSI without the gadgets; only a sharp mind as a tool. A bit inhuman, perhaps, but remaining aloof from humanity while investigating it is the fictional detective’s stock in trade. Recall Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. And then remember that Josephine Tey, née Elizabeth Mackintosh, the mysterious mystery writer, was not a detective in a novel. She was the real deal.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">***************</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of Wikipedia.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">An earlier version of this post appeared on <a href="http://www.booktryst.com/2010/11/writer-who-acquitted-king.html">Booktryst.</a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">******************************</span></div></div></div></div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-82185582394951982052012-03-14T00:01:00.001-07:002012-03-14T06:13:17.846-07:00The King and Lie<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywXN8JZmj_OFP8wcv183F7HB8S3DwtVnJNyr07pMdYxPgqWMj02Q9tvi2i4jWtFWVgeMAGd92gjCDtuTJ6YBmdUCGMEfe_8dgf4cv0b2i5azqQ7cABZ9lijHq5PIlK94Lk90Evh-sihFm/s1600/rodgersandhammerstein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywXN8JZmj_OFP8wcv183F7HB8S3DwtVnJNyr07pMdYxPgqWMj02Q9tvi2i4jWtFWVgeMAGd92gjCDtuTJ6YBmdUCGMEfe_8dgf4cv0b2i5azqQ7cABZ9lijHq5PIlK94Lk90Evh-sihFm/s400/rodgersandhammerstein.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yul Brynner as King Mongkut does the polka with Debra Kerr.<br />
Image courtesy of www.amuseum.org.</td></tr>
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Yul Brynner made a career out of playing a Thai king who danced the polka. For many people this was, and sadly is, their knowledge and impression of Thailand. <i>The King and I</i> was one of Rodgers and Hammerstein's outstanding theatrical successes during the "golden age" of musical theater. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein were initially reluctant to pursue the project proposed by a theatrical attorney seeking a vehicle for client Gertrude Lawrence, a veteran leading lady. But they agreed to write the musical based on a 1944 novel, <u>Anna and the King of Siam</u> by Margaret Landon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvDouA0pxadstotZg0Hsh440_F4d2n6CEpRMHBu9pAGpoD18Zwvp67DV4GEVdKQNv1qJz5h7Xqd4idsDMRyiKQEmMFIeuCsGCSaPtnafOWKN1wQ0Wen4OJS-BQt_0uTkPLXfSG9Mj4_9e/s1600/215px-King~I~OBP.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvDouA0pxadstotZg0Hsh440_F4d2n6CEpRMHBu9pAGpoD18Zwvp67DV4GEVdKQNv1qJz5h7Xqd4idsDMRyiKQEmMFIeuCsGCSaPtnafOWKN1wQ0Wen4OJS-BQt_0uTkPLXfSG9Mj4_9e/s400/215px-King~I~OBP.jpeg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original poster for the original Broadway production.</td></tr>
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Margaret Landon was a writer who became intrigued with a woman named Anna Leonowens and her memoirs of her five years in Siam teaching the king's wives and children English. Landon took these memoirs, then embellished them with details from other sources. Although it was denounced and banned in Thailand (known as Siam until 1939) until recently, it was a bestseller in 1944 and was translated into dozens of languages. This image of Anna became symbolic of the Victorian female traveller. Landon sold the musical play rights to Rodgers and Hammerstein in 1950.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9kgVgeDVUXzBusx20V4OrpOehj39YgDEodn3J5SaWlGJVAblkz9iVnnEnzn86YTi0WGPQlyPKUcO-vgX8YZdNFguZcSBKIqeEFswKWeo7JwtNBnDcIAr5H8l1aSi0QwRfW2J9DEl7cWK/s1600/9780060954888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9kgVgeDVUXzBusx20V4OrpOehj39YgDEodn3J5SaWlGJVAblkz9iVnnEnzn86YTi0WGPQlyPKUcO-vgX8YZdNFguZcSBKIqeEFswKWeo7JwtNBnDcIAr5H8l1aSi0QwRfW2J9DEl7cWK/s400/9780060954888.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The semi-fictionalized biographical novel that <br />
started it all. Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.harpercollins.ca/books/Anna-King-Siam-Margaret">Harper Collins</a>.</td></tr>
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Anna Leonowens was born Anna Harriette Edwards in Ahmadnagar, India in 1831. Her father was a British sergeant, and her mother was half-British and half-Indian. Anna was apparently an Anglophile and resented her Indian lineage, so she invented a more preferable one: She claimed she had been born a Crawford in Caernarfon, Wales, to a captain and his British wife. In reality, her father died just before her birth, and her mother had remarried. Her stepfather was an Irish corporal and Anna grew up in an army barracks where blankets served as walls separating families. She completely estranged herself from her family as an adult, including her sister in whom she was disappointed for marrying a British civil servant who was also Anglo-Indian. (As a side note, her sister's grandson was William Henry Pratt, better known as the actor Boris Karloff.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwWclEN6gKUFFuZ_fzjYH1FPqs7o1ROM0GKBTxtcJ1-L1Ok_vROGkanDAX2B0F1JnqYDaIYG6IdXJVoEecdwi28YHhcm6a3YPqNKWIx8bmSzLMS2R9wPhoHZEqREEmVLiA1xbekTmGBZB/s1600/499px-Borris_Karloff_still.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwWclEN6gKUFFuZ_fzjYH1FPqs7o1ROM0GKBTxtcJ1-L1Ok_vROGkanDAX2B0F1JnqYDaIYG6IdXJVoEecdwi28YHhcm6a3YPqNKWIx8bmSzLMS2R9wPhoHZEqREEmVLiA1xbekTmGBZB/s400/499px-Borris_Karloff_still.jpg" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">William Henry Pratt, better known as Boris Karloff.</td></tr>
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When Anna was a teenager she moved with her mother and stepfather to Aden. From there her tutor (and perhaps his wife - accounts vary) took her to Egypt and Palestine, apparently on recognition of her facility with languages and to further her education. The family moved back to India in 1849, and she quickly married civilian clerk Thomas Leon Owens over her parents' objection. (She later changed their last name to Leonowens, perhaps thinking it sounded more distinctive.) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAaNQuY7vc0Rdvy22-FI1oJGO3h7-65yrIkNnvJIdWhUk5j7AvOdLMWeIbvOD5kEUqWAq_zALOYw6fxeCLeXCm2Mlf_eWqIybInvwgPSeJtwj3YxMZf371246zPsjszz8D3NAooV29Q4p/s1600/Leonowens_Portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAaNQuY7vc0Rdvy22-FI1oJGO3h7-65yrIkNnvJIdWhUk5j7AvOdLMWeIbvOD5kEUqWAq_zALOYw6fxeCLeXCm2Mlf_eWqIybInvwgPSeJtwj3YxMZf371246zPsjszz8D3NAooV29Q4p/s400/Leonowens_Portrait.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna Leonowens by Robert Harris, circa 1900.</td></tr>
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The newlyweds made their way to Australia via Singapore, eventually arriving in Perth. There Anna tried to open a school for girls with no success. Eventually the family, all opportunities exhausted, moved to Penang, Malaysia, where Thomas got a job as a hotel keeper. He died of apoplexy. With two children to support, Anna moved to Singapore and opened a school for the children of British officers. Although this wasn't a successful endeavor, it did serve to establish her reputation as an educator.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjlmCNT14B-PnTcPc5yIh8j6JTQ-qYJjpFm5AQtlPwZn6m5vVV8ytjnFFJdEkWbkWOXpjFvNWCZKXd7IkyD6oq-TWIycwxaSCp8zFY2K3mFV_sAfgfv4jFGezwO3tAHWo044r04CNW57D/s1600/2663_122600064641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjlmCNT14B-PnTcPc5yIh8j6JTQ-qYJjpFm5AQtlPwZn6m5vVV8ytjnFFJdEkWbkWOXpjFvNWCZKXd7IkyD6oq-TWIycwxaSCp8zFY2K3mFV_sAfgfv4jFGezwO3tAHWo044r04CNW57D/s400/2663_122600064641.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna in later years. Image courtesy of this <a href="http://www.findgrave.com/">site</a>.</td></tr>
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In 1862, the Siamese Consul in Singapore offered her a position teaching the 39 wives and concubines, and 82 children of King Mongkut of Siam. The King wanted them to have a modern Western education and he wanted the curriculum based on scientific secular lines, and not the Christian-based curriculum previously attempted by missionaries' wives. Anna served as a teacher and then language secretary for King Mongkut. She was respected and had some political clout, but ultimately was dissatisfied with the terms and conditions of her contract.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjiqdCG7LXDMS6nP8RvkhUpV7dzG3i1AwIoCo0ASEPemqT8RHpN79Dt9RQoHJwYGZf-nHg6ZptlhWe13eSSnUFT8Xqlx0c27mO9bkzv-D7_ntSz99vKGOKx1oFCQ8ZG_ZrnlxdaNtTobQ/s1600/472px-King_Mongkut_on_his_Throne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjiqdCG7LXDMS6nP8RvkhUpV7dzG3i1AwIoCo0ASEPemqT8RHpN79Dt9RQoHJwYGZf-nHg6ZptlhWe13eSSnUFT8Xqlx0c27mO9bkzv-D7_ntSz99vKGOKx1oFCQ8ZG_ZrnlxdaNtTobQ/s400/472px-King_Mongkut_on_his_Throne.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Mongkut at his coronation on April 1, 1851.</td></tr>
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Anna went to England, and was in negotiation for a new contract when King Mongkut died in 1868. His heir, the 15-year-old King Chulalongkorn, wrote her a letter of thanks but did not renew her contract. They maintained written communication for years as part of their amicable relationship; the King later even granted her son, Louis, a commission of captain in the Royal Cavalry. Later Anna was to claim credit for some of the changes King Chulalongkorn implemented.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpmOvFZ0lB3eBNH6fpMuxo15S0kXugmpCJrCZZsYjJn5XVNspE4lfUpM1BDi9ZWMtqdDy2d-wM4Wb4gSIyDHactuMhimGFk0egPZ-NfSSeGKb4yHd7O2TlQJe8TETXK851c2MI9fDaqyF/s1600/King_Mongkut_and_Prince_Chulalongkorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpmOvFZ0lB3eBNH6fpMuxo15S0kXugmpCJrCZZsYjJn5XVNspE4lfUpM1BDi9ZWMtqdDy2d-wM4Wb4gSIyDHactuMhimGFk0egPZ-NfSSeGKb4yHd7O2TlQJe8TETXK851c2MI9fDaqyF/s400/King_Mongkut_and_Prince_Chulalongkorn.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Mongkut and his heir, the future King Chulalongkorn,<br />
circa 1860s.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Anna opened a school for girls on Staten Island, New York in 1869. She also began writing travel articles for <i>Atlantic Monthly</i>. Her articles were collected into two volumes of memoirs - <u>The English Governess at the Siamese Court</u> (published in 1870), and <u>Romance of the Harem</u> (published in 1873). These brought her fame but at the same time she was charged with sensationalism. The books are still controversial in Thailand. Her writings are very critical of court life and show an exaggerated view of her influence and position. She was a feminist, and this colored her depiction of Siamese culture, especially the harem. A lot of court gossip was included in her "memoirs", and she claimed that concubine Tuptim was tortured and executed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhS8NT_h4_R1HBp6ktaYKZz4ngEGgnAvhWuGRndleuY-FAxLWt1Fbe9n52ybYBEr0sZvzVwFYYwN9uT5_9rA8epGuVRQdYxwd05Vp9ZZ4J-7uQKjTos_snHUvFBOPqnSZlEi3elWOa5MqM/s1600/leon2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhS8NT_h4_R1HBp6ktaYKZz4ngEGgnAvhWuGRndleuY-FAxLWt1Fbe9n52ybYBEr0sZvzVwFYYwN9uT5_9rA8epGuVRQdYxwd05Vp9ZZ4J-7uQKjTos_snHUvFBOPqnSZlEi3elWOa5MqM/s400/leon2.gif" width="306" /></a></div><br />
Anna became a lecturer in the U.S., and was in literary circles which included Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Harriet Beecher Stowe. In 1880, she began teaching at a new prep school in Manhattan while continuing to travel and write. When her married daughter moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, she accompanied her and taught her grandchildren. She was one of the founders of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (originally the Victoria School of Art and Design, founded in 1887 and named in honor of Queen Victoria). She died in 1915, at the age of 83, in Montréal. Her son, Louis, founded a successful trading company that still operates in Thailand today; The Louis T. Leonowens Co. Ltd. is a leading exporter of Malayan hardwoods.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0Ccf2TuqRp_y3pQH9MLAGhDfMqycXx2RaL0abx-l-43hgLCg1vm-DXhsRwBhDGUjWGTrzTSugR5b2A-sk0kAEEHy5pl0qvClCijy5XL6JbFVxYZaa2o9TP14UBT7qT453m35NSicyIbJ/s1600/image003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0Ccf2TuqRp_y3pQH9MLAGhDfMqycXx2RaL0abx-l-43hgLCg1vm-DXhsRwBhDGUjWGTrzTSugR5b2A-sk0kAEEHy5pl0qvClCijy5XL6JbFVxYZaa2o9TP14UBT7qT453m35NSicyIbJ/s400/image003.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louis Leonowens, image courtesy this <a href="http://www.anglicanthai.org/leonowens.htm">site</a>.</td></tr>
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This whole Anna/King of Siam industry has shaped the concept of an Eastern kingdom much in need of Western influence and civilization. The Siam depicted is inferior and even silly - the King is a barbarian who wises up and even learns the polka from a Western woman (an inferior human even in Western viewpoints at that time). No wonder that <i>The King and I</i> was even banned in neighboring India as inaccurate and insulting. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oSdpqmCx4Xx_tjkWhJ30MUmpRiEWzKWgAxQen2uQvlvfbEmtlywDYScMEDM8gmVVzOb4eORE2GiyvE7KNz80YvNOFOTk6xfvwFE77FknWAMOJfv2O4_PyGL97INHFkTJDGO_9-QHmov3/s1600/108528712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oSdpqmCx4Xx_tjkWhJ30MUmpRiEWzKWgAxQen2uQvlvfbEmtlywDYScMEDM8gmVVzOb4eORE2GiyvE7KNz80YvNOFOTk6xfvwFE77FknWAMOJfv2O4_PyGL97INHFkTJDGO_9-QHmov3/s320/108528712.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
In 1960, King Bhumibol, the present king and great-grandson of Mongkut, on a visit to the U.S. stated that the representation of Mongkut was 90% exaggerated. In 1985, the ambassador from Thailand also communicated his disapproval that Siam had been depicted as a whole as childish and inferior. Mongkut's great-granddaughter, Princess Vudhichalerm Vudhijaya, in 2001 gave an interview where she explained that Mongkut was a monk for 27 years before becoming king, and therefore it would have been against his Buddhist principles to torture and execute his concubine, Tuptim. In fact, Tuptim was her grandmother and one of the 36 wives of Chulalongkorn.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWh1jetLierNO12LZcEVaVJAoHYKhM-97xkT3cKjPKqtXXFnBR17vzff6bpMKNaZU80k8g_-PkXwHPh7Hqs0opiqUzYtCnDLdkItNa-wYXqn0wAeQ8yqW9gee5BYpH7j_4qu9DClYSbYEt/s1600/454px-Bhumibol_Adulyadej_2010-9-29_2_cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWh1jetLierNO12LZcEVaVJAoHYKhM-97xkT3cKjPKqtXXFnBR17vzff6bpMKNaZU80k8g_-PkXwHPh7Hqs0opiqUzYtCnDLdkItNa-wYXqn0wAeQ8yqW9gee5BYpH7j_4qu9DClYSbYEt/s400/454px-Bhumibol_Adulyadej_2010-9-29_2_cropped.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the present King of Thailand.</td></tr>
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Indeed Mongkut led an interesting life. For political reasons he was passed over initially for the kingship, and became a monk as was typical for Siamese men. As a monk he initiated many changes to Buddhism as it was practiced in Siam. He also discovered Western knowledge and studied English and Latin. He became close friends with Vicar Pallegoix of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangkok, and even invited him to deliver his Christian sermons to his fellow monks. He is famously quoted for observing, "What you teach people to do is admirable but what you teach them to believe is foolish." Additionally he improved women's rights in Siam, including releasing a great number of concubines so that they could marry. He banned forced marriages and the selling of wives to pay debts. Obviously the employment of a British teacher was evidence of his own interest in modernization; it was not a result of her influence.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLh1Z4lXnBx9Fn5FbMqtLLVqiwzaIjJ3jZBiAMROICOFrQmDy8qQvFenQ4XcZh0z1BswU-VuBB6OvMgBkJq7q5cAsKLTOcFc5u_0itGhZ6RhLLWmwUpDPrsg9viZemxu8o8-R7FVNP9atA/s1600/Mongkut_in_the_Sangha.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLh1Z4lXnBx9Fn5FbMqtLLVqiwzaIjJ3jZBiAMROICOFrQmDy8qQvFenQ4XcZh0z1BswU-VuBB6OvMgBkJq7q5cAsKLTOcFc5u_0itGhZ6RhLLWmwUpDPrsg9viZemxu8o8-R7FVNP9atA/s400/Mongkut_in_the_Sangha.jpeg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mongkut when he was a monk, circa 1845-1851.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Anna claimed credit for many of these reforms, and also of ones that Chulalongkorn made, such as no longer requiring prostration before a royal person. Although she claimed to be a governess, hence crediting herself with teaching everyone Western knowledge, she was primarily an English teacher. In the play and her second book she states she witnessed the king throwing wives into a dungeon. Since the watery soil of the region would not even support basements, much less dungeons, this is a fabrication. There is also no mention of the public torturing that she claims in any other accounts, foreign or domestic. It is telling that she was not part of the ex-pat circle of British consular officials and merchants even though her position at court was respectable; this speaks volumes of her lack of importance.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHEj9PQLNA1PfVDsvpcr0uc_8pOt_3oOGVK7KF6Nb_Vi7yK53dv8ENWesyy3LzKB3VB_gzSpVwRY9OLXguSxDcXPgywk7an4AhduKcXSLTttEaazmO5P1oLL7KXNpd8XreuSN6Y6WsKjV/s1600/anna_poster1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHEj9PQLNA1PfVDsvpcr0uc_8pOt_3oOGVK7KF6Nb_Vi7yK53dv8ENWesyy3LzKB3VB_gzSpVwRY9OLXguSxDcXPgywk7an4AhduKcXSLTttEaazmO5P1oLL7KXNpd8XreuSN6Y6WsKjV/s400/anna_poster1.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><br />
Anna Leonowens was adept at self-promotion and invented a more preferable background for herself - born in Wales with a middle-class upbringing - and denied her Indian heritage. She even altered her last name to make it better fit the person she imagined herself to be. While all of this reflects a person shamed and chagrined at her own circumstances, what is inexcusable is the harm she has done to Thai culture with her transformation of facts into fantasy. The popularity of her books and the books about her, as well as the play, movie, and television show based on <i>The King and I</i> have become an industry that illustrates the Western attitude of superiority over other cultures. It is time that this ridiculous, farcical story was laid to rest.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of Wikipedia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">******************************</div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-17941623956449388132012-03-12T00:01:00.001-07:002012-03-12T00:01:02.016-07:00Early Engraver Played His Cards Right<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighp-frVVcNz8l3NfFSeTuHULRdQ3k3SGIgm77sS4QvMgjvM7gUdTofb6G3g4ghQ8i7J5s2roeDmcnWWKPJgI8Y3cdL-1xGCr3WvT25LzLXtHUn3OcIQ-RbW_MwM2uYau2xCk0pietr0M/s1600/the-cardmaker-1fromL%2527Encyclopedie+by+Diderot%252C+d%2527Alembert%252C+Paris%252C+1751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighp-frVVcNz8l3NfFSeTuHULRdQ3k3SGIgm77sS4QvMgjvM7gUdTofb6G3g4ghQ8i7J5s2roeDmcnWWKPJgI8Y3cdL-1xGCr3WvT25LzLXtHUn3OcIQ-RbW_MwM2uYau2xCk0pietr0M/s400/the-cardmaker-1fromL%2527Encyclopedie+by+Diderot%252C+d%2527Alembert%252C+Paris%252C+1751.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Cardmaker<br />
From <i>L'Encyclopedie</i> by Diderot et d'Alembert, Paris, 1751</span></div></div></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The "Meister der Spielkarten", or "The Master of the Playing Cards" is known only through the 106 engravings that have been attributed to him, including the set of playing cards that he is named for. The term “master” is reserved for someone who has completed an apprenticeship and ran his own workshop, teaching apprentices. His presumed students are also unknown but have similar names, such as "The Master of the Nuremberg Passion", "The Master of 1446", and "The Master of the Banderoles".</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzziLfy9V0FMqTJH1aTnOOcUU2jrFzViQnGwtUr_agxMA8F1XSmR6fVRxKKfyKkXObslyNeAbf2ec8yMTo5PzqEGFkpnFvfM2sZrywFWBHSl0BAz_RpNaoDskYb8mjSCbJhnqeG0ADjbo/s1600/wik1435-1455Raubtier_Neun_%2528Meister_der_Spielkarten%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzziLfy9V0FMqTJH1aTnOOcUU2jrFzViQnGwtUr_agxMA8F1XSmR6fVRxKKfyKkXObslyNeAbf2ec8yMTo5PzqEGFkpnFvfM2sZrywFWBHSl0BAz_RpNaoDskYb8mjSCbJhnqeG0ADjbo/s400/wik1435-1455Raubtier_Neun_%2528Meister_der_Spielkarten%2529.png" style="cursor: move;" width="290" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">9 of Beasts of Prey.<br />
Central climbing bear also appears in a copy<br />
of the <i>Gutenberg Bible.</i><br />
Multiple-plate card, each animal is on a separate<br />
copper plate, several which are reused elsewhere.</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first woodcuts on paper were playing cards. Prior to this playing cards were hand-colored and very expensive. A way was needed to mass produce them and make them affordable to more people, as <a href="http://cerebralboinkfest.blogspot.com/2010/12/acey-deucey-one-eyed-jack.html">playing cards</a> caught on quickly. While French and Italian manuscripts in the middle 15th century mention woodblocks made for printing playing cards, a German manuscript from 1402 specifically mentions "kartenmahler" (card painter) or "kartenmacher" (card maker), according to the <u>Encyclopedia Britannica</u>. </span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwVYAv7aF3sIfJJJsiwtzoIBD2ghLhAWruAx6U0Ek2SlCWLK0k8IrkOrefrfAQOVmHN7NV38mUtI8TiwmHNbrSVSn48XwBCo4IHZDaC_CyqjDm4DBV1zahaf52bw2yzKAIklkvmnNPfs/s1600/Queen+of+Wild+Men+engraving+1440+Kupferstichkabinett%252C+Dresden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwVYAv7aF3sIfJJJsiwtzoIBD2ghLhAWruAx6U0Ek2SlCWLK0k8IrkOrefrfAQOVmHN7NV38mUtI8TiwmHNbrSVSn48XwBCo4IHZDaC_CyqjDm4DBV1zahaf52bw2yzKAIklkvmnNPfs/s400/Queen+of+Wild+Men+engraving+1440+Kupferstichkabinett%252C+Dresden.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="262" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Queen of Wild Men<br />
Courtesy of the Kupferstichkabinett, Dresden, Germany</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There was a distinction in the process of woodcuts between the designer who made the drawings and the artisan who cut the drawings in wood. Since engravers came from professional craftsmen, goldsmiths and armor makers who were designers themselves, this process could be accomplished by one person instead of two, making control of the entire process achievable.</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VhrCbhWaVj0ps7iVGrbAd-2yOsnRra9WGhxzsN34OaHbY1bIGd1306HZZUDIEfib5149fLXPlcaq0CA7_G3U_Z0hmX2hT6q7OfiuatyZs7wkBwSti-v10Ov9Z0WMhhMFZHvEGXBAwoQ/s1600/FiveofflowersengMusof+FA+Boston.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VhrCbhWaVj0ps7iVGrbAd-2yOsnRra9WGhxzsN34OaHbY1bIGd1306HZZUDIEfib5149fLXPlcaq0CA7_G3U_Z0hmX2hT6q7OfiuatyZs7wkBwSti-v10Ov9Z0WMhhMFZHvEGXBAwoQ/s400/FiveofflowersengMusof+FA+Boston.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="307" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Five of Flowers<br />
Image courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Engraving was a more expensive process than woodcuts, and the resulting playing cards must have been unique. "The Master of the Playing Cards" appears to have been trained as an artist rather than a goldsmith. His prints show images in three dimensions, shaded by parallel lines. The fact that these cards were engraved, and therefore more expensive, suggests they were made for clients of some financial means.</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiMdPwQNAaMK_IGwzKq-1eQXHDL_HC8IsxeouaZieKXrsdrc06X9XggvlP9ouTB8wE3VNBy1ip9YtH_b0-GKOT0pgUnstVT4hNtMRLgng1nf0pMWT-1IV__IyAb7oAnH0beDIagm67ag/s1600/Queen+of+stags+c1435-1455MoFABoston.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiMdPwQNAaMK_IGwzKq-1eQXHDL_HC8IsxeouaZieKXrsdrc06X9XggvlP9ouTB8wE3VNBy1ip9YtH_b0-GKOT0pgUnstVT4hNtMRLgng1nf0pMWT-1IV__IyAb7oAnH0beDIagm67ag/s400/Queen+of+stags+c1435-1455MoFABoston.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="265" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Queen of Stags<br />
Image courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His cards have compositional elements that also occur in the <u>Giant Bible of Mainz</u> and the copy of the <u>Gutenberg Bible</u> in the Princeton Library. Although there have been attempts to identify him as Gutenberg, it can only be postulated that Gutenberg knew of "The Master of the Playing Cards" and possibly worked with him. The common design elements of both can be attributed to a design book for artists that may have been popular at the time.</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcRx2JLOXhzbG1raCAQN9ZXH_JEUZupAVZKwPLQmayLdvU73RwwK7llsCQmS7PyUE_o_1pOMvLrc-tZ8LRhLMrKvcQuLNvFEXBR_lNehXSegKqAA9JfluZvitGyZTCT9KxLGdzr_h5OM/s1600/WikVogel_Drei_%2528Meister_der_Spielkarten%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcRx2JLOXhzbG1raCAQN9ZXH_JEUZupAVZKwPLQmayLdvU73RwwK7llsCQmS7PyUE_o_1pOMvLrc-tZ8LRhLMrKvcQuLNvFEXBR_lNehXSegKqAA9JfluZvitGyZTCT9KxLGdzr_h5OM/s400/WikVogel_Drei_%2528Meister_der_Spielkarten%2529.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="261" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Three of Birds</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Efforts to positively identify "The Master of the Playing Cards" have been futile. His style resembles paintings from southwestern Germany and Switzerland of his time period. He often uses depictions of the alpine cyclamen, also from that area. Some of the cards look to be composed of different plates that must have been held together in some sort of frame when printed. This is another allusion to Gutenberg’s moveable type, which either shows collaboration or exposure to the same idea. Since copies of his suit symbols appear in datable manuscripts, the cards have been dated to circa 1440.</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6z530rKvEJQZ8THEgfjN2SjgqEghqc8bnkHkZXG6O9XiBlgg1OSAQdQUDYrCT9ZnsQj5mIDp4JjHSu1MzJNJuLbdAG-bEWQWF5DAr4jFRMOxu-EGErcKqePr19dCKn2j5XM-UcPHIoc/s1600/Queen+of+Flowers+engraving+c.1435-1440MET.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6z530rKvEJQZ8THEgfjN2SjgqEghqc8bnkHkZXG6O9XiBlgg1OSAQdQUDYrCT9ZnsQj5mIDp4JjHSu1MzJNJuLbdAG-bEWQWF5DAr4jFRMOxu-EGErcKqePr19dCKn2j5XM-UcPHIoc/s400/Queen+of+Flowers+engraving+c.1435-1440MET.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="286" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Queen of Flowers<br />
Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some cards exist in two different states, and some in different versions. There are no numbers on the cards and the pips, or symbols, are different, which indicates that playing must have been difficult, especially quick playing. Typical of northern European cards at that time, the cards have five suits: beasts of prey, birds, deer, flowers, and wild men. It is not know what card games were likely to have been played with these cards.</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWmvaWlGXmSZgYa7l5GHDXtVVDa-PNo26hBk5VzOKfD_Mrlaw2h3JfBpY7JdhzPwDXcSrAiLuSZ4O-8otAgeU_0NvMAKBx9D6SAoCYvIeKYOoIvxDIuq_53B-VLhzvfukMud85i_jo_E/s1600/king+of+wild+men.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWmvaWlGXmSZgYa7l5GHDXtVVDa-PNo26hBk5VzOKfD_Mrlaw2h3JfBpY7JdhzPwDXcSrAiLuSZ4O-8otAgeU_0NvMAKBx9D6SAoCYvIeKYOoIvxDIuq_53B-VLhzvfukMud85i_jo_E/s400/king+of+wild+men.png" style="cursor: move;" width="265" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The King of Wild Men</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The largest collection of the cards, forty of them, is in the <i>Bibliothèque Nationale</i> in Paris; fourteen more are in the <i>Kupferstichkabinett</i> in Dresden. It is rare that works by "The Master of the Playing Cards" come on the market. In September of 2006, in London, an impression of the "Queen of Flowers" was auctioned by <i>Christie’s</i> for $450,000.</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNDpM2oC4TK1mYkstJksQlxyHJAUxhhFzpySeTVSN_fzsMDSHliUMmp1e-qlc-Yw_k3LITPe14JATSpuVDHY6ooNJQZz_Xi0Xm57yEwPMbf-tW8mbC7VXJi-eb6bJvHIGvhjsvTs4ZKc/s1600/A+poet+reading%252C+1430s+Nat%2527l+Gal+of+Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNDpM2oC4TK1mYkstJksQlxyHJAUxhhFzpySeTVSN_fzsMDSHliUMmp1e-qlc-Yw_k3LITPe14JATSpuVDHY6ooNJQZz_Xi0Xm57yEwPMbf-tW8mbC7VXJi-eb6bJvHIGvhjsvTs4ZKc/s400/A+poet+reading%252C+1430s+Nat%2527l+Gal+of+Art.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="280" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A Poet Reading<br />
Image courtesy of the National Gallery of Art</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"The Master of the Playing Cards" also produced other works, mostly religious. They are rather large for early engravings. These were most likely intended as insertions to illustrate devotional books. Most of his designs survive in copies by other printmakers, and there are no doubt works that didn’t survive at all. It is unknown but possible that he produced paintings, but nothing that exists of that era has ever been acceptably attributed to him.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTK_KqgFWq7t39OYiawmOTaTCzZCgGNx7hq6ZP5n2nqiWC8u920LhIN9jpG4x_cbYc5Opq4vx13hfJIoxwnPF-IojA7WtYgzjTUpRigHb3bdXiWtqiooF1mEx0FR6G_gr1KL36gx_9DuQ/s1600/MPC-The+Maryrdom+of+St.+Sebastian+engraving+MET.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTK_KqgFWq7t39OYiawmOTaTCzZCgGNx7hq6ZP5n2nqiWC8u920LhIN9jpG4x_cbYc5Opq4vx13hfJIoxwnPF-IojA7WtYgzjTUpRigHb3bdXiWtqiooF1mEx0FR6G_gr1KL36gx_9DuQ/s400/MPC-The+Maryrdom+of+St.+Sebastian+engraving+MET.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian<br />
Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Although he, himself, remains unknown, his work places him in the forefront of the art of engraving, and attests to his artistry and skill. "The Master of the Playing Cards" stands as the most accomplished and influential member of the first generation of engravers.</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">***************</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unless otherwise noted, all images are courtesy of Wikipedia.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">An earlier version of this post was published on <a href="http://www.booktryst.com/2010/12/first-personality-in-history-of.html">Booktryst</a>.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">******************************</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-65958470507161238552012-03-09T00:01:00.001-08:002012-03-09T05:57:59.780-08:00These Birds in Hand Are Worth Millions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdGSqiBaU9Yna3z4uTNWO7C3MizFTLnin74M84PmBfFlYWDRbzJu2GQ2aDxM51zdgdr-D9zpQlIcNknl88oIMyxyL-T9DW6ejxo1EuvnvUzYclAIkQl8D-r6hZ0DkUk0g-TKSnERNN6U/s1600/John_James_Audubon_1826by+John+Syme%252C+oil+on+canvasWhiteHouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdGSqiBaU9Yna3z4uTNWO7C3MizFTLnin74M84PmBfFlYWDRbzJu2GQ2aDxM51zdgdr-D9zpQlIcNknl88oIMyxyL-T9DW6ejxo1EuvnvUzYclAIkQl8D-r6hZ0DkUk0g-TKSnERNN6U/s400/John_James_Audubon_1826by+John+Syme%252C+oil+on+canvasWhiteHouse.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="315" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">John James Audubon (1785-1851)</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oil on canvas by John Syme, 1826</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Currently hanging in the <a href="http://www.whitehouseresearch.org/assetbank-whha/action/viewAsset?id=94">White House</a>.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">John James Audubon, a Haitian-born man raised in France, had a vision. One that resulted in a monumental and important work – <u>Birds of America</u>.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmXPdoZ16wPhaz_5Ky9J3d_n3mb1WKLliLBpT24FRwtBmRwCsIhYbnGpuxbsUhzIRsHBFNWSLhACR_5nECHN9amf2wjA4X1Lb_ytjCedMpmX1kDAh2TKWfO1J4N_RrmZOqjXOgf_i_xM/s1600/455px-Zenaida_macrouraAWP17AA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmXPdoZ16wPhaz_5Ky9J3d_n3mb1WKLliLBpT24FRwtBmRwCsIhYbnGpuxbsUhzIRsHBFNWSLhACR_5nECHN9amf2wjA4X1Lb_ytjCedMpmX1kDAh2TKWfO1J4N_RrmZOqjXOgf_i_xM/s400/455px-Zenaida_macrouraAWP17AA.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="303" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Carolina Pigeon</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(now called Mourning Dove)</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He had loved birds and nature as a child, and was encouraged by his father to explore and draw what he saw. He was reported to be quite charming, played the flute and violin, learned to ride and to fence, but loved roaming the woods best.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aAun3t4GOCqgiIfx6kpNDcj-kgxtbCRgMFGKBlgBVVQcls6hmL4anajsduhXnnGmbSaPvqS2jpQ7Mr-AhClkRvKh0Pb2MURnGe816-h4Sltfws8x2MDaJOA8pwPXl_JkKQPph4C1Fdo/s1600/384px-White_Gerfalcons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aAun3t4GOCqgiIfx6kpNDcj-kgxtbCRgMFGKBlgBVVQcls6hmL4anajsduhXnnGmbSaPvqS2jpQ7Mr-AhClkRvKh0Pb2MURnGe816-h4Sltfws8x2MDaJOA8pwPXl_JkKQPph4C1Fdo/s400/384px-White_Gerfalcons.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="255" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">White Gerfalcons</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Although his father had planned for his son to be a seaman, the young Audubon was not fond of navigation or the math required, and failed his officer’s qualification test. He also got seasick easily. His father managed to secure a fake passport and sent him to America in 1803, in order to avoid being drafted in the Napoleonic wars.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWOnGsr_sxIDs90FXhrLNVYQ1LfCORPhj3bBa8t7xD-vL38c1jxei4Dkj-Z_SBYB4zKSAVBQayaN75AliWg_5KAVPSX0kwGQ935hJdTlCmMkMFVUGmhs2GhLDwHRQBcNt-U6hRqdk6f8/s1600/John_James_Audubons_Plate_76_-_Birds_of_America_%2528Virginian_Partridge%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWOnGsr_sxIDs90FXhrLNVYQ1LfCORPhj3bBa8t7xD-vL38c1jxei4Dkj-Z_SBYB4zKSAVBQayaN75AliWg_5KAVPSX0kwGQ935hJdTlCmMkMFVUGmhs2GhLDwHRQBcNt-U6hRqdk6f8/s400/John_James_Audubons_Plate_76_-_Birds_of_America_%2528Virginian_Partridge%2529.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Virginian Partridge (Northern Bobwhite)</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">under attack by a young red-shouldered hawk.</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Audubon did well in various family businesses, but really relished his time outdoors, hunting, fishing and drawing. He had a great respect for Native Americans, and spent time with local tribes learning their ways of hunting and their views on nature. He married his neighbor’s daughter, Lucy Bakewell, with whom he shared common interests. They lived in Kentucky and spent time together exploring the local countryside.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBG44JucnX2qQsVUKx3KLKe6zG_SyFsPKAXZ22JM5irek1V61BcwjYIVmjQQQnB6NGQl27RPRIRC24ZcJovn7s-uTEVuQnJ6r8DMEDxAotO09ja863UQGEl0S2Xal5iVy8gTNr2P1iJ24/s1600/spoonbill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBG44JucnX2qQsVUKx3KLKe6zG_SyFsPKAXZ22JM5irek1V61BcwjYIVmjQQQnB6NGQl27RPRIRC24ZcJovn7s-uTEVuQnJ6r8DMEDxAotO09ja863UQGEl0S2Xal5iVy8gTNr2P1iJ24/s400/spoonbill.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Roseate Spoonbill</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In 1812, after Congress declared war with Great Britain, Audubon went to Philadelphia and became an American citizen. Upon returning to Kentucky, he found that his entire collection - over two hundred drawings - had been destroyed by rats. Despondent and downhearted, he decided to redo his work, but this time even better.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIxQ03slxKZAfl2m3IUAnGJUZYLFHxASolObUTFk6_k3pWwXMwR5knR6jEemwQyUABg8ozjIZDUVvjiCuWFe5SJoBQQypXxVVS5ZPdZ6hBg990TJZaGK9c2x_H42Gw2glK9aprZaA0IM/s1600/Paridae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIxQ03slxKZAfl2m3IUAnGJUZYLFHxASolObUTFk6_k3pWwXMwR5knR6jEemwQyUABg8ozjIZDUVvjiCuWFe5SJoBQQypXxVVS5ZPdZ6hBg990TJZaGK9c2x_H42Gw2glK9aprZaA0IM/s400/Paridae.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="282" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Paridae: (clockwise from top right, in pairs)</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Psaltriparus minimus, Parus atricapillus, Parus rufescens</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His methods for drawing birds were based on his extensive observations from the field. He first killed the birds with fine shot, then wired them into natural poses. He painted the birds in their natural settings, often as though in the midst of motion. </span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uXEiJGG22MmX2q9NDWRkyS1TdymNbzeA7VKfzC0GuGQ2Fx4EZQONqN6AebAKSLAhdpjaINqUMZOcFLZp6e4DNUgyuhmucQv40EiZO5-hx_XL7S0vb7I8liS-JxzfTnYGM-LQZbDltn8/s1600/Flamingo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uXEiJGG22MmX2q9NDWRkyS1TdymNbzeA7VKfzC0GuGQ2Fx4EZQONqN6AebAKSLAhdpjaINqUMZOcFLZp6e4DNUgyuhmucQv40EiZO5-hx_XL7S0vb7I8liS-JxzfTnYGM-LQZbDltn8/s400/Flamingo.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="275" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Greater Flamingo</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Working primarily with layers of watercolor and sometimes gouache, he added pastels or colored chalk for softness. Audubon drew all the birds life-size and placed smaller birds in settings with branches, flowers, fruit and berries. He grouped several species in some drawings on the same page to show contrast. His poses were contrived to reveal as much of bird anatomy as possible, achieving both scientific and artistic efficacy.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sD9mJSnigPVcml_xRWNwS8lMCqFEZj5oyvnpbEs5eINWEN24Vv7Rr8Geo-CBnm1gVXW-S-3paEQhaHHwfSGM6nem0CJF2DVNQMRSwrX514QoVfOm43thJMiCqgkPAeGyrd75smDZrJI/s1600/snowyHeron+or+%253AwhiteEgret.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sD9mJSnigPVcml_xRWNwS8lMCqFEZj5oyvnpbEs5eINWEN24Vv7Rr8Geo-CBnm1gVXW-S-3paEQhaHHwfSGM6nem0CJF2DVNQMRSwrX514QoVfOm43thJMiCqgkPAeGyrd75smDZrJI/s400/snowyHeron+or+%253AwhiteEgret.png" style="cursor: move;" width="337" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Snowy Heron or White Egret</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He took his new collection of drawings to England in 1826. American printers had not been very responsive to his enthusiastic plans to publish life-size prints of hundreds of bird species made from engraved copper plates and hand-colored. </span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJfShMdxTMs5vMEVWYpJcJ9GoIURzOeBJ9ax0AbO6aR6Vulq00qUWCkjOPGLbPpT-P0hKfhCDJcBbATXlFT1Q1hQcAgVHh0CpeBeV46HMUnop2z5PYBj8sDGLSLuvzTTpx6vJWRs2IUU/s1600/Mallard_221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJfShMdxTMs5vMEVWYpJcJ9GoIURzOeBJ9ax0AbO6aR6Vulq00qUWCkjOPGLbPpT-P0hKfhCDJcBbATXlFT1Q1hQcAgVHh0CpeBeV46HMUnop2z5PYBj8sDGLSLuvzTTpx6vJWRs2IUU/s400/Mallard_221.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mallard Ducks</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>Birds of America</u> consists of 435 prints printed on sheets measuring 39 by 26 inches. The printing costs were $115,640 (over $2,000,000 by today’s rates). Besides arranging for the production of his grand opus, he tirelessly promoted it. He raised the money from advance subscriptions, oil painting commissions, exhibitions, and even the sale of animal skins from his hunts.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1BezUoVoZz1jZpWXXfznISZwedj9dOO4oGpied1XynhJ6dWREYcjNEc2F9WJcrj74d8lNv4UuGI1OAyHElitKMbvwHAwc5FGDGRcG_xhFAo2TUq_YjDomYHPGTwr5lW50K6ttIt4mxs/s1600/aud-bluj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1BezUoVoZz1jZpWXXfznISZwedj9dOO4oGpied1XynhJ6dWREYcjNEc2F9WJcrj74d8lNv4UuGI1OAyHElitKMbvwHAwc5FGDGRcG_xhFAo2TUq_YjDomYHPGTwr5lW50K6ttIt4mxs/s400/aud-bluj.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="312" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Blue Jays</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Over fifty colorists were hired to apply each color in an assembly line. The original edition was engraved in aquatint. Robert Havell took over the project when the first ten plates of engraver W. H. Lizars were found subpar. By the 1830s, lithography replaced the aquatint process. He called the new size the double elephant folio since it was double elephant paper size.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKSMw_vbvK_YMP1AtNC7G3bxxYZsvYcFxo7EjTKa7lEZwbdw7EAV_40fJmvLKgYmqWIqSvs6sJfC1LH4_ZCTh2RPhwiOAJhk1G2l0mTBhNLoIJwvGajQCUlXyU8OjnnBNokMJGD2aIP4/s1600/anna%2527s+hummer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKSMw_vbvK_YMP1AtNC7G3bxxYZsvYcFxo7EjTKa7lEZwbdw7EAV_40fJmvLKgYmqWIqSvs6sJfC1LH4_ZCTh2RPhwiOAJhk1G2l0mTBhNLoIJwvGajQCUlXyU8OjnnBNokMJGD2aIP4/s400/anna%2527s+hummer.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="317" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anna's Hummingbird</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Criticized for not ordering the plates in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linnaean_taxonomy">Linnaean order</a> (like a scientific treatise), he was more interested in providing a visual tour for the reader. King George IV was a subscriber along with others of nobility. He gave a demonstration of how he propped the birds with wire to arrange their poses. A student at the time, Charles Darwin, was at that demonstration. Darwin quotes Audubon three times in <u>The Origin of Species</u> and in later works.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJLwf6m9xWjmIL2U2L_-pc4a-Q_3PLF74QGzZDZp1Go2axXkBZ6ehpOhNi3IJM0n5Z1MrvgfYtWes9qknEuiS2y6RlNhH2gCScVYZk4WU6sDpXnz5olUEJfKhgjRaKzhu2xD6ZrHW2LE/s1600/384px-Audubon%252C_John_James_%257E_Golden_Eagle%252C_1833-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJLwf6m9xWjmIL2U2L_-pc4a-Q_3PLF74QGzZDZp1Go2axXkBZ6ehpOhNi3IJM0n5Z1MrvgfYtWes9qknEuiS2y6RlNhH2gCScVYZk4WU6sDpXnz5olUEJfKhgjRaKzhu2xD6ZrHW2LE/s400/384px-Audubon%252C_John_James_%257E_Golden_Eagle%252C_1833-4.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="256" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Golden Eagle</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Audubon has had a vast influence on natural history and ornithology. His high standards set the bar for future works. Among his accomplishments were the discovery of twenty-five new species and twelve subspecies. In his journals, he warned about loss of habitats and over-hunting. Birds that have become extinct, including the Carolina Parakeet, Passenger Pigeon, and Great Auk, are only known to us from his prints. This follows in the steps of a predecessor, <a href="http://www.cerebralboinkfest.blogspot.com/2012/03/miracle-of-age-forerunner-of-audubon.html">Ustad Mansur</a>, the Mughal artist who most famously left us with a true depiction of a dodo bird.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JQOpcU3lT7S393bJjWRL8PeE0Pg1ygHFfu-1bJAS-o1RmVqalzXFB0rlL48t7QcWCsnIIYXtFD6UXmgATi7kggb6A0s1u2alcraTVWOPtVatYX6B8o9p_Ngw9lfalgLvFr3MpDY3WWk/s1600/403px-Campephilus_principalisAWP066AA2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JQOpcU3lT7S393bJjWRL8PeE0Pg1ygHFfu-1bJAS-o1RmVqalzXFB0rlL48t7QcWCsnIIYXtFD6UXmgATi7kggb6A0s1u2alcraTVWOPtVatYX6B8o9p_Ngw9lfalgLvFr3MpDY3WWk/s400/403px-Campephilus_principalisAWP066AA2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="267" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ivory-billed Woodpecker</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His next work was a sequel entitled <u>Ornithological Biographies</u>, written with a Scottish ornithologist, William MacGillivray. Both books were published between 1827 and 1839, but separately to avoid having to provide a copy of <u>Birds of America</u> to the Crown libraries, as required by law for any books with text.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioy0XGHpz74oQ98Zfi-tSwahxhIvGjTSPN1u-Qpv7xU9XYKxK6kgyrS5f1ryrnXnWTKMPTa-pgtkOe-B_jcXKdvQeuUNTa5V2mmZsI8tJcMAdH77gfiyMUeB3P1M2gdvA9LlB5j5Brqao/s1600/800px-41_Ruffed_Grouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioy0XGHpz74oQ98Zfi-tSwahxhIvGjTSPN1u-Qpv7xU9XYKxK6kgyrS5f1ryrnXnWTKMPTa-pgtkOe-B_jcXKdvQeuUNTa5V2mmZsI8tJcMAdH77gfiyMUeB3P1M2gdvA9LlB5j5Brqao/s400/800px-41_Ruffed_Grouse.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ruffled Grouse</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In 1839-1844, he published an octavo edition of <u>Birds of America</u> with an additional 65 plates. These were approximate 10-1/2 by 6-3/4 inches. The earliest editions were bound in seven volumes, editions after 1865 in eight volumes. This edition was first published in fascicles (parts) in an effort to make it more affordable, and therefore accessible to libraries and to more people. Each fascicle cost $1, and the entire set cost $100. Once collected, most subscribers had them bound in volumes.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKc_TFgIOtMtCQ6u0RJk_3lK71MDaK5bu6q61y-mgqJr4qnU86Y9KiS8biGYBI4MPpmWbfmEKT2V6CWYfLuoSgi0Wsg5DnjjVZw1uepLWZrHixWU8RTldiReBcCMNk7n2W-dkvrWjBq8/s1600/smallpart4frontcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKc_TFgIOtMtCQ6u0RJk_3lK71MDaK5bu6q61y-mgqJr4qnU86Y9KiS8biGYBI4MPpmWbfmEKT2V6CWYfLuoSgi0Wsg5DnjjVZw1uepLWZrHixWU8RTldiReBcCMNk7n2W-dkvrWjBq8/s400/smallpart4frontcover.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="266" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fascicle of Part 4</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The <u>Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America</u>, his final work which focused on documenting mammals, was written in collaboration with Rev. John Bachman, who supplied most of the scientific text. This was completed by his sons and son-in-law posthumously.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDwZF3OjTFlf59tbTugLnNqY41uBtCVCx_k7p3pQLxKeVmNIqR4Yl2K8B7JHup0-M8Bmi2B2VNeYGEvuul3atdduLY4CoO5peJXu2QFelzLCaxlcgnoi6DOkUAUxUKb3hHMXLsSnnEkc/s1600/a0000939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDwZF3OjTFlf59tbTugLnNqY41uBtCVCx_k7p3pQLxKeVmNIqR4Yl2K8B7JHup0-M8Bmi2B2VNeYGEvuul3atdduLY4CoO5peJXu2QFelzLCaxlcgnoi6DOkUAUxUKb3hHMXLsSnnEkc/s400/a0000939.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="256" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Snowy Owl</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">John Woodhouse Audubon devoted himself entirely to continuing the work of his father. They worked together on the series <u>The Quadrapeds of North America</u> (the “Viviparous” was dropped), but when John James became too ill to continue, John Woodhouse ended up doing most of the drawings. Because of the dangers of working closely with live animals, caged or dead ones were used as models. Since this was more unwieldy than staging bird poses, their animal paintings were not as successful, and are rather gloomy.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJj9O_XoldVZ6Vvzh_J6DnMXFHpVymErCGDM4IJzunxJpykUWp1VM-bTBl9D_ndNgI2_6Q_TFdarrVuPAxb3HyfsF5INFwT7JD3aAqfABGXQhSa6M70JHwVn2LjxZhJ26ck1y6WyBlaE/s1600/Audubon+Mountain+Brook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJj9O_XoldVZ6Vvzh_J6DnMXFHpVymErCGDM4IJzunxJpykUWp1VM-bTBl9D_ndNgI2_6Q_TFdarrVuPAxb3HyfsF5INFwT7JD3aAqfABGXQhSa6M70JHwVn2LjxZhJ26ck1y6WyBlaE/s400/Audubon+Mountain+Brook.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mountain Brook Minks, 1848 by John Woodhouse Audubon.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.wildlifeart.org/Artists/ArtistDetails/index.php?aID=295">National Museum of Wildlife Ar</a>t</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Despite being under the shadow of his father, John Woodhouse’s contributions are valuable. His brother, Victor Gifford Audubon, also continued the family tradition of wildlife painting, but is the least known of the Audubon family.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucJUuEQKk38TiAEDkH-w4R9WoapFVoORmVIeqTW15CnhEymNLxOlObk8oqO4QF_7ejvTeHuc_KdqWNX_t0BbFanlk5ZgdMR6HoYQWEpmW4yan6wi7UGSpOsyKCdpqWDSnGx4mrYtxzlk/s1600/a0005731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucJUuEQKk38TiAEDkH-w4R9WoapFVoORmVIeqTW15CnhEymNLxOlObk8oqO4QF_7ejvTeHuc_KdqWNX_t0BbFanlk5ZgdMR6HoYQWEpmW4yan6wi7UGSpOsyKCdpqWDSnGx4mrYtxzlk/s400/a0005731.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="262" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Passenger Pigeons</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(now extinct)</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lucy Audubon sold all 435 of the original watercolors to the New York Historical Society, after her husband’s death. Desperate for money, she later sold all but 80 of the original copper plates to the Phelps Dodge Corporation, who melted them down and sold them for scrap.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykb4GAs4jMVFPalSz9Tz7O7CWQyXQZRacshX7jANRN0tqRMgGtCVNZ_cNG1yAoBxIPk2945Z6LolJxE7lHQJSvn0h1R0jd2Jo0_EUwl_HoVFmRKrxF84lgfMuYz6W-kPNPRVCVMC3cdU/s1600/audubon+auction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykb4GAs4jMVFPalSz9Tz7O7CWQyXQZRacshX7jANRN0tqRMgGtCVNZ_cNG1yAoBxIPk2945Z6LolJxE7lHQJSvn0h1R0jd2Jo0_EUwl_HoVFmRKrxF84lgfMuYz6W-kPNPRVCVMC3cdU/s400/audubon+auction.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sotheby's Mary Engleheart shown with copy of <i>Birds of America</i></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">auctioned <a href="http://www.sothebys.com/app/live/lot/LotDetail.jsp?lot_id=159609287">December</a>, 2010. Photo by Pitarakis/AP.</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Considered the world’s most expensive printed book, one of the 119 copies still extant was sold on January 20th of this year at <a href="http://www.christies.com/about/press-center/releases/pressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=5335">Christie's</a>. This was the "Duke of Portland" set acquired by William Henry Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, the fourth Duke of Portland (1768-1854) some time after 1838. Reported to be in excellent condition, it was sold to a private American collector for $7,922,500. The <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704250704576005751646141670.html">highest amount</a> paid for the four-volume set was in December of 2010 when Michael Tollemache, a London fine art dealer and bird lover, purchased one for $11.5 million. Of the 119 remaining copies of the book, only a few are in private hands, the rest (estimated to be 108) belong to libraries, universities, and museums. </span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QuNaXIaSVrLIWqbb75OpD2XmeVG9v1eK-CwcnzpLBZrUcn5PKFVp5bLLz0aqfXsu4i0_PQp7oFGBrLOnP7_6WKITRZ4DxW37FPlk7IOm4c4c-AqiJBQ72jenP_bd3LOA04VGaTt4G4M/s1600/Audubon+in+later+yrs+byFredricks%252CCharlesDeForest1823-1894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QuNaXIaSVrLIWqbb75OpD2XmeVG9v1eK-CwcnzpLBZrUcn5PKFVp5bLLz0aqfXsu4i0_PQp7oFGBrLOnP7_6WKITRZ4DxW37FPlk7IOm4c4c-AqiJBQ72jenP_bd3LOA04VGaTt4G4M/s400/Audubon+in+later+yrs+byFredricks%252CCharlesDeForest1823-1894.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="301" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Photograph of John James Audubon just prior to his death</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">by photographer Charles DeForest Fredricks</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">John James Audubon was a talented artist and salesman, whose exacting efforts to record the creatures he loved yielded one of the most impressive books ever made. A unique man, he envisioned his dreams and brought them to fruition. That is certainly worth millions of dollars.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">***************</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of the <a href="http://www.nga.gov/">National Gallery of Art</a>.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">An earlier version of this post appeared on <a href="http://www.booktryst.com/2010/11/rara-avis-rarus-libri-rare-man.html">Booktryst</a>.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">******************************</span></div></div><div></div></div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-70951460537226350372012-03-07T00:01:00.002-08:002012-03-07T00:01:00.291-08:00The "Miracle of the Age" - a Forerunner of Audubon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdji2ZnYPe_yyeBbuA2RNeGemhgd9uIuDy8RCXgEJLsxnhD4ZdWTh2gPrgWlG0SZSyT3QH2jylo3CGgo0-p2_6pdvzXyrCrTqBIyZ9T-lDWubht_QTqvhuAHcDJUHFXT-8J82R2H82PiH/s1600/Velazquez-The_Triumphof_Bacchusorthe_Drunkards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdji2ZnYPe_yyeBbuA2RNeGemhgd9uIuDy8RCXgEJLsxnhD4ZdWTh2gPrgWlG0SZSyT3QH2jylo3CGgo0-p2_6pdvzXyrCrTqBIyZ9T-lDWubht_QTqvhuAHcDJUHFXT-8J82R2H82PiH/s400/Velazquez-The_Triumphof_Bacchusorthe_Drunkards.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Los Borrachos </i>or <i>The Drunks</i>, 1629, by Diego Velázquez. <br />
Velázquez served as court painter for Philip IV of Spain.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Court painters were artists who were employed by members of a royal or noble family. Sometimes they were given a fixed salary; sometimes they were employed on an exclusive basis. In some eras and locations, this freed them from the restrictions of their local guilds. Hans Dürer, Jan van Eyck, Francisco Goya, Hans Holbein the Younger, Peter Paul Rubens, Titian, and Diego Velázquez are some of the European artists who spent time as court painters. Some, such as Velázquez, also served other capacities in court, such as diplomats or administrators.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEgmEzTcOv0lVfaZEehOYhULlXBEgLer85YvZu1K3tjcL5UUku7pL-HfjZN0EkonVFiTtzanG48XmTL8EY0GcVLsxaJ8utwpMJGapQeeh3Q0iAiB8lKndV0XmBIz5ydxZ6vHfkH7Ny4bC/s1600/407px-Jahangir_-_Abu_al-Hasan.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEgmEzTcOv0lVfaZEehOYhULlXBEgLer85YvZu1K3tjcL5UUku7pL-HfjZN0EkonVFiTtzanG48XmTL8EY0GcVLsxaJ8utwpMJGapQeeh3Q0iAiB8lKndV0XmBIz5ydxZ6vHfkH7Ny4bC/s400/407px-Jahangir_-_Abu_al-Hasan.jpeg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mughal ruler Jahangir, 1617, attributed to Abu al-Hasan. <br />
Measuring six feet tall, this is a life-size painting and sold<br />
At Bonhams in April of 2011 for approx. $2,239,482.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
In Islamic cultures, notably between the 14th and 17th centuries, rulers maintained ateliers or court workshops for artists, in particular for miniaturists, calligraphers, and other artists and craftsmen. These became the princely courts' focus of patronage, whether Muslim or Hindu. The Mughal emperors were keenly interested in recording their reflections on art, science, and the world around them. Jahangir, son of Akbar and father of Shah Jahan of <a href="http://cerebralboinkfest.blogspot.com/2011/12/ultimate-monument-to-love.html">Taj Mahal</a> fame, was especially known for his love of nature and his writing. He recorded detailed descriptions of wildlife in his memoirs, the <u>Jahangirnama</u>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3pTWA39BO2R5T2MeeGhrv2jC-wkVkiSPo2783mFP4VFv-U-GKdA_tlPh-o8fAAIffZsh9Kty9VP6JgW8IZnT-BoYADhw0rmpoW1oMoP4jHURE9IpNt7C2mLv647bAozXEYRuU2SdxQzP/s1600/painting1-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3pTWA39BO2R5T2MeeGhrv2jC-wkVkiSPo2783mFP4VFv-U-GKdA_tlPh-o8fAAIffZsh9Kty9VP6JgW8IZnT-BoYADhw0rmpoW1oMoP4jHURE9IpNt7C2mLv647bAozXEYRuU2SdxQzP/s400/painting1-3.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Nilgai Ibue cow by Mansur, courtesy of Wikigallery.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3urL3sIHT1TlyPZbdEAifZiXHOahFNb-LqNr1RHGGvYPoktYEhLZ7N6k4wyfvNitO0Pmf4BShE3NJmgOKJqWkPk1HoCruY5HgAgST_YJgcpCuK8et8uS0IWDnw_PGd8DiXv3UgcZxlga/s1600/Ustad_Mansur_Truthahn.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3urL3sIHT1TlyPZbdEAifZiXHOahFNb-LqNr1RHGGvYPoktYEhLZ7N6k4wyfvNitO0Pmf4BShE3NJmgOKJqWkPk1HoCruY5HgAgST_YJgcpCuK8et8uS0IWDnw_PGd8DiXv3UgcZxlga/s400/Ustad_Mansur_Truthahn.jpeg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A turkey cock by Mansur, 1612.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Jahangir was a keen birdwatcher and observer of animals. Even zoologists had not discovered the gestation period of elephants until the mid-nineteenth century, but Jahangir had estimated that it was approximately eighteen months in the early seventeenth century. He was a connoisseur of art, and his court painters, of whom he was justly very proud, have provided scholars today with accurate records of his time and reign. One of his court painters was Ustad Mansur.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcK1CLphSZymnNB6sDpQNucJSPWq6E0LFUqwN384LvI3VQud2FfjcY4Nt63igOVeT33uB6GLdp5jDs-vUTRTPfZ56w_1gELUn-XqkOKRxz61Em_MaQYF4T3oLJl3hq4RcE5xg-oRGCdYL/s1600/painting1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcK1CLphSZymnNB6sDpQNucJSPWq6E0LFUqwN384LvI3VQud2FfjcY4Nt63igOVeT33uB6GLdp5jDs-vUTRTPfZ56w_1gELUn-XqkOKRxz61Em_MaQYF4T3oLJl3hq4RcE5xg-oRGCdYL/s400/painting1.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait of a falcon from north India, 1619.<br />
Image courtesy of Wikigallery.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94VRKwDvootNCbxkl1PcumZj0bsYo_O8WLHmNDRWOeTyLLoJmy3Iql1_IOBx_b96r5stf7BmNLJIrBUoXWcml8pj4nR_H2kQUdjBrzli8bmtvYZw0VX6H4BfIoQgK08Lh8IjPWz0S1Zv_/s1600/painting1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94VRKwDvootNCbxkl1PcumZj0bsYo_O8WLHmNDRWOeTyLLoJmy3Iql1_IOBx_b96r5stf7BmNLJIrBUoXWcml8pj4nR_H2kQUdjBrzli8bmtvYZw0VX6H4BfIoQgK08Lh8IjPWz0S1Zv_/s400/painting1-2.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indian lapwing, 1600. Image courtesy of Wikigallery.</td></tr>
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Ustad Mansur began his career as a minor painter in the court of Akbar. When he was painting in the court of Jahangir, he became noted for his depictions of plants and animals. His attained such skills that Jahangir dubbed him <i>Nadir-ul-Asar</i>, or "Miracle of the Age". ("Ustad" means "master.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-sllvedIqmQ4uFmu8NPpPgtBix-11vwm3VCyOdg_0DkQgdSTmNAlOkIao8CXD5iNHHj01dLFcVtqlnrWve6QWoEtH-WEAfrF-WXgEUvw2ZwivVTeMLDIvVU1-3OtJOinv7q7HD1cPwq3/s1600/Mansur_chameleon_corr-341x269-custom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-sllvedIqmQ4uFmu8NPpPgtBix-11vwm3VCyOdg_0DkQgdSTmNAlOkIao8CXD5iNHHj01dLFcVtqlnrWve6QWoEtH-WEAfrF-WXgEUvw2ZwivVTeMLDIvVU1-3OtJOinv7q7HD1cPwq3/s400/Mansur_chameleon_corr-341x269-custom.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A chameleon, which may have acquired from traders at Goa.<br />
Image courtesy Royal Library, <a href="http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/egallery/maker.asp?maker=12247">Windsor</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Because of his interest in nature, and it was customary for Mughal rulers to keep zoos and gardens of exotic plants, Jahangir bought rare creatures from the Portuguese colony of Goa on the western coast of India. One of these creatures was the dodo. Mansur was the first artist to paint the dodo (that we have extant proof) and it is thanks to his painting that we know what it looked like. Others have produced images of the dodo, but from skeletal remains and eyewitness account; Mansur painted his from life.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxreUZ6cFQCSK5PnDImR5g-iD0BTUsColMz37YnmpfUl5dQv5xZA3Sfj5lRTd4TbUMBFAQ7884CZRoEXconVg5MB_toR7mDoXQ7EnaUj19T46u5-twR6i-XC_gepUgMy8bYOWdC91DA3yJ/s1600/373px-DodoMansur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxreUZ6cFQCSK5PnDImR5g-iD0BTUsColMz37YnmpfUl5dQv5xZA3Sfj5lRTd4TbUMBFAQ7884CZRoEXconVg5MB_toR7mDoXQ7EnaUj19T46u5-twR6i-XC_gepUgMy8bYOWdC91DA3yJ/s400/373px-DodoMansur.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mansur's depiction of a dodo, center, c. 1610.<br />
The others are (clockwise from upper left):<br />
Loriculus galgulus, Tragopan melanocephalus, <br />
Anser indicus, and Pterocles indicus.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Mansur also was the first to paint a Siberian Crane (also known as a Snow Crane), and painted the rare Bengal Florican, or Bengal Bustard. Both the Siberian Crane and the Bengal Florican are signed works, and can be viewed in the Kolkata Indian Museum.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GvEEvFXjYtoYjViY2ijujIbBb-HqJEKGERMeTHohpitC0MrkjB2TyfZG3yWY_1BWrntUA08QO6wRsa3L1tdkGFo0vRKDwlH5abR8p4qnup24QN7YiWLBJzPo_5sN3I_yxkbMlwznUqg7/s1600/375416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GvEEvFXjYtoYjViY2ijujIbBb-HqJEKGERMeTHohpitC0MrkjB2TyfZG3yWY_1BWrntUA08QO6wRsa3L1tdkGFo0vRKDwlH5abR8p4qnup24QN7YiWLBJzPo_5sN3I_yxkbMlwznUqg7/s400/375416.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Himilayan cheer pheasant.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdFo-EbYLuk0qw3SpNqeAqtriByeRqDpfrb80EEOOIUx1NSYMAdKE2HxmMqW4N9ugkyxeD34ChibHbAyHmeBzG-TSaZniZy4te_lrWonmad-2j6T3RBo31VFOqgcnTivY3xfvASn2pJza/s1600/GM863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdFo-EbYLuk0qw3SpNqeAqtriByeRqDpfrb80EEOOIUx1NSYMAdKE2HxmMqW4N9ugkyxeD34ChibHbAyHmeBzG-TSaZniZy4te_lrWonmad-2j6T3RBo31VFOqgcnTivY3xfvASn2pJza/s400/GM863.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of several zebras Mansur painted.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Most of Mansur's work is unsigned, which is a hallmark of Mughal painting - the genre did not celebrate the individual fame of the artist. In the <u>Jahangirnama</u> it states that on a trip to the Kashmir Valley, Mansur painted over a hundred flowers.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIrU0ggL1ZHgma913SosKafh136QcQ8ivbW_wdkVACifroK0LDOOZnH_x3G-0mfw0ZZ6DhjBV6O79yJYgjQ4wr5-f8TQF0sHYoryb5kjasQyqwfFsx6vCGVz1OB4kinE27HNrmT7FIwPs/s1600/Mansurtulip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIrU0ggL1ZHgma913SosKafh136QcQ8ivbW_wdkVACifroK0LDOOZnH_x3G-0mfw0ZZ6DhjBV6O79yJYgjQ4wr5-f8TQF0sHYoryb5kjasQyqwfFsx6vCGVz1OB4kinE27HNrmT7FIwPs/s400/Mansurtulip.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This tulip painting is the only signed flower painting.<br />
It states: "Jahangirshahi, the work of the slave of the<br />
Presence-Chamber, Mansur Naqqash, c. 1610." <br />
Image courtesy of this <a href="http://www.incois.gov.in/Tutor/science+society/index.html">site</a>.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtX3rA-QOuh8e-4qUplbeKL7qU11i6gpLxk7ApphVqQvMYE3J2yyNXLhAEY74VdPKHBqISWFOaizZthYxS8pfybO2O-AX0vpbot1xOZ1Z7aD0WV3CP54ue291lG7txQ4WzQfPl9pcZAUce/s1600/india4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtX3rA-QOuh8e-4qUplbeKL7qU11i6gpLxk7ApphVqQvMYE3J2yyNXLhAEY74VdPKHBqISWFOaizZthYxS8pfybO2O-AX0vpbot1xOZ1Z7aD0WV3CP54ue291lG7txQ4WzQfPl9pcZAUce/s400/india4.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This painting, <i>Squirrels in a Plane Tree</i>, has been<br />
attributed to Abu al-Hasan, a student of Mansur, but<br />
since its title reads "Nadir al-Asr" it may likely be a<br />
collaboration between the two. Since the subjects<br />
are European squirrels, the artist either accompanied<br />
Jahangir to Europe, or these squirrels were brought to<br />
India. Image courtesy of the <a href="http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/index.html">British Library.</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Mansur's talents were well-adapted for scientific documentation, and his works are valuable for their accuracy. Although unsigned, some have been attributable because of Jahangir's written praise for his work. His studies of nature are unsurpassed today, and his reputation as a stellar artist has grown. He remains today <i>Nadir-ul-Asar</i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of Wikipedia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">******************************</div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-30816542847388437342012-03-06T00:01:00.000-08:002012-03-06T00:01:00.173-08:00A Marriage of Painting, Writing, and Music: Illuminated Choir Manuscripts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilT3BmVCMfJCmTUebTMENVlsrZf694LJVWw_6Avx4JZQPnenkAIMCtjcktoVszh6OxTOBMbKnEevHaNqg2vcAjNlDvqrRLWHHJB3d4qW-XNLpZDTdk7aNwT8Qq0ts2eiq-93W2N6J-t0g/s1600/InitialC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilT3BmVCMfJCmTUebTMENVlsrZf694LJVWw_6Avx4JZQPnenkAIMCtjcktoVszh6OxTOBMbKnEevHaNqg2vcAjNlDvqrRLWHHJB3d4qW-XNLpZDTdk7aNwT8Qq0ts2eiq-93W2N6J-t0g/s400/InitialC.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="287" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Initial C: Monks Singing. MS. 24, Leaf 3V.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unknown artist, Italian, circa 1420.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">18-5/16" x 13-5/8"</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Picture a dimly lit church. The scent of incense is in the air, and you hear the sound of chanting. Choristers are clustered in a corner, performing a call and response with one of the monks. In front of them is a lectern, and on top of it is a huge book. It is big enough that they all can read it at the same time. Now swing around behind them and look at the book. It has large notes, and shows the words to be sung. It most likely has illuminated drawings on it, and if it is an especially fine specimen, it will have a large illuminated initial.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtU1bWzNLVd9oy7iDmaUAQBV1S-jBktJG36TfTBw8aj7ZB28Cf_H2TYqLXzGVSY_-BSEmh0YUjg_5B7XAIQkRUvY9saZvSh9B0QLaTA836mziYi1I6DR6Fvi9x8y613d_GiZfxteSYKy8/s1600/monks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtU1bWzNLVd9oy7iDmaUAQBV1S-jBktJG36TfTBw8aj7ZB28Cf_H2TYqLXzGVSY_-BSEmh0YUjg_5B7XAIQkRUvY9saZvSh9B0QLaTA836mziYi1I6DR6Fvi9x8y613d_GiZfxteSYKy8/s400/monks.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Close-up of monks from above image.</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Choirs were an integral part of medieval worship. Since books were very expensive then it wasn’t possible for each member of the choir to have their own. So very large books were made, some beautifully embellished with initials, drawings, borders, and other decorations. The entire choir was able to read and sing from the one book.</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFR3NHdf6h3AP9HEgmLSRS-lArZREenFPfwgsPoaNZ6Tgb06mUBf9L-xpOiDDQUFql8OTfl-LFBNU5ypJMMt4BMyvUrcKIO6nqq4bLpfwG7xPANa2NUiUItDrStu71QRCn0eCmVc5FSZA/s1600/InitialR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFR3NHdf6h3AP9HEgmLSRS-lArZREenFPfwgsPoaNZ6Tgb06mUBf9L-xpOiDDQUFql8OTfl-LFBNU5ypJMMt4BMyvUrcKIO6nqq4bLpfwG7xPANa2NUiUItDrStu71QRCn0eCmVc5FSZA/s400/InitialR.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="270" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Initial R: The Resurrection. MS. LUDWIG VI, FOL. 16</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Antonio da Monza, Italian, late 1400s or early 1500s</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tempera colors and gold leaf on parchment.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">25-1/4" x 17-1/8"</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The books were made by hand, written by a scribe or calligrapher on parchment or vellum. Their production usually required a team of craftsmen working under a master. Some were made in scriptoriums, others in artisan workshops. An illuminator was an artist who decorated the book. A binder then sewed the sheets together into a book and placed them within a cover. The production of a book was commissioned and financed by a patron, sometimes the head of a monastery or cathedral.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4t4AcQB-yvxBjx5pMWwOwoUXgjd1OGu0Wn8nURuN-NG5c__XhZxzBkfez96rCc-ouPDRvI2LAVRoeGNPL_zYSv81iWmPpRN7ytiCuY_fFgJg7A4aC08TZTrmks3knXxKE39XNzl5WWU8/s1600/InitialCcreation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4t4AcQB-yvxBjx5pMWwOwoUXgjd1OGu0Wn8nURuN-NG5c__XhZxzBkfez96rCc-ouPDRvI2LAVRoeGNPL_zYSv81iWmPpRN7ytiCuY_fFgJg7A4aC08TZTrmks3knXxKE39XNzl5WWU8/s400/InitialCcreation.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="286" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Initial C: The Creation of the World. MS. 24, LEAF 5</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Artist unknown, Italian, circa 1420, tempera colors,</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">gold leaf, and ink on parchment. 18-5/16" x 13-5/8"</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Musical chants were an important part of ritual ceremonies. One of these was the Mass, a public ceremony that included the blessing of wine and bread to be consumed. Missals, which contained the spoken prayers and chants that priests performed during Mass, were small and portable. Graduals, containing music and text sung during the year for Mass, became larger as choirs grew in size.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-q3ZEEh1jhc_84xyHEyPYu3d29O-7cg4BOydVZCPgQsUGIUSCoG8ZEuHfiqYYr2DQc-_NAmYUDGVaU9LVHJ1L7XK_kxw2GtvRBnKWATnynLOXkXj1e3w8Olt8aYxpxwRW2KUOjp_ZJA/s1600/Amansinging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-q3ZEEh1jhc_84xyHEyPYu3d29O-7cg4BOydVZCPgQsUGIUSCoG8ZEuHfiqYYr2DQc-_NAmYUDGVaU9LVHJ1L7XK_kxw2GtvRBnKWATnynLOXkXj1e3w8Olt8aYxpxwRW2KUOjp_ZJA/s400/Amansinging.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="347" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Initial A: A man singing. MS. LUDWIG VI 2, FOL. 128V</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Artist unknown, Italian, circa 1460-1480.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tempera colors and gold leaf on parchment.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">23-3/4" x 17-5/16"</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Divine Office is a cycle of prayers that are recited each day at prescribed hours. One of the books used for these is an antiphon. An antiphon is usually in Gregorian chant, and is a response by a choir or congregation to a text, most often a psalm. Antiphons are still integral in Greek Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches.</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqUMa3z6tpcJrauEd_5m2P0z87-KZcXTfxWe5ROP2vm7RSgi717UzrMrCruiCHaQNXm3fEp_UgbCpmbc4gVrq8_knrzkZajfzvoge0TKtYPuSwwyTuJaqbsLUhD8DT8pUAzxax_bUE8w/s1600/InitialAChrist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqUMa3z6tpcJrauEd_5m2P0z87-KZcXTfxWe5ROP2vm7RSgi717UzrMrCruiCHaQNXm3fEp_UgbCpmbc4gVrq8_knrzkZajfzvoge0TKtYPuSwwyTuJaqbsLUhD8DT8pUAzxax_bUE8w/s400/InitialAChrist.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="270" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Initial A: Christ in Majesty. MS. LUDWIG VI, FOL. 2</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Master of Gerona, Italian, 1275-1299. 22-15/16" x 15-13/16"</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From an antiphonal; sung on the first Sunday in Advent.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Depending on the age of the book, the musical notation may be in neumes or in square notation. Neumes are a series of ascending and descending dots and lines. A neume was a symbol that could signify two to four notes. Readers could get a sense of the melody and how long each word should be sung with this notation.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOVOlFruz5slGjicJHSwQgN8SYnKdrIXozJwOfS-REQijtPPT4Bv6-qyl56xergWr9o6u0bki7u73qvaMZu4sxTFTX4blf7-n4iRfVu2zksNeeXRFoVhkFN_y8AeMsDK9cnWtUV_d-0Q/s1600/neumes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOVOlFruz5slGjicJHSwQgN8SYnKdrIXozJwOfS-REQijtPPT4Bv6-qyl56xergWr9o6u0bki7u73qvaMZu4sxTFTX4blf7-n4iRfVu2zksNeeXRFoVhkFN_y8AeMsDK9cnWtUV_d-0Q/s400/neumes.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From a page of the Stammheim Missal, German, circa 1170s.</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The word neumes comes from the Greek word for gestures. They were placed without staffs. Since most singers knew the songs by heart, the neumes served as a reminder of the rises and falls of the melody being sung. So in essence they were a type of shorthand or mnemonic for the melody of a chant.</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbWwllw4Cq0LfLRoniNI3ta1K0B425JaA5QzqWDU99mpjBQYMz-tL7fvhCC-qFfB6VNHTuSZnjwdYYz1fnVl7sUdd1jOK4em2MaDF3NBdHpDCmmOHfX8aBG8S5LugIS8sLLNwdmp8slU/s1600/square_notes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbWwllw4Cq0LfLRoniNI3ta1K0B425JaA5QzqWDU99mpjBQYMz-tL7fvhCC-qFfB6VNHTuSZnjwdYYz1fnVl7sUdd1jOK4em2MaDF3NBdHpDCmmOHfX8aBG8S5LugIS8sLLNwdmp8slU/s400/square_notes.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From a page of a gradual, Italian, circa late 1400s or early 1500s.</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Square notation used a four-line staff with clef notes. Groups of ascending notes were squares, stacked, and read from bottom to top. Descending notes (sometimes diamonds) were read from left to right. Square notation became the standard, and is the precursor to the modern notation used today.</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprPJuVD84vK2O_xF0MKScFHCFbxbn4Z9JUSnvkftnHYycRJKgrLPFtTCLHDB7mNpsGY_5rbz7HpvMx9Gxdbh_BuonI_HrmtdhlW5kOLai_wv32TH-Nixd1QAvL9oNH1RSfqmgQWjO9x8/s1600/initial_e_isaiah_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprPJuVD84vK2O_xF0MKScFHCFbxbn4Z9JUSnvkftnHYycRJKgrLPFtTCLHDB7mNpsGY_5rbz7HpvMx9Gxdbh_BuonI_HrmtdhlW5kOLai_wv32TH-Nixd1QAvL9oNH1RSfqmgQWjO9x8/s400/initial_e_isaiah_lg.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="268" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Initial E: The Prophet Isaiah. MS. 97, leaf 3V;</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bohemian, circa 1405. Tempera colors, gold leaf,</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and gold paint on parchment. 22-3/8" x 15-13/16"</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Many of these religious volumes are difficult to read today, due to the lettering style and the abbreviations. Although printed books were introduced in the mid-fifteenth century, the production of handmade books continued for approximately another century.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtAT5z_2vSrZgbYlvs6BRky-ZdLJEOakH-oe26kw_CO6wGCvcc0mAEClzp12LGGx8Ee-M88cLmOWDz6jWYaoMc9YAqKIdL238Q5UfGLXOZdt_09NnwyISgrFPbbO9rPw3_oUkYggj-2Q/s1600/MstGerona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtAT5z_2vSrZgbYlvs6BRky-ZdLJEOakH-oe26kw_CO6wGCvcc0mAEClzp12LGGx8Ee-M88cLmOWDz6jWYaoMc9YAqKIdL238Q5UfGLXOZdt_09NnwyISgrFPbbO9rPw3_oUkYggj-2Q/s400/MstGerona.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="315" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Illuminator known as the Master of Gerona. MS. LUDWIG VI 6.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Italian, late 1200s. Tempera colors, gold leaf, and</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ink on parchment. 22-15/16" x 15-13/16"</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The illuminated initial usually came at the beginning of a passage or a paragraph. These letters were both a source of beauty and served to help the choir to find their place. (Remember those churches were dimly lit.) It was common for a “V” to be written as a “U”, and vice versa.</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9jR2v_r58CwvOnKvo43gSjkieKz_SYbNzQg77wBRnsWaspTrZ3R2eoePNBMAnHRPICj2Y7dxiTAvgIstyhAei9u9w6U9m_mDuCWBjZxNhTTduuz2WY5uo9slSIvd2e8P8i79CbfTWVc/s1600/antonio+da+monza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9jR2v_r58CwvOnKvo43gSjkieKz_SYbNzQg77wBRnsWaspTrZ3R2eoePNBMAnHRPICj2Y7dxiTAvgIstyhAei9u9w6U9m_mDuCWBjZxNhTTduuz2WY5uo9slSIvd2e8P8i79CbfTWVc/s400/antonio+da+monza.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Close-up from a page from a gradual illuminated by Antonio da Monza.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Italian, late 1400s or early 1500s. MS. LUDWIG VI 3.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tempura colors, gold leaf and ink on parchment. 25-5/16" x 17-1/8".</span></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These beautiful volumes were made and used in Europe beginning around 500 C.E., and in some areas their use continued into the early part of the 20<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> century. They serve as historical documents revealing to us the songs that were sung, the production methods of books, and many of the illustrations provide a glimpse into the life of their respective eras. We cannot hear their voices, but we can imagine...</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">***************</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All images courtesy of the <a href="http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/music_masses/" style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Getty</span></a><span style="color: #1d1d1d;">: © 2010 The J. Paul Getty Trust. </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d;">All rights reserved.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> An earlier version of this post was published on <a href="http://www.booktryst.com/2010/11/music-writ-large-with-illuminated-choir.html">Booktryst.</a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d;">******************************</span></span></div></div></div></div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-10766289068608315022012-02-23T00:01:00.001-08:002012-02-23T07:08:25.046-08:00Art and the World's First Novel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNq3ZZrwj6NDJV3ZpPuk0lnnrvX8HaVIBPscDouK494K8ARqdRsmKojVPfUkOYd5fmjwK7A2VZqg6bI9zxTXJ6LxQnXsrf_xQhfQJzFUNQG70xQHP8OsJhyphenhyphenrpbt8tMgXtXVgyXqEuEXA1/s1600/Tosa_Mitsuoki_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNq3ZZrwj6NDJV3ZpPuk0lnnrvX8HaVIBPscDouK494K8ARqdRsmKojVPfUkOYd5fmjwK7A2VZqg6bI9zxTXJ6LxQnXsrf_xQhfQJzFUNQG70xQHP8OsJhyphenhyphenrpbt8tMgXtXVgyXqEuEXA1/s400/Tosa_Mitsuoki_001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A portrait of Murakasi Shikibu by Tosa Mitsuoki, painted<br />
in Yamato-e, the classical Japanese style, 12th century.</td></tr>
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What is generally acknowledged as the world's first novel was written by a Japanese woman a thousand years ago. <u>The Tale of Genji</u>, by Murakasi Shikibu (known as Lady Murakasi in the West), is regarded to be an accurate description of life in the imperial court in the Heian era (794 - 1185 CE). The daughter of a scholar and an officer of the court, she was given a male's education. Being a lady-in-waiting herself, she was privy to life at court.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlbe21VriEG3B2OgZSYmeMd7Hqhe9jpoDFe08_T0DsROVEnX5Jl7WWbmlys1ql0aOK2Udarpnvht2dvZOc2ADKIN4WA77N-1rJTChgO96Znj6DXPlaYHguCrRrw_xkON4SgNQNN97BGoU/s1600/Murasaki_Shikibu_Diary_Emakimono_(Gotoh_Museum)_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlbe21VriEG3B2OgZSYmeMd7Hqhe9jpoDFe08_T0DsROVEnX5Jl7WWbmlys1ql0aOK2Udarpnvht2dvZOc2ADKIN4WA77N-1rJTChgO96Znj6DXPlaYHguCrRrw_xkON4SgNQNN97BGoU/s400/Murasaki_Shikibu_Diary_Emakimono_(Gotoh_Museum)_6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>The Murakasi Shikibu Diary</u>, attributed to Fujiwara Nobuzane<br />
(illustrations) and Kujo Yoshitsune (calligraphy),<br />
Gotoh Museum, 13th Century.</td></tr>
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There are three works that are attributed to her - <u>The Murakasi Shikibu Diary</u>, <u>The Murasaki Shikibu Collection</u> (128 of her poems), and <u>The Tale of Genji</u>. <u>Genji</u> was written in 54 installments, chapter by chapter, and distributed to the women of the court. Since it was deemed inappropriate to use real names in the Heian court, none of the characters have names but are referred to by their roles, functions, relationships to others, or by an honorific. There is one central character and a large number of major and minor characters.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEUz_tGYTFeAWDZs70uoaLVxmbsoTtfe3I80y6GmjnOfek7JNyVnJvuyog2bif5u9TSY52Ar98g2xEnbbsq_4NJBtO9Tp48qOIm8ziXuvuAX9gG1kpXrmk2l3lQ1rF4vHMpjTEtNIUl4e/s1600/genji4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEUz_tGYTFeAWDZs70uoaLVxmbsoTtfe3I80y6GmjnOfek7JNyVnJvuyog2bif5u9TSY52Ar98g2xEnbbsq_4NJBtO9Tp48qOIm8ziXuvuAX9gG1kpXrmk2l3lQ1rF4vHMpjTEtNIUl4e/s400/genji4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Genji Monogatari Emaki</i>, Chapter 50, "Eastern Cottage",<br />
Tokugawa Art Museum, 12th Century.</td></tr>
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The novel contains no central plot, but the evolving story of the characters in time has amazing consistency. As it was erudite and conventional to write and send poems, especially after a lovers' tryst, the novel contains some. The original manuscript no longer exists, but there is an extraordinary piece that is a blend of literature and art - the<i> Genji Monogatari Emaki </i>- believed to have been created between 1120 and 1130 CE.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQ_ufc7GZyHg_z6fb2F5wwV62Ne4Lg8DKe3j2aF4g6AZWsmyKLOIkHeTJacUiF-mu-giqXkiVGgSfWNuY2BcC4GmperNt1UZCym0t3ca2VMIDT0ZjEWYH9iN8uwM7AknZS7fNfbiouRJU/s1600/Genji_emaki_01003_006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQ_ufc7GZyHg_z6fb2F5wwV62Ne4Lg8DKe3j2aF4g6AZWsmyKLOIkHeTJacUiF-mu-giqXkiVGgSfWNuY2BcC4GmperNt1UZCym0t3ca2VMIDT0ZjEWYH9iN8uwM7AknZS7fNfbiouRJU/s400/Genji_emaki_01003_006.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Genji Monogatari Emaki</i>, Chapter 38, "The Bell Cricket",<br />
Gotoh Museum, 12th Century.</td></tr>
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Monogatari is a literary form of Japanese literature that is comparable to an epic. Closely related to oral tradition, it is usually about a fictional story, such as <u>The Tale of Genji</u>. While the form peaked during the 10th and 11th centuries, the word is often used for modern tales. <u>The Lord of the Rings</u> is known in Japan as <u>The Yubiwa Monogatari</u>. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdNsMu6Nqja6wa_11A5q8OVs74jRbRGNv5XCle3epEx9X5rxt-NUA_xT06S9Gjy9iwCuvkWtxPRkTK-2mvLZp-sodh0Xpc2D8KKaqU3lXzTmUQ353usLTfRNipxY6cAFQPNSH_PXMEVJ8/s1600/geni6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdNsMu6Nqja6wa_11A5q8OVs74jRbRGNv5XCle3epEx9X5rxt-NUA_xT06S9Gjy9iwCuvkWtxPRkTK-2mvLZp-sodh0Xpc2D8KKaqU3lXzTmUQ353usLTfRNipxY6cAFQPNSH_PXMEVJ8/s400/geni6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Genji Monogatari Emaki</i>, Chapter 37, "Flute",<br />
Tokugawa Art Museum, 12th Century.</td></tr>
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The<i> Genji Monogatari Emaki</i> (an emaki is a scroll) is both the oldest surviving scroll depicting <u>The Tale of Genji</u>, and the oldest surviving non-Buddhist scroll in Japan. Commissioned by rulers and members of the aristocracy, they were created by the best artists of their time, and were never intended for public view. There are other versions of the <i>Genji Monogatari Emaki</i>, but the one pictured here is the most famous, and the term without other explanation refers to this version.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyawnREv6lzeN1dzJEh4Gns4fp5gBDjmgF179biK0uexKycJVhjDjlgd-oStICMPerOMFDRCyyG5Hp12Ok6tL-QInHXY6BIFGZIuqWgHz69HF0fYzwN0mYDysFG1T29c8h2W586HJTDQK/s1600/genji3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyawnREv6lzeN1dzJEh4Gns4fp5gBDjmgF179biK0uexKycJVhjDjlgd-oStICMPerOMFDRCyyG5Hp12Ok6tL-QInHXY6BIFGZIuqWgHz69HF0fYzwN0mYDysFG1T29c8h2W586HJTDQK/s400/genji3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Genji Monogatari Emaki</i>, Chapter 45, "Lady at the Bridge",<br />
Tokugawa Art Museum, 12th Century.</td></tr>
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The original scroll consisted of ten to twenty rolls, with over 100 paintings and 300 sheets of calligraphy, making it approximately 450 feet long. What survives are only 19 paintings, 65 sheets of calligraphy, and 9 pages of fragments, which is roughly 15 percent of the original scroll. There are two painting conventions from this era that were used in the <i>Genji Monogatari Emaki</i>. The first technique is <i>funkinuki yatai</i>, which means "blown away roof". It is a compositional technique used to depict an architectural interior. A building is rendered without a roof so the gazer has a bird's eye view of the interior.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIPmAK8yW_ET69fu2ETBKGD2u98xClYS2_iSxho0TscXKawGgHnedgpGbVp9s42DTLsCG4S8Qv0n8Tkx-KVAIpVm0VwAclKthudp_bl4zb1Px0vFll4-w82Sx0e7Wj-_fe_6z5XT0O8P6/s1600/genji1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIPmAK8yW_ET69fu2ETBKGD2u98xClYS2_iSxho0TscXKawGgHnedgpGbVp9s42DTLsCG4S8Qv0n8Tkx-KVAIpVm0VwAclKthudp_bl4zb1Px0vFll4-w82Sx0e7Wj-_fe_6z5XT0O8P6/s400/genji1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Genji Monogatari Emaki</i>, Chapter 44, "Bamboo River",<br />
Tokugawa Art Museum, 12th Century.</td></tr>
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The second technique is <i>hikime kagibana</i>, literally "slit eyes, hooked nose". This was used to illustrate people. Faces done in this style were always drawn at an angle, eyes as straight lines, noses as hooked lines, and small mouths like circles. The faces in the <i>Genji Monogatari Emaki</i> do have some variations; later paintings done in this style were less expressive.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoraEtU6GJ7-uaP72UtGb_jz0GLumoClhOHU-EowYY7ukKHq8c11lfbUXg-IcqLtzanIE6ecSABwsung-e5Kb0nGovrwCIOWgPONi0Bl4TKofuH4wdJxmXFtRS-pRyNylnpe3D8Vk3zl9v/s1600/Genji_emaki_01003_009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoraEtU6GJ7-uaP72UtGb_jz0GLumoClhOHU-EowYY7ukKHq8c11lfbUXg-IcqLtzanIE6ecSABwsung-e5Kb0nGovrwCIOWgPONi0Bl4TKofuH4wdJxmXFtRS-pRyNylnpe3D8Vk3zl9v/s400/Genji_emaki_01003_009.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Genji Monogatari Emaki,</i> Chapter 39, "Evening Mist",<br />
Tokugawa Art Museum, 12th Century.</td></tr>
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The calligraphers of the <i>Genji Monogatari Emaki</i> did not use just one style of calligraphy. The different styles were picked for aesthetic purposes rather than for facile reading of the text. Because of this it is hard for even experts to decipher. It is assumed that one reason this was done was so the focus would be on the paintings, and not the reading of the script.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccVQmNyl2l5N9qKIIzQhxmOWGi98idSUkDvmFmf226zzjgbJyXjjM51Jcz8PCT1mzeD3gpASDCz0JRoajxb8-_hMZEzjl9yyQNo61E058iOyWL9pD-gyT7tU9HzrMLE5gTUzOeyBZCr7V/s1600/Genji_emaki_01003_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccVQmNyl2l5N9qKIIzQhxmOWGi98idSUkDvmFmf226zzjgbJyXjjM51Jcz8PCT1mzeD3gpASDCz0JRoajxb8-_hMZEzjl9yyQNo61E058iOyWL9pD-gyT7tU9HzrMLE5gTUzOeyBZCr7V/s400/Genji_emaki_01003_001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Genji Monogatari Emaki</i>, pages of calligraphy,<br />
Gotoh Art Museum, 12th Century.</td></tr>
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Japan has a <a href="http://cerebralboinkfest.blogspot.com/2011/08/legislating-paternity-in-japan.html">National Treasure </a>program whereby the most precious cultural properties are designated as such. The <i>Genji Monogatari Emaki</i> is certainly one of these treasures. These scrolls are so fragile that they are only shown in public on rare occasions, but reproductions and ephemera associated with them are readily available. The Tokugawa Art Museum in Nagoya has some of the scrolls, as does the Gotoh Museum in Tokyo. An oversized photo-reproduction, translated into English, was published in a limited edition in 1971 by Kodansha International. It is available from rare booksellers for around $400 - $450.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55OugmbwaHhErT2FvIaUux-n1gzFiEqwkr34mQu46fxCGTPzookrOirhhu_ewPccZ6u2E_gVgQqZLZU2jcOHcFYeWCqwFeS_9WaXJBev54dwelcei5TukmkRUK6htRULvE8ZNmyBRo7QC/s1600/800px-Genji_emaki_Kashiwagi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55OugmbwaHhErT2FvIaUux-n1gzFiEqwkr34mQu46fxCGTPzookrOirhhu_ewPccZ6u2E_gVgQqZLZU2jcOHcFYeWCqwFeS_9WaXJBev54dwelcei5TukmkRUK6htRULvE8ZNmyBRo7QC/s400/800px-Genji_emaki_Kashiwagi.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Genji Monogatari Emaki</i>, Chapter 36, "Oak Tree",<br />
Tokugawa Art Museum, 12th Century.</td></tr>
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<u>The Tale of Genji</u> has become a timeless classic, its popularity increasing with passing time. It has been a key component of the Japanese education curricula for a millenium. Although it was not the only literature written during the Heian era, nor was Murasaki Shikibu the only writer, both were captivating enough to live on in the hearts and minds of people throughout the centuries. The <i>Genji Monogatari Emaki</i> is a beautiful collaboration of literature and art.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">Images courtesy of the <a href="http://www.tokugawa-art-museum.jp/english/parmanent/room6.html">Tokugawa Art Museum </a>and the <a href="http://www.gotoh-museum.or.jp/">Gotoh Museum</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;">An earlier version of this post appeared on <i><a href="http://www.booktryst.com/2010/11/worlds-first-novel-as-art.html">Booktryst</a>.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>*******************************</i></div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-58531614631403404282012-02-07T00:01:00.000-08:002012-02-07T06:46:26.058-08:00The Golden Age of Illustration - Maxfield Parrish<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqreyUaQy9BWyWnfNVEAKoGSZgrEo9uUF8dOJw-muUkqama449fdvsVWYeCe7aS9APSWyLUvi8YzYRCSJLV6nuBEmnPai9JP-pNmq7FlWnjFl4po1ZuD3VFipUiaVZjiwfvecS_VEyAEv/s1600/437px-Dinky_Bird_by_Maxfield_Parrish%252C_1904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqreyUaQy9BWyWnfNVEAKoGSZgrEo9uUF8dOJw-muUkqama449fdvsVWYeCe7aS9APSWyLUvi8YzYRCSJLV6nuBEmnPai9JP-pNmq7FlWnjFl4po1ZuD3VFipUiaVZjiwfvecS_VEyAEv/s400/437px-Dinky_Bird_by_Maxfield_Parrish%252C_1904.jpg" width="291" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dinky Bird</i>, 1904, from Eugene Field's <i>Poems of Childhood</i>.</td></tr>
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When I was 19, a friend gave me a poster of the above work by Maxfield Parrish. She said it reminded her of me. I was very pleased, as I fell in love with it upon first sight. She was about a decade older than me and had been a real hippie, so I was especially flattered. It hung in every bedroom I had until it finally got damaged in a move. But the dreamy print always made me feel peaceful, and was my first piece of art as an adult.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXyT49wibx3zQMn5WgY-pqTmlgaqvIbM6ax0mZx11d4DSGNbh-BL8xTOPCkDnKZSbnBREwa17Dplo1xsSLKtHb26EvJ8qrdnzU9mSWUxFrfXxIzp5XVQTH0GBTw6iPYiO2t5ipLNUNwhp/s1600/Princess_Parizade_Bringing_Home_the_Singing_Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXyT49wibx3zQMn5WgY-pqTmlgaqvIbM6ax0mZx11d4DSGNbh-BL8xTOPCkDnKZSbnBREwa17Dplo1xsSLKtHb26EvJ8qrdnzU9mSWUxFrfXxIzp5XVQTH0GBTw6iPYiO2t5ipLNUNwhp/s400/Princess_Parizade_Bringing_Home_the_Singing_Tree.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Princess Parizade Bringing Home the Singing Tree</i>, <br />
1906, from <i>Arabian Nights.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Frederick Parrish was born in Philadelphia in 1870. He later adopted his maternal grandmother's maiden name as his middle one, Maxfield, eventually using it professionally. His father, Stephen, was an engraver and landscape artist, and his parents encouraged him. He was doodling even as a child. He once studied architecture, which is evident in many of his later paintings, but it was in drawing and painting that he concentrated his efforts.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3MZ2WAGYeyktT7hjSIP7Mp5ByEaMoSl4OAe18-daYXlJITSRawRWI44TsRKdTKjlvg4qymkwwj7JK8HLyEiF_CQqhvnB1u_RbaTv1T_5O-3VV6o3KeutWF8nzZRTRT_9oEmqJD_HFF4E/s1600/parrish3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3MZ2WAGYeyktT7hjSIP7Mp5ByEaMoSl4OAe18-daYXlJITSRawRWI44TsRKdTKjlvg4qymkwwj7JK8HLyEiF_CQqhvnB1u_RbaTv1T_5O-3VV6o3KeutWF8nzZRTRT_9oEmqJD_HFF4E/s400/parrish3.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of his drawings as a teenager. Image from <u>Young Maxfield Parrish</u><br />
by John Goodspeed Stuart, T.H. Pickens Technical Center, 1992.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
His first commissions were to illustrate L. Frank Baum's <i>Mother Goose in Prose</i>, and Kenneth Grahame's <i>The Walls Were as of Jasper</i> for <i>Scribners Magazine, </i>in 1897. All of his 19th century illustrations were in black & white. It was in a subsequent period that he began painting in the colors he became and remains famous for - particularly "Parrish blue". When he was thirty, he came down with tuberculosis. He went to Arizona to recuperate, and that's when his career took off.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPihECnfx2ve9E_kDfcShx65fK_zMpz1IqRCUgK_OJD1ndZlFFYIywBpE9YIeJhgVsxm8sD3GO6DyjnZlImWIyRT6iCBemWQZqmUmqOoVi2UWGQUIVgE5TK1cqeFBTONDkrJb5g5FpVDuZ/s1600/parrish5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPihECnfx2ve9E_kDfcShx65fK_zMpz1IqRCUgK_OJD1ndZlFFYIywBpE9YIeJhgVsxm8sD3GO6DyjnZlImWIyRT6iCBemWQZqmUmqOoVi2UWGQUIVgE5TK1cqeFBTONDkrJb5g5FpVDuZ/s320/parrish5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Walls Were as of Jasper, </i>1897, <i>Scribners Magazine</i>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRVObvyFev793cmjobaJ9aTQ-Ds10WM0LvbRJsA7gjoBAco3uAjsQqHnFILaj4sXyfVxzwjNrecEcXpDLRB5kGj7tpflThHmue42J2wahtLWeVt1WBQUzDEHLAS4htCmjVrTDK4j9EDpE/s1600/parrish6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRVObvyFev793cmjobaJ9aTQ-Ds10WM0LvbRJsA7gjoBAco3uAjsQqHnFILaj4sXyfVxzwjNrecEcXpDLRB5kGj7tpflThHmue42J2wahtLWeVt1WBQUzDEHLAS4htCmjVrTDK4j9EDpE/s400/parrish6.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Golden Age</i>, from a 1904 photogravure edition.<br />
This and the image above courtesy of the book<br />
<u>The Black & White Parrish</u>, Thumb Tack Books, 1982.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
He illustrated Eugene Field's <i>Poems of Childhood</i> in 1905, and <i>The Arabian Nights</i> in 1909; in 1910 he illustrated <i>A Wonder Book </i>and <i>Tanglewood Tales</i>. He had many magazine commissions in the 1910s and 1920, including <i>Hearst's, Collier's, </i>and <i>Life</i>. He was also a favorite of advertisers, including Edison-Mazda Lamps, Colgate, and Oneida Cutlery.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6176_Q2CY_p4tDucx9UNR4CjpK3iLcmV8oXaICiiAb-bD9KY0b-Bbqdn6pil2iuBFkJkTQG96Ez7oBqtEp0M5K3RFPJf7oSd1MtUa33q7aIDtpAtEIrZKOx-j02rP9j4XZiDAXgctjpzV/s1600/parrish_djerkiss1_lhj_jly18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6176_Q2CY_p4tDucx9UNR4CjpK3iLcmV8oXaICiiAb-bD9KY0b-Bbqdn6pil2iuBFkJkTQG96Ez7oBqtEp0M5K3RFPJf7oSd1MtUa33q7aIDtpAtEIrZKOx-j02rP9j4XZiDAXgctjpzV/s400/parrish_djerkiss1_lhj_jly18.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 1918 ad for Djer-Kiss.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
In 1905, a 16-year-old woman, Susan Lewin, came to work for his family as his son's nanny. She became his assistant and a favorite model (mostly in the 1920s); then eventually they became lovers. His wife left him in 1911; however Susan remained with him for over 50 years.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7ngvc0kFylLVXy90Vto2Pzh3OMAG0J0apcq-yYn1z74u386JfVtoJKxoh6jQL77aCt760kvtWUoT5cyGDsLcENN10VGRtC_iyoT9D16J4cnMAwKcN8VO3DZhQlKXTVORI5Arz0JQFrzT/s1600/parrish_c30nov29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7ngvc0kFylLVXy90Vto2Pzh3OMAG0J0apcq-yYn1z74u386JfVtoJKxoh6jQL77aCt760kvtWUoT5cyGDsLcENN10VGRtC_iyoT9D16J4cnMAwKcN8VO3DZhQlKXTVORI5Arz0JQFrzT/s400/parrish_c30nov29.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Collier's</i>, November 1929.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
His androgynous nudes in fantasy settings were a recurring theme, but in the 1920s he turned from illustration and concentrated on painting for pleasure. He lived off the royalties from his posters and calendars, then in 1931 he declared he was through with "girls on rocks". He directed his attention to landscapes, and often built models and lit them as preparation for his paintings.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGSelmaTMmKPKFrXN7hVRFeMj9MukB46xenK0zWSnWp1yMaf8FEeVEETVf6VZ8ZMSX-XnDgVot9RPvnNrUHwYQIctxvijpR94uBZgC8t4P26brKOqU2JElyUBJsfmU80WsYyfn4Y6cXc-/s1600/whitebirches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGSelmaTMmKPKFrXN7hVRFeMj9MukB46xenK0zWSnWp1yMaf8FEeVEETVf6VZ8ZMSX-XnDgVot9RPvnNrUHwYQIctxvijpR94uBZgC8t4P26brKOqU2JElyUBJsfmU80WsYyfn4Y6cXc-/s400/whitebirches.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>White Birches</i>, 1952.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Photographs do not do his paintings justice. He worked in oils on stretched paper. He would apply numerous layers of thin, transparent oil, alternating with varnish, which lead to high luminosity, a process called glazing. He also photographed, enlarged, or traced figures and objects, then cut them out and placed them on his works and covered them with thick, clear layers of glaze, giving them a three dimensional appearance.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2plDWjBpTmR-i_FYI-PB65-D8xgz-0rFICS77C6fM_eWz5zSH_Mj5B8_NUH8K5bikM8XCNxmmFpMgy_5P8YKFGEt-9WDuoW3o6hLAzvqxvW8iHGQir07recX19nChVlXkAdF5BGkjh68n/s1600/Cadmus_teeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2plDWjBpTmR-i_FYI-PB65-D8xgz-0rFICS77C6fM_eWz5zSH_Mj5B8_NUH8K5bikM8XCNxmmFpMgy_5P8YKFGEt-9WDuoW3o6hLAzvqxvW8iHGQir07recX19nChVlXkAdF5BGkjh68n/s400/Cadmus_teeth.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cadmus Sowing the Dragon's Teeth</i>, 1910,<br />
in <i>A Wonder Book </i>and <i>Tanglewood Tales</i><br />
by Nathaniel Hawthorne.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Although it was <i>Air Castles</i> (a 1904 <i>Ladies' Home Journal</i> cover) that gave him wide exposure, <i>Daybreak</i> is considered his masterpiece. His work was widely reproduced in posters, calendars, and candy box lids, and is still in demand. By the time of his death at age 95 in 1966, he was able to see a renaissance of interest and promotion of his work. He was the most popular American artist from the turn of the century until the 1940s, when Norman Rockwell became his heir apparent.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DVimgKoM0ihfpp-pqEVD5bNzfUBQ6Ew48-pgNubK3RaN7C0vQqAQV6nWdxvJ9j4mH8-Qw-1abXCYtcykvRdRFg5ID6oORxsQpMJwPEkBtC9_Ij5IX60tBvE-YaGKVcPbTghyphenhyphenMfSrGGnR/s1600/Air+Castles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DVimgKoM0ihfpp-pqEVD5bNzfUBQ6Ew48-pgNubK3RaN7C0vQqAQV6nWdxvJ9j4mH8-Qw-1abXCYtcykvRdRFg5ID6oORxsQpMJwPEkBtC9_Ij5IX60tBvE-YaGKVcPbTghyphenhyphenMfSrGGnR/s400/Air+Castles.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Air Castles.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJMI-aNtrYPWby1sRxS76KMtZ8MftEn9Mf_BNlSsr66kVzSsrdP8xP-LW9gSCaFTSoBc2Y59ct-2mf3D3kbiWClhXe23O4j4QX7Sigy8_0CjDtAhMtK-LsfPN4JDVy8SE0uedH3JvHlCk/s1600/800px-Daybreak_by_Parrish_(1922).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJMI-aNtrYPWby1sRxS76KMtZ8MftEn9Mf_BNlSsr66kVzSsrdP8xP-LW9gSCaFTSoBc2Y59ct-2mf3D3kbiWClhXe23O4j4QX7Sigy8_0CjDtAhMtK-LsfPN4JDVy8SE0uedH3JvHlCk/s400/800px-Daybreak_by_Parrish_(1922).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Daybreak</i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Maxfield Parrish shaped the Golden Age of illustration, and influenced American visual arts for decades. His work experiences new surges of interest as each new generation discovers it. <i>Daybreak</i> is considered the most popular art print of the 20th century, judging from the number of prints that have been made. It has outsold Warhol's <i>Campbell's Soup Cans</i> and even Da Vinci's<i> Last Supper</i>, and is still in print. By all accounts he was affable and well-liked. How fortunate to be so successful at doing what you love!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unless otherwise noted, all images courtesy of Wikipedia.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://americanillustration.org/artists/parrish/parrish.html">The National Museum of American Illustration</a> has the largest body of his works.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This <a href="http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/parrish.htm">website </a>has interesting information on Parrish.</div><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-46887499001255868922012-02-02T00:01:00.000-08:002012-02-02T00:01:01.739-08:00Borobudur: The Architecture of Buddhist Cosmology<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvL_fe57fIe0Vb9ziy_g0gmL6Hz646qKacEzEn_LO6QVu9HuG407PjqghJgymuUfQtB2ih1CjHM0dOdpiaNF9TuYzFE9jlSWVVxhl5bwbooHlOCqFg2sD0gu93h8Y2srcwhjIF8i_6seJ/s1600/site_0592_0015-500-375-20091104102944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvL_fe57fIe0Vb9ziy_g0gmL6Hz646qKacEzEn_LO6QVu9HuG407PjqghJgymuUfQtB2ih1CjHM0dOdpiaNF9TuYzFE9jlSWVVxhl5bwbooHlOCqFg2sD0gu93h8Y2srcwhjIF8i_6seJ/s400/site_0592_0015-500-375-20091104102944.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of UNESCO (see link below).</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div>Borobudur is a temple located in central Java. It is a shrine to the Buddha, and a pilgrimage place. It was built between 750 and 842 CE. Carved into the base of the temple are 160 carved reliefs, the most complete collection of Buddhist reliefs anywhere in the world. Looking down on it, one can see a mandala - a microcosm of the universe - a pattern with spiritual and ritual significance for Buddhists and Hindus.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTrRIhqQ6TPVfPaWf7DS41v7GhVLJdOA3jZP_zxCg7I3eEvcJAbRyiCgWs7Z5AUg6dSGSjG2pKLzF8JoiWNsPclPKOnc2rqJjUXgWJcjlcmxd0ORbSsSMCly_vbu2qPgCWXEVagjB31E5/s1600/borobudur_aerial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTrRIhqQ6TPVfPaWf7DS41v7GhVLJdOA3jZP_zxCg7I3eEvcJAbRyiCgWs7Z5AUg6dSGSjG2pKLzF8JoiWNsPclPKOnc2rqJjUXgWJcjlcmxd0ORbSsSMCly_vbu2qPgCWXEVagjB31E5/s400/borobudur_aerial.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An aerial view of the temple from the Borobudur website (see link below).</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKp05e-WaLsQepy1SIVryaqHI138O3jW33JmMJb0ghduQeDEGOePc3-ZgfIDQOvd0KtHZwmhdiZutKTNbwhLYhaC865ImtxH1IVJX4GzNeg5BD1L0LpYh0HKcumKHUI3x-n2MExEhJsKT/s1600/borobudur_zones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKp05e-WaLsQepy1SIVryaqHI138O3jW33JmMJb0ghduQeDEGOePc3-ZgfIDQOvd0KtHZwmhdiZutKTNbwhLYhaC865ImtxH1IVJX4GzNeg5BD1L0LpYh0HKcumKHUI3x-n2MExEhJsKT/s400/borobudur_zones.jpg" width="368" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The three zones of the universe are exemplified at Borobudur.<br />
The foundation is approximately 387 feet on each side.<br />
Image courtesy of the Borobudur website.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
According to Buddhist cosmology, the universe has three zones, represented at Borobudur in rising layers. The first is Kāmadhātu, the world of desire. This world is inhabited by common people. This is the base of the temple, which has been covered by a foundation and is hidden from view except for one corner that has been left uncovered for viewers. These 160 reliefs carved into this base illustrate the law of cause and effect, and the collection is known as the Mahakarmawibhangga. They illustrate the behavior of desire, including the invidious behavior of acts such as killing, rape, torture, and robbery. There is a reckoning in the afterlife depicted for those committing these acts. There are also reliefs showing meritorious behavior such as charity and working together. When the base was dismantled and the reliefs discovered, they were photographed by Casijan Chepas in 1890. These photographs are on view in the site museum.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DoHQQpHD7sQ0KnrHMxAaQQr3UolxpMVKuP9OXNsMPkKq4SoLBuZU1PoCDCgdndIadXtv0Mc3vUQ7wlOqxJtNtuHq-XtUhRi7nQdgaFOezGq4lf9CwPflJm_1qdaQeFlhlC3uog40CrgK/s1600/800px-Queen_Maya,_Borobudur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DoHQQpHD7sQ0KnrHMxAaQQr3UolxpMVKuP9OXNsMPkKq4SoLBuZU1PoCDCgdndIadXtv0Mc3vUQ7wlOqxJtNtuHq-XtUhRi7nQdgaFOezGq4lf9CwPflJm_1qdaQeFlhlC3uog40CrgK/s400/800px-Queen_Maya,_Borobudur.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Buddha's mother, Queen Maya, retreats to Lumbini so that she may give<br />
birth to Siddhartha Gautama, the future Buddha. This is one of the reliefs from<br />
the base, which do not depict a continuous story, nor are they all related to the<br />
Buddha. Beside the blameworthy and praiseworthy activities, they show other<br />
aspects of everyday life. This image and the one below courtesy of Wikipedia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvaRWtzkRpfbvmcSoUBDlhJgWFWfmRASDNZtVxoIyDeMPWMOOHnddohz_Bt3ZYBXU2DKgLf4L-GE1Thq7lQ3rIl698b9wD1fUCReodtM1B_-pGYAEwvFaw6Jk0hLbIyi14sDNpK7oDkB6/s1600/800px-Siddharta_Gautama_Borobudur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvaRWtzkRpfbvmcSoUBDlhJgWFWfmRASDNZtVxoIyDeMPWMOOHnddohz_Bt3ZYBXU2DKgLf4L-GE1Thq7lQ3rIl698b9wD1fUCReodtM1B_-pGYAEwvFaw6Jk0hLbIyi14sDNpK7oDkB6/s400/800px-Siddharta_Gautama_Borobudur.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here Siddhartha Gautama shaves his head in his preparations to become an ascetic.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Rupadhatu, or the world of forms, is the second layer. It is a transitional zone, where humans are released from their desires for the physical world. They continue living in the world and see forms but are not desirous of them. This is comprised of four tiers, which have galleries of carved reliefs and niches with 432 statues of the Buddha, as well as depictions of Sanskrit manuscripts. The top layer is Arupadhatu, the world of formlessness. This is the abode of those who have become Buddhas. These terraces have stupas containing Buddha sculptures that face outward. The central stupa is empty; it is unknown if whatever was inside was removed, or whether it was always empty.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImvk2EurEe3u8Tapu9m7_4_B-mCBrfmZDi6huRN2WRbUhGiZb-tXJy_nmFIUKQXIt2aaHzZyKjEqoTJd5ouiEQM_ty0ktJeTIUXzZBh92aaSWZwPerHU12PnKD6C65EyNR7PxUmd8XtDn/s1600/800px-002_Many_Buddha_Statues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImvk2EurEe3u8Tapu9m7_4_B-mCBrfmZDi6huRN2WRbUhGiZb-tXJy_nmFIUKQXIt2aaHzZyKjEqoTJd5ouiEQM_ty0ktJeTIUXzZBh92aaSWZwPerHU12PnKD6C65EyNR7PxUmd8XtDn/s400/800px-002_Many_Buddha_Statues.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This image and the one below courtesy of Wikipedia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9dKR_oY38hUjDV7xTaTXx7nHf3Pvx_cWDVPotcfaXvzXNSTY5aF-eT442ipVLgfj_GIqWSzqkewAfN51VDkmJUTd-UGc4CUVVUFgLac-02WlfD7h_TNnFtCqsEWLK9Wj2xBGSbVOZT0t/s1600/800px-Borobudur_2008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9dKR_oY38hUjDV7xTaTXx7nHf3Pvx_cWDVPotcfaXvzXNSTY5aF-eT442ipVLgfj_GIqWSzqkewAfN51VDkmJUTd-UGc4CUVVUFgLac-02WlfD7h_TNnFtCqsEWLK9Wj2xBGSbVOZT0t/s400/800px-Borobudur_2008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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There are no written documents that reveal who built Borobudur, but it is generally held that it was a ruler in the Sailendra dynasty, as the temple was built in the peak of their reign. There is a lot of confusion as to the religious preferences of rulers at that time, but because known Buddhist kings allowed Hindu monuments to be built, and vice versa, it suggests a climate of tolerance existed. There is a Hindu complex nearby known as Prambanan, which likewise has three levels corresponding to the zones of Borobudur.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-lgzBANwxjsFYpXSgPgOZiyC5ufp35C5zAyIriR-PBUHGjfwOU_o3yjt0R9E2hp6FWahQ5iYq-GVkq0XKrKaA8_MGJmQ1PqQHwlZsB07WLaYV-_A2bBMSh5SxrmwpjpG5Z3frFSIcFHd/s1600/prambanan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-lgzBANwxjsFYpXSgPgOZiyC5ufp35C5zAyIriR-PBUHGjfwOU_o3yjt0R9E2hp6FWahQ5iYq-GVkq0XKrKaA8_MGJmQ1PqQHwlZsB07WLaYV-_A2bBMSh5SxrmwpjpG5Z3frFSIcFHd/s400/prambanan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prambanan - the Hindu temple compound that also has three levels or zones.<br />
This has suffered much earthquake damage, but is used by local Hindus today.<br />
Image courtesy of the Borobudur website.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
There are two smaller temples that appear in a straight line leading to Borobudur, Mendut and Pawon. Although the exact relationship between the three temples is unknown, today they are part of a procession in the Waisak day festival. This is held each year on the day of the full moon in April or May, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. It is an important day in the Buddhist calendar, and pilgrims from all over the world come to take part in the procession from temple to temple, ending at Borobudur.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDolU6ToQ0mVrJnDRbzC6-jJukVQfzX4C3ZXbrpjkqIkMzOM9GW2yx4aW-CK4_fEBfuVfKFkBOjm2-TIO-g2O9kghhAlWSrXyv5ymFl94bP2hy2sloidaOr9hAZKy_2pUtiqBNIZ2PXM-Z/s1600/corridor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDolU6ToQ0mVrJnDRbzC6-jJukVQfzX4C3ZXbrpjkqIkMzOM9GW2yx4aW-CK4_fEBfuVfKFkBOjm2-TIO-g2O9kghhAlWSrXyv5ymFl94bP2hy2sloidaOr9hAZKy_2pUtiqBNIZ2PXM-Z/s400/corridor.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of the Borobudur website.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Although it is unknown why Borobudur was abandoned, and there may have been many reasons, volcanic activity surely had a part. When discovered, the site was covered in volcanic ash. The capital of the kingdom was moved to East Java; then in the 15th century, there was a conversion to Islam. All of these contributed to the desertion of the site, and it continued only in memory through local tales for centuries.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe2FzZqnXhRBWP6tOM4j_05uR0veWuPyf7hJkWgPLaicX1eNvSqQUExvxkP-911BjlmLb6jgEhBQOwwIZNYiqkR_dqHKx76L3aG72Kq33Hob4H9EkvWpc1hulO1MKvWPn0vMwaput3FeS/s1600/800px-Borobudur_Stupa_Merapi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe2FzZqnXhRBWP6tOM4j_05uR0veWuPyf7hJkWgPLaicX1eNvSqQUExvxkP-911BjlmLb6jgEhBQOwwIZNYiqkR_dqHKx76L3aG72Kq33Hob4H9EkvWpc1hulO1MKvWPn0vMwaput3FeS/s400/800px-Borobudur_Stupa_Merapi.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mount Merapi seen ominously smoking in 2009. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
When the British took over Java in 1811, Sir Thomas Raffles was appointed governor. He had an interest in Javanese history, and listened to the rumors about a big monument in the jungle. He had the site cleaned, and the reliefs documented and interpreted. In 1885, the hidden reliefs were found, which also had Sanskrit instructions left for the carver, from which the construction was datable. Over the pursuing years the site was restored, and water damage from inadequate drainage was corrected. After a 1973 renovation funded by UNESCO, Borobudur was used once again for worship.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmcmGsuB_UyVx_d_qs1nxd6Mg2Dbha09q-eZuJrrByTi95qS1oAcmMwBM7i7ol2sId4ByktpeqfthhIDqpEJjneEP3F4vg4Vmkb2brvjB_Zo5x9JImxpeJpmXlNGK2VnLRzZmzKINOFoZ/s1600/800px-Borobudur-Nothwest-view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmcmGsuB_UyVx_d_qs1nxd6Mg2Dbha09q-eZuJrrByTi95qS1oAcmMwBM7i7ol2sId4ByktpeqfthhIDqpEJjneEP3F4vg4Vmkb2brvjB_Zo5x9JImxpeJpmXlNGK2VnLRzZmzKINOFoZ/s400/800px-Borobudur-Nothwest-view.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of Wikipedia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
As an interesting aside, in 1982 Philip Beale, previously of the British Royal Navy, was in Indonesia to study ships and marine traditions. He found ten panels at Borobudur showing sea vessels - some powered by oars, others by sails. He thought since the other panels showed everyday life, these ships may have been part of the Cinnamon Route - a shipping route linking Indonesia to Africa across the Indian Ocean, past the Seychelles, Madagascar, and the Cape of Good Hope to Ghana. With the help of experienced Indonesian shipbuilders, he had a ship modeled on the stone carvings constructed. It was then launched on an expedition to retrace the route to Ghana. The expedition took six months, demonstrating that ancient trading routes were viable. The ship - the <i>Samudra Raksa</i>, "defender of the seas", is housed in a museum in Borobudur Archaeological Park.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WcY2WyuMDPvdLd84nJtE1Kjafw7ulHk5Wz1Ui6hSMvXzbCqXq3XRtz4WjFB-tQbantTa7_uv7X3oAlvV4aR0RSYWskou8FjFLIDKLMODXgavIDhjiie73rjopMmCyLhT6ch34XIiKPvO/s1600/800px-Borobudur_ship.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WcY2WyuMDPvdLd84nJtE1Kjafw7ulHk5Wz1Ui6hSMvXzbCqXq3XRtz4WjFB-tQbantTa7_uv7X3oAlvV4aR0RSYWskou8FjFLIDKLMODXgavIDhjiie73rjopMmCyLhT6ch34XIiKPvO/s400/800px-Borobudur_ship.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stone relief of an Indonesian trade ship.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pxT30JixrIFeTqD9ST-kGVqqlz1UJV7zy58UC2gK2mH8FyBJ0BpRwvdcT9zI1EK_hgtm_tLjQjhwvRhqahbea_VPFdhovZvMNF8WTh-e9hcj21QnROC0Js6ldDZmnMFqwTfWWRA0fXf9/s1600/800px-Samudra_Raksa_Borobudur_Ship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pxT30JixrIFeTqD9ST-kGVqqlz1UJV7zy58UC2gK2mH8FyBJ0BpRwvdcT9zI1EK_hgtm_tLjQjhwvRhqahbea_VPFdhovZvMNF8WTh-e9hcj21QnROC0Js6ldDZmnMFqwTfWWRA0fXf9/s400/800px-Samudra_Raksa_Borobudur_Ship.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full-scale reconstruction of the above ship, here stored at the Borobudur site.<br />
Both images courtesy of Wikipedia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>UNESCO made Borobudur a world heritage site in 1991. Today it is the most visited tourist site in Indonesia, attracting pilgrims and art and architecture lovers alike. A marvel when it was built, it is still one today.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Borobudur Archaeological Park website is <a href="http://www.borobudurpark.com/">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The UNESCO website for Borobudur is <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/592">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div></div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-42989155783034665982012-01-31T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-31T00:01:00.753-08:00The Vegetable Lamb of Tartary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZRfAqR33MY1TQ863Qj6nEaPoX_dURakI3qDWuFrgbFpyak27t56iWVvLlKfH2I2LhXXcuTJFcn7BnAHPzqohlu6x8y92-Mvp7gG00Jka43nS5oDwAglMMl3cJIHWMDFPpvQxjrAYJXAj/s1600/471px-Vegetable_lamb_(Lee,_1887).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZRfAqR33MY1TQ863Qj6nEaPoX_dURakI3qDWuFrgbFpyak27t56iWVvLlKfH2I2LhXXcuTJFcn7BnAHPzqohlu6x8y92-Mvp7gG00Jka43nS5oDwAglMMl3cJIHWMDFPpvQxjrAYJXAj/s400/471px-Vegetable_lamb_(Lee,_1887).jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Vegetable Lamb of Tartary, illustration from Lee, H., 1887.<br />
<i>The Vegetable Lamb of Tartary: a Curious Fable of the Cotton<br />
Plant, to Which is Added a Sketch of the History of Cotton and<br />
the Cotton Trade. </i>S. Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, London.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Medieval Europe subscribed to beliefs in many legendary creatures, unicorns being a prime example, although that myth began in ancient Greece. Most of these critters were born from hearsay and a lack of knowledge of foreign places. One such creature was the Vegetable Lamb of Tartary, a zoophyte from Central Asia that grew sheep from its stem. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPBk8sc6FDpxB_zBobedPL4eLef17ff_cy7-YreGyNxs7RI09tqjA5S3Cf1w_H4IUPRkWiRXnbWddfsD6c4cFrnAIhGhosN9DjKgJ0nSgSYs2QMQmQ7pRVdVQL3gmNpydMb-uIa75zLmu/s1600/791px-Bertuch-fabelwesen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPBk8sc6FDpxB_zBobedPL4eLef17ff_cy7-YreGyNxs7RI09tqjA5S3Cf1w_H4IUPRkWiRXnbWddfsD6c4cFrnAIhGhosN9DjKgJ0nSgSYs2QMQmQ7pRVdVQL3gmNpydMb-uIa75zLmu/s400/791px-Bertuch-fabelwesen.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illustration from Friedrich Johann Justin Bertuch's picture book for children,<br />
circa late 1700s. Clockwise it features a Basilisk, a Roc, a Phoenix, a Dragon,<br />
the Vegetable Lamb of Tartary, and a Unicorn.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O8SWsQWwChGu7XXGEv-ng9gW1s3f2dnswLw7h4FhdyGfT6eWXYdUl6awxll9sW7Zy4wac24sdMMlQ4SfEH0SgUCUjc1mMjGcBdqwGTaLa8TlKHteEgSqZ29BanmhtP_e6vqtu1aF07QP/s1600/Bertuch-Vegetable-Lamb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O8SWsQWwChGu7XXGEv-ng9gW1s3f2dnswLw7h4FhdyGfT6eWXYdUl6awxll9sW7Zy4wac24sdMMlQ4SfEH0SgUCUjc1mMjGcBdqwGTaLa8TlKHteEgSqZ29BanmhtP_e6vqtu1aF07QP/s400/Bertuch-Vegetable-Lamb.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up of the above illustration - "Das Boramez, oder Scythische Lamm".</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
A "zoophyte" is an animal that looks like a plant, common in medieval and renaissance herbals. They were often found in early medical texts, and are examples of explanations explaining the origins of unknown plants. These continued into the 17th century and were commented on by many scholars of the time, including Francis Bacon. Claims of zoophytes began to be refuted by 1646, and skepticism increased in the 17th and 18th centuries.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWxZ67ynte3ojrKEp3duEdN4zkSic58mHEhNNcFpD8Qw2Wvbcs2h2kRDjdtF4JS_il82lyhFjJ_KlD-vLglU1t0dIgfBIKPBJ4jQN2O-t8_-Am2dcSAthux0yYwk66Kd18JTPyxUZS1iM/s1600/Vegetable_lamb_of_tartary1605Claude+Duret.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWxZ67ynte3ojrKEp3duEdN4zkSic58mHEhNNcFpD8Qw2Wvbcs2h2kRDjdtF4JS_il82lyhFjJ_KlD-vLglU1t0dIgfBIKPBJ4jQN2O-t8_-Am2dcSAthux0yYwk66Kd18JTPyxUZS1iM/s400/Vegetable_lamb_of_tartary1605Claude+Duret.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1605 illustration by Claude Duret of Moulins from <i>Histoire Admirable des Plantes</i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The plant-born sheep of the Vegetable Lamb of Tartary were claimed to be connected to the plant through an "umbilical cord", which was supple and allowed the sheep to graze on the vegetation surrounding the plant. Once all the vegetation was consumed, the sheep died. These plants were said to grow from seeds that looked like melon seeds but rounder. The sheep, or lamb, was believed to have blood, bones, and a crab-like flesh, which could be eaten. The blood supposedly tasted like honey. The "wool" was used by the local people to make cloth. Wolves and other animals were attracted to it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsO0S18ShL368kvmSVDfOOwFmcr6xtSeovNEtZXIIp5S45nbbHlQ00ZYcHZGTwFj60j9Ilbrq4z4jJbEV0RNf3h2Q8uKxpwHCtgNirU6kA4fLdyIxb9vrxRDjTWBOvk2fijBiVIDjjMOPW/s1600/Mandeville_cotton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsO0S18ShL368kvmSVDfOOwFmcr6xtSeovNEtZXIIp5S45nbbHlQ00ZYcHZGTwFj60j9Ilbrq4z4jJbEV0RNf3h2Q8uKxpwHCtgNirU6kA4fLdyIxb9vrxRDjTWBOvk2fijBiVIDjjMOPW/s400/Mandeville_cotton.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This illustration is from the 1350 book <i>The Travels of Sir John Mandeville</i>,<br />
first written in Anglo-Norman French, and translated. Mandeville is the <br />
pseudonym for an unknown compiler of the book, which was very popular<br />
and influential in its time. Columbus had a copy. This is what the plant was<br />
thought to look like, although other illustrations show only one lamb per plant.<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
It may have been an explanation of cotton - that fiber unknown to Europeans except by trade, who had no notion of how it was produced from a plant. Since cotton is white and fluffy, similar to wool, it's easy to see where the sheep-plant idea arose. But there is actually a plant that produces something that could vaguely resemble a sheep or lamp. The Cibotium barometz is a fern of the genus Cibotium. (Cibotium comes from the Greek "kibotion", a small box used to hold medicines). It is also known as the Scythian Lamb or Barometz (Tartar for lamb). This tree fern is native today to parts of China, where it is known as Golden Hair Dog Fern, and the western Malay Peninsula. It can grow to the height of 3'3" tall when erect, but is often prostrate and spreads on open forest slopes. The fronds grow up to 10' long. It is collected in Southeast Asia and is in serious decline. It is used in folk medicines; it is believed to replenish the liver and kidney, and strengthen bones and muscles.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdS5PUHpeDnJ3aAferQK0faEJOzz0rk54Kn_FhRiilP15c0T5h6qrrpfP2l-uHYTrxVrIkTxwrQbVmZq8zRi5S43DH-TLDhtP15VCD8ITDG147TB_MH7dExqtjShJ2OUSCi1vsNnelbfJD/s1600/456px-Cotton_Plant_(1878)_-_TIMEA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdS5PUHpeDnJ3aAferQK0faEJOzz0rk54Kn_FhRiilP15c0T5h6qrrpfP2l-uHYTrxVrIkTxwrQbVmZq8zRi5S43DH-TLDhtP15VCD8ITDG147TB_MH7dExqtjShJ2OUSCi1vsNnelbfJD/s400/456px-Cotton_Plant_(1878)_-_TIMEA.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An 1878 depiction of a cotton plant. Ebers, Georg,<br />
<i>Egypt: Descriptive, Historical, and Picturesquem</i>,<br />
Vol. I. Cassell & Company, Ltd., New York.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
As early as 436 CE, there is a similar plant mentioned in Jewish folklore. The Yeduah was a lamb-like creature that sprouted from a stem from the earth. The Yeduah could only be severed from its stem with darts or arrows. When it died its bones were used for divination. Another legend is of the Faduah, a human-shaped zoophyte also connected to the earth by a stem from its navel. This plant would kill anything that got too close, and also died when severed from its stem.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JGX-oaify893XF6uaouWG2P0yNQZh7byoPh7nCLpZMP6xB8JnLRan0rxaSHk3PB31V9qCDMfL6OFih2Uk6xPYUkHnqoFvWqX3f6jvRmwny_ye_PGZaZxBOsaLB6SMzzvAt6JKolsTB49/s1600/377px-John-Parkinson-001-1629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JGX-oaify893XF6uaouWG2P0yNQZh7byoPh7nCLpZMP6xB8JnLRan0rxaSHk3PB31V9qCDMfL6OFih2Uk6xPYUkHnqoFvWqX3f6jvRmwny_ye_PGZaZxBOsaLB6SMzzvAt6JKolsTB49/s400/377px-John-Parkinson-001-1629.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frontispiece of John Parkinson's <i>Paradisi in Sole Paradisus<br />
Terrestris: Or a Garden of All Sorts of Pleasant Flowers <br />
which our English Ayre will Permitt to be Noursed Vp. <br />
With a Kitchen Garden of All Manner of Herbes, Rootes, & <br />
Fruites, for Meate or Sause Vsed with Vs, and an Orchard of<br />
All Sorte of Fruitbearing Trees and Shrubbes Fit for Our Land. <br />
Together with the Right Orderinge, Planting & Preserving of<br />
Them and Their Uses and Vertues Collected by John Parkinson <br />
Apothecary of London.</i> London: Printed by Hvumfrey Lownes and <br />
Robert Yovng at the Signe of the Starre on Bread-Street. 1629.<br />
Adam and Eve are in Paradise. The plant is by the river above Adam.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Many searched to find this rumored plant. It was debated by philosophers, written about in literature, and discussed all over Europe. Besides the aforementioned Sir John Mandeville of the 14th century, in 1549 Sigismund, Baron von Herberstein wrote a detailed account of it in <i>Rerum Muscoviticarum Commentarii</i> ("Notes on Russia"). Although he never found it, he claimed he heard too many reports of it for it not to be true, and said it could be found near the Caspian Sea. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintxhhBaRD4mYdUxrMDbbcZzb9WyrENVVdUHpBKz5IbwuPkoGyfp9p9oSHGlDCDRvT9koFLZ2K5CYUxkwcSzZn-xXvSOAc5cwrUYFnrvtGAArZYTGqXihl9q071qPHHDMkww4iGBNVircC/s1600/405px-Vegetable_lamb_(from_Svenska_Familj-Journalen,_1879).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintxhhBaRD4mYdUxrMDbbcZzb9WyrENVVdUHpBKz5IbwuPkoGyfp9p9oSHGlDCDRvT9koFLZ2K5CYUxkwcSzZn-xXvSOAc5cwrUYFnrvtGAArZYTGqXihl9q071qPHHDMkww4iGBNVircC/s400/405px-Vegetable_lamb_(from_Svenska_Familj-Journalen,_1879).png" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A more accurate depiction of the fronds, but the sheep are still <br />
around the plant. From the <i>Svenska Familj-Journalen, </i>Vol. 18, 1879.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Engelbert Kaempfer, a German physician and scholar, went to Persia in 1683 intent on finding it. Since he was unsuccessful, he concluded it was a legend. He did offer an explanation however, as he had observed the custom of removing a lamb from its mother's womb in order to get the soft wool, and thought this fetal wool could be mistaken for something from a plant. Diderot included an entry on it in his <i><a href="http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=did;view=text;rgn=main;idno=did2222.0000.230">Encyclopedia</a></i>, although some see this as a criticism of blind religious belief and a call to view all phenomena scientifically.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpeVZB_-jJqjs7fsaNvLA5J1hhKULsA0M6PbZmLVfAxIJASDdZBn04FnhTmbWuevu215HKfmG6Gupl34Fou3oAkv1p6aGYV_5EDZzfrpmF8lPoaC6UrfR9MsB6-RvnSFzK79H-ngkH6tM/s1600/1996_231_Vegetable_Lamb_J_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpeVZB_-jJqjs7fsaNvLA5J1hhKULsA0M6PbZmLVfAxIJASDdZBn04FnhTmbWuevu215HKfmG6Gupl34Fou3oAkv1p6aGYV_5EDZzfrpmF8lPoaC6UrfR9MsB6-RvnSFzK79H-ngkH6tM/s400/1996_231_Vegetable_Lamb_J_0.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A preserved sample under glass at the <a href="http://www.gardenmuseum.org.uk/page/our-collections">Garden Museum</a>, London.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsIUaj5QvZDO6YvR98Xob3gtDqWW9gAxd7b9hBF8zgw7gJySrrtTqltmP4obqzu_FL_AU-YV8MDtJf_32i4cqpGhlxNswDfHnEvQTR6UuUDv-9m9yHXX7COLDEM5QauYiCTg-xUzcaegO/s1600/Golden+Chicken+Fern+-+Cibotium+barometz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsIUaj5QvZDO6YvR98Xob3gtDqWW9gAxd7b9hBF8zgw7gJySrrtTqltmP4obqzu_FL_AU-YV8MDtJf_32i4cqpGhlxNswDfHnEvQTR6UuUDv-9m9yHXX7COLDEM5QauYiCTg-xUzcaegO/s400/Golden+Chicken+Fern+-+Cibotium+barometz.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The plant today. Image courtesywww.forestferns.co.uk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
This is a fascinating example of how humans, educated scholars even, explained the unknown. Today, with photographic media and the internet, any curious person can research something they are unfamiliar with. However, we humans seem to have a penchant for mystery and the impossible. What common legends do we still subscribe to?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unless otherwise noted, all images courtesy of Wikipedia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-17971238793597738522012-01-30T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-30T15:25:29.039-08:00Cheers to Bravo!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQH98NWM1q8bPMvyCE6BP9OlMplAxZsS5TnPNPWAiTf7fJ1EyIcX8XmfIvlrULvdhm23I_FzZhuVrwg_U3o4AJwFGkUGaW3Lh2Vzesr_pBDg8-pzQCSDPH-aZBjd4w5GUA9bwsTTtohr8/s1600/study+of+Tamayo's+Hands1931gelatinG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQH98NWM1q8bPMvyCE6BP9OlMplAxZsS5TnPNPWAiTf7fJ1EyIcX8XmfIvlrULvdhm23I_FzZhuVrwg_U3o4AJwFGkUGaW3Lh2Vzesr_pBDg8-pzQCSDPH-aZBjd4w5GUA9bwsTTtohr8/s400/study+of+Tamayo's+Hands1931gelatinG.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=137983">Study of Tamayo's Hands</a>;</i> 1931; silver gelatin print.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I love black and white photography. Without the dimension of color I can really see and concentrate on the subject. I think for some photographers it is harder; you need a unique kind of eye to see something in black and white. In fact, I see black and white photography as a different genre from color photography. My favorite black and white photographer is Manuel Álvarez Bravo.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnjCvGfBcLrADszVqLenxhkWFckzBKMCJHCPwikFDpbLtPIi0WWWF2JS-v27LKvWRV6kXCPqhRchaNGnm2HZ5-Dfqu5c2v4_lV4sknnyUOPtToT-OC61ObNDnYIEcGgEyDLJdYRdxA65P/s1600/13634801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnjCvGfBcLrADszVqLenxhkWFckzBKMCJHCPwikFDpbLtPIi0WWWF2JS-v27LKvWRV6kXCPqhRchaNGnm2HZ5-Dfqu5c2v4_lV4sknnyUOPtToT-OC61ObNDnYIEcGgEyDLJdYRdxA65P/s400/13634801.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=136348" style="font-style: italic;">Split Nopal</a>; circa 1970; gelatin silver print.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Bravo is recognized today as one of the masters of photography and the main representative of Latino photography in the 20th century. He was born in Mexico City in 1902, and grew up privy to the avant-garde movements that followed the Mexican Revolution, a cultural renaissance that drew international artists. His photos captured the disparity between urban and rural life as they confronted modernity.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4EMUcBwHgNtut_ec6m3CbzpkFm42btD6q4oeLpYHJ3XGmrVmgzyezyxyTVpCX9y91JBIgIGgz5i4y96GY_my4rbOOZ_zp7um6J3hBGOzKIP4OyZjJdXXFSG0xg-sVA8rWP1ouAVsJKFx/s1600/Inavillage:1942-1945GelatinG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4EMUcBwHgNtut_ec6m3CbzpkFm42btD6q4oeLpYHJ3XGmrVmgzyezyxyTVpCX9y91JBIgIGgz5i4y96GY_my4rbOOZ_zp7um6J3hBGOzKIP4OyZjJdXXFSG0xg-sVA8rWP1ouAVsJKFx/s400/Inavillage:1942-1945GelatinG.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=105208" style="font-style: italic;">In a Village</a>; circa 1944; gelatin silver print. The woman sitting was Bravo's<br />
second wife, Doris Heydn. Bravo referred to this photo as <i>Sueño de una turista</i>,<br />
or <i>Tourist's Dream</i>. The women are oblivious to each other, creating tension.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Although he left school at the age of twelve to contribute to his family's income after his father died, he eventually began studying painting and music at the Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes in 1918. His father and grandfather had been amateur photographers, and although he received his first camera in 1923 he did not become a professional photographer until two years later. He met and worked with some of the well-known artists of that time - Tina Modotti, Edward Weston, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Rufino Tamayo, Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Sisqueiros, and José Clemente Orozco, to name but some.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwyewbwQl6djbOkvvG1IbOPEDedNDwiqu-m9nfpyaGSr_CuKZ4HWFmfD_zd9ksASefUTF4aPnHGaNS-929x9jK_aqDR_PkNYp25HuEv7GUNiX1H9vQEiRhol-1dh4rkwatGa_6-aB-6LA/s1600/thegoodreputation,sleeping:neg1938:print1974GelatinG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwyewbwQl6djbOkvvG1IbOPEDedNDwiqu-m9nfpyaGSr_CuKZ4HWFmfD_zd9ksASefUTF4aPnHGaNS-929x9jK_aqDR_PkNYp25HuEv7GUNiX1H9vQEiRhol-1dh4rkwatGa_6-aB-6LA/s400/thegoodreputation,sleeping:neg1938:print1974GelatinG.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=47971">The Good Reputation, Sleeping</a></i>; from a 1938 negative; gelatin silver print.<br />
The title comes from a proverb - <i>La Buena fama durmiendo;</i> earn a good<br />
reputation, then rest on your laurels. This photo was the result of a phone<br />
call on behalf of André Breton who wanted an image for the cover of a catalog<br />
for an upcoming surrealist exhibition at the Galería de Arte Mexicano.<br />
This is my personal favorite black and white photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Although he was never formally a part of the surrealism movement, his work has elements of dreams and fantasties, and his photographs of inanimate objects are generally imbued with human qualities. His work was often political and he had associations with revolutionary artists and writers. Despite his openness and exposure to influences outside of his native country, his work displays a distinctively Mexican focus. This was in tune with national efforts to create a unified Mexican cultural identity, and the emergence of Mexico City as an international center for art and the intellectual climate that accompanied it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcFK8K4000mL9SqFtGD4l7t2VB7n3yZ_3DY3-o4i3VZmjhVjbh307SId003gfwdbuyFzpZu2tgrGBiNzBcwQOuKVrsV7fmWfWB6qgG0eeCXRy23resdJYnZo-wbVigMdZU6n71Dk92SLk/s1600/TheCrouchedOnes1934GeltainsilverprintG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcFK8K4000mL9SqFtGD4l7t2VB7n3yZ_3DY3-o4i3VZmjhVjbh307SId003gfwdbuyFzpZu2tgrGBiNzBcwQOuKVrsV7fmWfWB6qgG0eeCXRy23resdJYnZo-wbVigMdZU6n71Dk92SLk/s400/TheCrouchedOnes1934GeltainsilverprintG.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=105185" style="font-style: italic;">The Crouched Ones</a>; 1934; gelatin silver print. The anonymous men have<br />
been visually decapitated, their feet bound by the chains linking the chairs.<br />
Such a compelling statement about the constraints and invisibility of laborers!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Tina Modotti was working for the magazine <i>Mexican Folkways</i>, which explored the cultural history of Mexico. She gave Bravo some freelance assignments, and when she was deported in 1930 for her politics, he took her place. His work at first consisted mostly of photographs of artifacts, murals, and portraits. But he also began to photograph landscapes, architecture, nature, and the daily life of everyday people. He was able to convey a sense of isolation and dissonance in many of his photos; his images tell captivating stories.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWITj8Qd_0t2VhyHq5KP4-MjLQG4B7aWbgGqXKZ63eH7yIyFuvvLPnjdNhLllF5EqyNqQVsAI5Z8TjHKtf90eTKLI4_gdykWG7kpAghZct9P_okq1MY4-AFV7aqBtawfQ31W9bmLQ48p5/s1600/Daughter+of+the+Dancers:Muchachita!+1933+Geltain+silver+print+G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWITj8Qd_0t2VhyHq5KP4-MjLQG4B7aWbgGqXKZ63eH7yIyFuvvLPnjdNhLllF5EqyNqQVsAI5Z8TjHKtf90eTKLI4_gdykWG7kpAghZct9P_okq1MY4-AFV7aqBtawfQ31W9bmLQ48p5/s400/Daughter+of+the+Dancers:Muchachita!+1933+Geltain+silver+print+G.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=105180" style="font-style: italic;">Daughter of the Dancers</a>; 1933, gelatin silver print.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
For decades he shot his provocative vignettes, but in the 1940s he focused more on landscapes. Because of his interest and involvement in film his work took on a more cinematic look. His shots became more complex, blending past and present. Octavio Paz, the Nobel Laureate, was a close friend of Bravo's. He described Bravo's photographs as instances of revelation, moments of fixation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9gP5_U-59s7X0wc6GJl7NUXZLa0tZT66jnU6jiJF0KH_ClwYGMhrF2W9GrUhpZz3bqjNeDzOS-Y76FFpWSUuSkhzbxN8Glczl2aYItJdracv9LDGOO4G5OBn9RLsb5Trb_ddcVSgYIUX/s1600/04796901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9gP5_U-59s7X0wc6GJl7NUXZLa0tZT66jnU6jiJF0KH_ClwYGMhrF2W9GrUhpZz3bqjNeDzOS-Y76FFpWSUuSkhzbxN8Glczl2aYItJdracv9LDGOO4G5OBn9RLsb5Trb_ddcVSgYIUX/s400/04796901.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=47969">Optical Parable</a></i>; 1931; gelatin silver print. He flipped<br />
the negative reversing the text. Parable, <i>parabola</i> in<br />
Spanish, refers to both a shape and a story, thus is wordplay.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Bravo used silver-gelatin, palladium, and platinum printing processes. He mostly printed 8 x 10 copies, but also did some 11 x 14 prints, and rarely 16 x 20. He explored all facets of photography, including Polaroids and disposable cameras. It would have been interesting to see what he would have done with digital photography, but he passed away in 2002, having lived a rich and productive 100 years.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlTA7d3W9gax0VfjHvZeOwg1Tueia4hk6YWIWZGnchFrT1jAMRJaC6Sf63nLHNgiYJgD4KneI5-d_4ZveQylZvWY0juGDcQX-zhwqqihug-3s-N7LL-7baKi40wg5bnNxsNFod7LUjR2B/s1600/ManuelAlvarezBravo+in+London,+1980,+Bill+Jay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlTA7d3W9gax0VfjHvZeOwg1Tueia4hk6YWIWZGnchFrT1jAMRJaC6Sf63nLHNgiYJgD4KneI5-d_4ZveQylZvWY0juGDcQX-zhwqqihug-3s-N7LL-7baKi40wg5bnNxsNFod7LUjR2B/s400/ManuelAlvarezBravo+in+London,+1980,+Bill+Jay.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bravo in London in 1980, age 78.<br />
Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.billjayonphotography.com/ManuelAlvarezBravo.html">Bill Jay</a>.</td></tr>
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Bravo was married three times to women who were all professionals of some renown in their own right. He was, and is, a profoundly influential photographer whose work has earned international acclaim. Born in interesting times, he took full advantage of his situation and involved himself fully in life. I celebrate his life and work and hope that he will continually inspire those who experience his art.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">All images © The J. Paul Getty Trust. All rights reserved.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.manuelalvarezbravo.org/index.html">The Asociación Manuel Álvarez Bravo</a> AC is archiving his work.</div><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-46044657625113262652012-01-27T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-27T05:01:48.103-08:00Ancient Sour Grapes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauaCYnc-uSoWZmQJY3KqRJYckJqgiaWal3H998GSy7U-6dS-bi1m0OZ-XtJofYdA4hSgh39txBXe7suH80jTzS62MjxlCDvFNxMxNhkqGcVcaOVNdN77XZ-MJEoawzSpTZG2-8Q-v_8-g/s1600/800px-A%CC%88gyptischer_Maler_um_1500_v._Chr._001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauaCYnc-uSoWZmQJY3KqRJYckJqgiaWal3H998GSy7U-6dS-bi1m0OZ-XtJofYdA4hSgh39txBXe7suH80jTzS62MjxlCDvFNxMxNhkqGcVcaOVNdN77XZ-MJEoawzSpTZG2-8Q-v_8-g/s400/800px-A%CC%88gyptischer_Maler_um_1500_v._Chr._001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A relief from ancient Egypt, circa 1,500 BCE, showing the <br />
growing of grapes, and the production and trade of wine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The earliest evidence of wine production (oenology) is from Georgia (Russia, not the U.S.) around 6,000 BCE. This was determined by a gene-mapping project in 2006 where 110 common cultivars were analyzed and found to originate in Georgia. Evidence has also been found in sites in Iran (5,000 BCE) and Armenia (4,000 BCE), while domestication of the grapevine seems to have occurred in the Near East, Sumer, and Egypt around 3,000 BCE. There are archaeological sites in Macedonia from 4,500 BCE that reveal the earliest wine production centers in Europe.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQpr-LjFDFWmaKpC9VMxTfX9fSL7aaMSSrE-Os_-pjijc5C7R7mvORErIFyLKdz_LpEu7uQVWyc_5W9XSFUKAHd4HcS4LMWpogMiT2L-BOi80jfeFt41a_CFcycpv0gvsNEwGo2jVqb20/s1600/800px-Archeological_sites_-_wine_and_oil_(English).svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQpr-LjFDFWmaKpC9VMxTfX9fSL7aaMSSrE-Os_-pjijc5C7R7mvORErIFyLKdz_LpEu7uQVWyc_5W9XSFUKAHd4HcS4LMWpogMiT2L-BOi80jfeFt41a_CFcycpv0gvsNEwGo2jVqb20/s400/800px-Archeological_sites_-_wine_and_oil_(English).svg.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A map of archaeological sites were wine or olive agriculture were found.<br />
Click on this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archeological_sites_-_wine_and_oil_(English).svg">link</a> for a larger view of the map.</td></tr>
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Wines are made with a number of fruits and grains. They are usually named for whatever their main ingredient is, such as strawberry wine or rice wine. The term "wine" in many of these cases refers to the face they are alcoholic beverages rather than how they are produced. Wines made of grains are closer to beer than wine. Grape wine is made with fermenting crushed grapes and yeast, which consumes the sugars in the grapes converting them to alcohol. Grapes have a natural chemical balance which allows them to ferment without additions such as sugars or enzymes. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSoT8vyOAoQNSqJMn9L8GIio_gPAedh5NdWFRWxy1mgJAxaulwgx-0wkR9Xi5mB8f8vXf4OoXOOgbdoC_7iuQjnhzSK_se5CK35PNzx1vN0QgsxZjldoBkWWx3Gc0USOkRQCfefPjybEj/s1600/397px-Wine_grapes03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSoT8vyOAoQNSqJMn9L8GIio_gPAedh5NdWFRWxy1mgJAxaulwgx-0wkR9Xi5mB8f8vXf4OoXOOgbdoC_7iuQjnhzSK_se5CK35PNzx1vN0QgsxZjldoBkWWx3Gc0USOkRQCfefPjybEj/s400/397px-Wine_grapes03.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grapes that will be made into wine.</td></tr>
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Actually, very little is known about the beginnings of oenology. Gatherers and early farmers may have used wild plants. As the production process was established, the need may have arisen for a steady supply, and certain types of grapes may have been preferred. In 2007, the earliest known winery was found in Armenia that has been determined to be 6,100 years old. Areni-1, as the winery is known, had fermentation vats, a press, storage jars, and pottery shards. The site was determined to be a burial site, so the wine produced there is believed to have been intended for rituals involving burials. The people who lived here at this time are unknown, but the site was abandoned when the roof caved in. Sheep dung prevented fungi, thus preserving the site.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9p7olKwYA11NwSFF20ANyucuEUDSxRdFckfWxSHjq2cm2HZqlFG-TytWrBWrtniLxGCH34LIfAmDgUygn7aaKMK3UIc9EirTrDgR22QbntHFYQtYyyVxqjbiQuO6k8Rhdt77UF_wNQDnp/s1600/oldest-wine-making-press-discovered_31092_600x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9p7olKwYA11NwSFF20ANyucuEUDSxRdFckfWxSHjq2cm2HZqlFG-TytWrBWrtniLxGCH34LIfAmDgUygn7aaKMK3UIc9EirTrDgR22QbntHFYQtYyyVxqjbiQuO6k8Rhdt77UF_wNQDnp/s400/oldest-wine-making-press-discovered_31092_600x450.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Areni-1 with wine press in front of sign and fermentation vat at right.<br />
Image courtesy of Gregory Areshian.</td></tr>
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The word "wine" is from a Proto-Indo-European stem *win-o. Our modern viniculture comes from ancient Greece, where the grapes grown today are similar or identical to those grown in ancient times. Wines were known to both Minoan and Mycenaean cultures. There was a festival in Mycenaean times known as the "festival of the new wine" or "month of the new wine" - <i>me-tu-wo ne-wo.</i> This is the earliest known term referring to wine. Because of the amphorae found all over the ancient world with Greek art and styling, it is possible that the Greeks introduced wine to many areas, including Egypt.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOobdpBfL_3w69_rLv4s_9bHRB1Mmbswhc08N0I15YSDF-TRIpc7rnP3D6Xrc5yOfo_5Fc_9UiFNTSzKSJI0LSn5lEONtP3kA9EmK39yKBizXjUAQU7oE4gLZJOp03uomgpZGGq6X7C99u/s1600/391px-Dionysos_vineyard_MNE_Villa_Giulia_106463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOobdpBfL_3w69_rLv4s_9bHRB1Mmbswhc08N0I15YSDF-TRIpc7rnP3D6Xrc5yOfo_5Fc_9UiFNTSzKSJI0LSn5lEONtP3kA9EmK39yKBizXjUAQU7oE4gLZJOp03uomgpZGGq6X7C99u/s400/391px-Dionysos_vineyard_MNE_Villa_Giulia_106463.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Attic black-figure amphora with Dionysus,<br />
circa 6th century BCE. This is attributed to the<br />
Priam Painter, active in Athens at that time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
In ancient Egypt, wine was used for rituals. By the end of the Old Kingdom (2650 - 2152 BCE) there were five types of wine considered essential for the afterlife. Although wine was commonly known, the ancient Egyptians were superstitious about its resemblance to blood. Beer was the preferred drink of the people.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivByG8KefbWNKslvMcXCCCQNSzgutdxPf8dp9Hd4cyWoZueBKAsklud7SQoB2yLfrEE3RdD4KeXxPj2L_CswpuLOsk8RjxBjQC8aouxMHxsrCz1qAc_FPtzw78a6n3YglrqtLPR2QkribH/s1600/Commerce_du_vin_sur_la_Durance_(e%CC%81poque_gallo-romaine).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivByG8KefbWNKslvMcXCCCQNSzgutdxPf8dp9Hd4cyWoZueBKAsklud7SQoB2yLfrEE3RdD4KeXxPj2L_CswpuLOsk8RjxBjQC8aouxMHxsrCz1qAc_FPtzw78a6n3YglrqtLPR2QkribH/s400/Commerce_du_vin_sur_la_Durance_(e%CC%81poque_gallo-romaine).png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The transportation of wine in barrels across a river, circa 63 BCE - 14 CE.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
In ancient Greece and Rome, wines were related to religion with the worship of Dionysus and Bacchus. Wine became a part of the everyday diet, and became big business. The winemaking regions of western Europe were for the most part established during the Roman Empire. Barrels were invented by the Gauls, which were easy to roll; later the introduction of glass bottles by the Syrians were also used. After the Greeks invented the screw (probably Archimedes) it was used throughout the Mediterranean for wine and oil presses. Roman villas were commonly outfitted with wine presses. The Romans are credited with naming wines according to their regions, in essence creating a brand of sorts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrf5TQjkL1Cf8U3Gbkn3VfunDttdokY6oov6dnrG0F08xsIz4yZJmrDYtLVLmNBJQB4KHtlAF3MXa7FjzYJIHtPfEU9LCjJkFnR0Kv4EgqqtF0GpUYKEwVyRcq_hm3DogfX2hyphenhyphenXzCftdQB/s1600/450px-18th_cent_BC_wine_vessel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrf5TQjkL1Cf8U3Gbkn3VfunDttdokY6oov6dnrG0F08xsIz4yZJmrDYtLVLmNBJQB4KHtlAF3MXa7FjzYJIHtPfEU9LCjJkFnR0Kv4EgqqtF0GpUYKEwVyRcq_hm3DogfX2hyphenhyphenXzCftdQB/s400/450px-18th_cent_BC_wine_vessel.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A <i>jue</i>, or Chinese bronze beaker used to serve wine. <br />
It has been attributed to the 18th C. BCE, which <br />
would indicate it was made and used for rice wine. <br />
Image courtesy of Art Poskanzer/Wikipedia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
After the Han Dynasty (202 BCE - 220 CE), contact with Hellenistic kingdoms introduced grapes into China. But the Chinese made wine in the 2nd century BCE, before this introduction, using wild grapes. Rice wine was the preferred drink, and grape wine was reserved for the Emperor. Marco Polo noted that rice wine was more common that grape wine in the 1280s. Drinking wine was an activity that went along with chess, music, good conversation, meditation, poetry, and calligraphy, among other loftier activities. The phrase for this was being in the company of "drinking guests."<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_Bj5TkGkIoRS7T6YWUl7Z1heKUVhDpsQ6FqDePZYshz41H0efp0jDZQxr3Lo9OXLCujgmrHHCA87sFJH4W0cBnwyjYMxQ2WE6ki4065Gmw0wfF-64LS_95Cmkr9rpGrR46stIuvyGLFO/s1600/564px-29-autunno,Taccuino_Sanitatis,_Casanatense_4182..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_Bj5TkGkIoRS7T6YWUl7Z1heKUVhDpsQ6FqDePZYshz41H0efp0jDZQxr3Lo9OXLCujgmrHHCA87sFJH4W0cBnwyjYMxQ2WE6ki4065Gmw0wfF-64LS_95Cmkr9rpGrR46stIuvyGLFO/s400/564px-29-autunno,Taccuino_Sanitatis,_Casanatense_4182..jpg" width="376" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pressing wine from a 14th century book, the<i> Tacuinum Sanitatis</i>,<br />
a medieval handbook on health and well-being.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
In the Middle East wine was imported, as the arid climate was not suitable for growing grapes. When Islam came about, alcoholic drinks were forbidden, but there are records of medicinal wines being used. Muslim alchemists worked on distillation, resulting in ethanol, which was used for perfumes. This is also the first time wine was distilled into brandy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7O9WF4wP_qJxK1MaHFPVrPl3xShXPGV-Mo-PS4lwS7KTSbOEGL9w7-fI1p3szy2VVv4C-G7KeBpmBKFMlDpYujIqmG9dkc2vFcAB3JCNaINICuPqaB6qov0hU-QdPqNjjfbv2ELs3Ttlc/s1600/Mei.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7O9WF4wP_qJxK1MaHFPVrPl3xShXPGV-Mo-PS4lwS7KTSbOEGL9w7-fI1p3szy2VVv4C-G7KeBpmBKFMlDpYujIqmG9dkc2vFcAB3JCNaINICuPqaB6qov0hU-QdPqNjjfbv2ELs3Ttlc/s400/Mei.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A woman pouring wine from a 17th century wall <br />
painting in the Chehel Sotoun Palace, Iran.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
When the western Roman Empire fell around 500 CE, the Roman Catholic Church carried on the tradition of viniculture. Wine was important to the Catholic Mass, so monasteries began producing it. They produced enough to distribute for secular use throughout Europe. This is when <a href="http://cerebralboinkfest.blogspot.com/2011/09/mother-of-all-libations.html">meads</a> began to be made as well. Wines were kept in barrels and not aged, but drunk young. Since ancient times, wines were watered down to control alcohol consumption.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQokIOJ_qk3v1MWxudfSdC40zJhZII3KGNLMe7UJEJ8UZ9kKVKiRbaTURjW-v1F7pE-1hE-xtGc_q8c5_pwwBMgBuVewssQiJH_Np09d7FaijmQ98b1HhR8hLfw3G5NiF79pwJlt-oDAkT/s1600/weinmuseum_Roemerwein_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQokIOJ_qk3v1MWxudfSdC40zJhZII3KGNLMe7UJEJ8UZ9kKVKiRbaTURjW-v1F7pE-1hE-xtGc_q8c5_pwwBMgBuVewssQiJH_Np09d7FaijmQ98b1HhR8hLfw3G5NiF79pwJlt-oDAkT/s400/weinmuseum_Roemerwein_small.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The oldest known bottle of (liquid) wine. It has been <br />
dated to 300 CE, and was found in a Roman sarcophagus. <br />
It has lots of sediment and a thick mixture which may<br />
be olive oil. Although cork closures were known, they <br />
were not commonly used. Instead olive oil was floated<br />
on the top where it prevented evaporation and oxidation.<br />
Image courtesy of the <a href="http://www.museum.speyer.de/English/Permanent_exhibitions/Weinmuseum_The_Wine_Museum_.htm">Historisches Museum der Pfalz.</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<i>Vitis vinifera</i> was the species of grape which became most successful, and is still the standard for most of the world's wines. "Vinland", the new country that explorer Leif Eriksson discovered in 1000 CE, was named for the native grapes that grew there, but which ultimately weren't desirable for wine. Later on European settlers brought vinifera vines but they didn't take well to American soil. Eventually vinifera vines were grafted to native rootstocks, and the resulting plants were successful.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHL5tboweo91zoWgynvD5Bq2xT2beBj_3Dcj1BwZYtMn1ViRF4hOAAIxCQ_8GP1yZ99Ua8FWx0QGCvbVAFX5qu9UyqQGKlSt_bZIWSdNCzJsBuqtIsyxB8Z87WLPPRHJVTt06BHzgXfOQ4/s1600/crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHL5tboweo91zoWgynvD5Bq2xT2beBj_3Dcj1BwZYtMn1ViRF4hOAAIxCQ_8GP1yZ99Ua8FWx0QGCvbVAFX5qu9UyqQGKlSt_bZIWSdNCzJsBuqtIsyxB8Z87WLPPRHJVTt06BHzgXfOQ4/s400/crop.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From St. Peter Port, Guernsey.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Wine was never an invention, but a discovery. Its development depended on finding the right kinds of grapes and growing them. Today we continue a very long tradition that has endured for millenia. À votre santé!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of Wikipedia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">For a detailed look at how wine is depicted in fiction, see </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://privatelibrary.typepad.com/the_private_library/2012/01/oenolit-and-the-private-library.html">OenoLit</a> and the Private Library.</div><div style="text-align: center;">******************************</div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-843718525294913952012-01-26T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-26T00:01:01.289-08:00Hand Jive<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGK2uVrAYGA7bHW8hcJBwdGNF38EsuxrwFX52QnCSEhpCDnBMYwWx3XGY9qCI0kK9GajHG0yFYcVxW2P5apXpa-DUZ4ant6CdUPbkbP3aZ76qVc6wlQyKjoYVHBBdZ4_z2__Ej5bPY4W2y/s1600/modella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGK2uVrAYGA7bHW8hcJBwdGNF38EsuxrwFX52QnCSEhpCDnBMYwWx3XGY9qCI0kK9GajHG0yFYcVxW2P5apXpa-DUZ4ant6CdUPbkbP3aZ76qVc6wlQyKjoYVHBBdZ4_z2__Ej5bPY4W2y/s400/modella.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guido Daniele and a model.</td></tr>
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Guido Daniele is a celebrated Italian artist who is well-known for his hand and body art. A master at trompe l'oeil, his work can be seen in many ads. A resident of Milan, he graduated from the Brera School of Arts as a sculpture major. He continued his education in India at the Tankas school in Dharamsala.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trompe l'oeil from the Casa Fichter in Milan, 1997.</td></tr>
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After trying and testing different painting techniques, he has become quite proficient with the airbrush. He cites Francesco Radino, the photographer, as an influence. He began with body painting, even using a client's chocolate to paint models.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxS7cTpAQbWAPRSufhtP_nMXixe7uj9xIg0I9y5zUPZcInkCnoHX48jKbUptwu6LxPTO2gmvLZP5DM_07Pa8h5Sx7fhsTZu9kAfj_nBrSYL3B3OF2cd551ZMP22WaeP16XJqmg1DpmNb_S/s1600/2004-Magnum-Chocolate-1-441x340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxS7cTpAQbWAPRSufhtP_nMXixe7uj9xIg0I9y5zUPZcInkCnoHX48jKbUptwu6LxPTO2gmvLZP5DM_07Pa8h5Sx7fhsTZu9kAfj_nBrSYL3B3OF2cd551ZMP22WaeP16XJqmg1DpmNb_S/s400/2004-Magnum-Chocolate-1-441x340.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 2004 ad for Magnum Chocolate.</td></tr>
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In 2000, he began his "Handimals", for which he is most famous and applauded. This process takes from two to ten hours, and his models must keep their hands absolutely still. In 2007, he was awarded Animal Planet's Hero of the Year award. These are incredible not only for the painting, but also for the way the hands are placed.....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTDRcBlD193qp45zCBrxRkS9OKCviAhZVt60wQjjMbp3avWmT25z8A9GGo0G82XyzSR_R5Rzu9gtoJj4sdDjzN5cgvtkez_DJcj_C-Zz6mmhyV5Utmh7sObV2zQrjjB-O4MAeLp02xli0/s1600/0hand1yoke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTDRcBlD193qp45zCBrxRkS9OKCviAhZVt60wQjjMbp3avWmT25z8A9GGo0G82XyzSR_R5Rzu9gtoJj4sdDjzN5cgvtkez_DJcj_C-Zz6mmhyV5Utmh7sObV2zQrjjB-O4MAeLp02xli0/s400/0hand1yoke.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">To see his work go to his <a href="http://www.guidodaniele.com/">website</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;">All images courtesy of his website.</div><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-8726453268050684502012-01-25T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-25T00:01:00.863-08:00Cars, Sex, and Movies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DQz50cWQh7Yns8iYdRHwTIP2ESC6VsNeJVWl5t1DZUs4Dg7j2lm5ciAskNeZHMHrIrjQg5yasKRxU0ly7lah61iyqtpMLG2c3z5hRRe8dQlf1p24axwIZuCBDZHALoW9x9QSaJTBi7-3/s1600/intwest005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DQz50cWQh7Yns8iYdRHwTIP2ESC6VsNeJVWl5t1DZUs4Dg7j2lm5ciAskNeZHMHrIrjQg5yasKRxU0ly7lah61iyqtpMLG2c3z5hRRe8dQlf1p24axwIZuCBDZHALoW9x9QSaJTBi7-3/s400/intwest005.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Movie poster image courtesy of John Story.</td></tr>
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My parents never went to drive-in theaters; actually they hardly went to theaters at all. But I remember fondly going to the drive-in with neighbors and the families of friends. On a summer night in Southern California, not much could be finer. I remember getting really comfortable, often among the cushions spread in the bed of a truck, and eating food that we brought in ourselves - everything from real dinners to homemade goodies. And if the movie sucked, well, people-watching was a lot of fun. Especially the horny teenagers, of which there were lots.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sappington, Missouri. Image courtesy of Stan Galczynski.</td></tr>
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By the time I was a teenager, going to drive-ins was a thing of the past, and there were very few left. Yes, the sound was always sucky and sometimes you had to move around to find a speaker that worked (before they began broadcasting the soundtrack over the radio), and if the lot wasn't slanted right you'd have to put up with people walking across your field of vision. The screens themselves were often in need of repair. I remember someone who lived in an apartment where you could see the screen if you hung out the window, and I thought that was pretty cool and where I would want to live someday (I didn't consider the fact that I'd have to hear the same movie night after night.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAhHpQYtQOKjYA_pxKk6JcVsnOTP8w46ZgBHt2raWpeSFqAU5u9gIXVHN73z5LlxM-5_CuU-QAqwWgr_tY36_JK4eRsdq_ucKUpYruQUjo4oevnPpBymAuNzi1hVvSc0-et40KOYXgSlb/s1600/fltnort034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAhHpQYtQOKjYA_pxKk6JcVsnOTP8w46ZgBHt2raWpeSFqAU5u9gIXVHN73z5LlxM-5_CuU-QAqwWgr_tY36_JK4eRsdq_ucKUpYruQUjo4oevnPpBymAuNzi1hVvSc0-et40KOYXgSlb/s400/fltnort034.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radio frequency sign at ticket booth.<br />
Image courtesy of Dave Page.</td></tr>
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The peak of popularity for drive-ins was 1958, when there were about 5,000 drive-ins operating in the United States. Today there are less than 500. There are many reasons for the decline: rising land values; daylight savings; video rentals; the advent of color television; and getting decent (first-run was almost impossible) films are just some of them. The rising cost of real estate due to urban sprawl may have been the single biggest deterrent. And showtimes were limited to after dark, although there were experiments with daytime showings under tents which failed. Weather, too, played a significant role - movies were often not viewable in inclement weather, making the drive-in experience a seasonal activity in some climates.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswjabzB_x9yFp0bN619JEt_7E9WiwVH45R4Gam_hO9tNxJbOC2tY7XreQaps2vyBmlbC_Ixho4QL5c3kubXY7zfaZrzgJ_W3lgUE9-kpwcQ6wC7XTuNgewgc996G_kpoSbLtMK_367VzZ/s1600/Arnold+Schuff-DicksonCityPenn%253Adrive-ins.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswjabzB_x9yFp0bN619JEt_7E9WiwVH45R4Gam_hO9tNxJbOC2tY7XreQaps2vyBmlbC_Ixho4QL5c3kubXY7zfaZrzgJ_W3lgUE9-kpwcQ6wC7XTuNgewgc996G_kpoSbLtMK_367VzZ/s400/Arnold+Schuff-DicksonCityPenn%253Adrive-ins.com.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A drive-in in Dickson City, Pennsylvania. Image courtesy of Arnold Schuff.</td></tr>
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There is actually a patent held for the "invention" of the drive-in theater. U.S. Patent 1,909,537 was issued to Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr. on May 16, 1933. He opened the first one in Camden, New Jersey on June 6th of that year. It had a 40 x 50 foot screen with 400 slots. It only existed for three years, but by that time the idea caught on and drive-ins opened in other states. Hollingshead originally planned his "invention" at his home, nailing a screen to trees, and determining the space for vehicles in his driveway.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hollingshead's drive-in. Image courtesy of www.wired.com.</td></tr>
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Because drive-ins were a popular dating venue they gained a reputation for being "dens of iniquity", and the media called them "passion pits." They also tended to show "B" movies. Soon they began to offer exploitation films, some made specifically for drive-ins. In the 70s, some drive-ins began showing porno films in an attempt to generate more income. This became problematic in crowded areas, and even at drive-ins in remote, rural areas. It was difficult to be sure the viewers were of age.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWT9mDfCWlBb-wZLVfKECnPbGjHU_WbSpYIRLkOFazS-tZ4rDmwINyje0FCrBHT_uCmU2H3ICNHAaPMVm387BK7_9faJkjeF4g8i3mn86XcTSvcOIkMCzI5C2-hG1cNjkcVJwMkX01pEf/s1600/ad4evansvilleInd-+Bruce+Lacoste%253ADI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWT9mDfCWlBb-wZLVfKECnPbGjHU_WbSpYIRLkOFazS-tZ4rDmwINyje0FCrBHT_uCmU2H3ICNHAaPMVm387BK7_9faJkjeF4g8i3mn86XcTSvcOIkMCzI5C2-hG1cNjkcVJwMkX01pEf/s400/ad4evansvilleInd-+Bruce+Lacoste%253ADI.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newspaper ad for the Evansville, Indiana Westside Drive-in.<br />
Image courtesy of Bruce Lacoste.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAaTf2vHDTQBF5bbLMQGEWotoa5QXvWiYR_7xh4ORsM0yFJky1CbPvb_uprjksinJGJ6IF2bv97skw3LyzK6IPytQ6l7z0hXK1UlKWnzKunxNhpDM3BuyofK671ltIq9X27B5bZGnmOmH/s1600/Quahog%253ADI-No.SmithfieldRI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAaTf2vHDTQBF5bbLMQGEWotoa5QXvWiYR_7xh4ORsM0yFJky1CbPvb_uprjksinJGJ6IF2bv97skw3LyzK6IPytQ6l7z0hXK1UlKWnzKunxNhpDM3BuyofK671ltIq9X27B5bZGnmOmH/s400/Quahog%253ADI-No.SmithfieldRI.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ad for the Rustic Drive-in in North Smithfield,<br />
Rhode Island. Image courtesy of Quahog.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Some drive-ins lent themselves to other activities, such as religious services on Sunday, swap meets, flea markets, and concerts. To augment the money they made from sales at snack bars or concession stands, some drive-ins had playground areas for children, petting zoos, miniature golf, and sit-down restaurants. Because cars often snuck people in without paying for them, drive-ins started to charge per car admission prices.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKTUnPIATRDRSr2iuRegPnh9u_1GqORyG_fUveUYI2xY0JI_LspJslM5QejziS6EhfcMQDkdHr1rR86FXAPxuuOn6nohrXJ5tErpa84oWTMjtjZSuNivQvKOQ_O6e-8kocZFWdYSdWsHt/s1600/w%253ASnackBarAd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKTUnPIATRDRSr2iuRegPnh9u_1GqORyG_fUveUYI2xY0JI_LspJslM5QejziS6EhfcMQDkdHr1rR86FXAPxuuOn6nohrXJ5tErpa84oWTMjtjZSuNivQvKOQ_O6e-8kocZFWdYSdWsHt/s400/w%253ASnackBarAd.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of Wikipedia.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSIeQEIYBzNriZuv9Q8HzN-Htb6_TPtuOggxrIfy171JY886kVDsjvV7n3AWXhZUDEJku-BkoVsRs4-qf24CEGcM-emc7NNfJoSdBHz4yFIYUvuo70Ib31sLvpS-YPtZmHzIO3G-sW6qR/s1600/DavePage%253ADI-FortMyersFlo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSIeQEIYBzNriZuv9Q8HzN-Htb6_TPtuOggxrIfy171JY886kVDsjvV7n3AWXhZUDEJku-BkoVsRs4-qf24CEGcM-emc7NNfJoSdBHz4yFIYUvuo70Ib31sLvpS-YPtZmHzIO3G-sW6qR/s400/DavePage%253ADI-FortMyersFlo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concession at the Fort Myers, Florida drive-in. Image courtesy of Dave Page.</td></tr>
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In the past decade, there has been a revival of sorts that has been called the "guerrilla drive-in movement." Showings are advertised online, and films are projected on the walls of buildings, warehouses, or even giant bridge pillars. Most of these showings are cult, independent, or experimental films. Inflatable screens have been developed, and are often used for showing films outdoor, as well as for sporting and other social events.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8emqXruHACg_LQCODdOdCxIvL-cTI7-9OKcpAq6Sq_MgPuzv1PoE0gQAkrAsy5ikHi08eGQA2Qmux-NAQTvIwB_s-SgVsOk2rYGrrpd8_ve6AdQO77vtDtgEUcFXagLjnt9CR3EXPIvLJ/s1600/w%253AAutokino_Hueckelhoven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8emqXruHACg_LQCODdOdCxIvL-cTI7-9OKcpAq6Sq_MgPuzv1PoE0gQAkrAsy5ikHi08eGQA2Qmux-NAQTvIwB_s-SgVsOk2rYGrrpd8_ve6AdQO77vtDtgEUcFXagLjnt9CR3EXPIvLJ/s400/w%253AAutokino_Hueckelhoven.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An autokino event in H<u>ü</u>ckelhoven, Germany. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpi17ccBdbXCFONRgoz-AuDDQDu8qPDEKFcUJRKvLzK5MhjWKENzZOzLZ6a1DBc62_PI3_hso7m1Y7yiGhd_T2Ke85hzKBIO2MsRYCibyxRU5SJWWQc_UV5-rBUwLQ6HhNCUtNofOV9AUD/s1600/w%253ADrive-In_Brussels+w%253Ainflatable+screen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpi17ccBdbXCFONRgoz-AuDDQDu8qPDEKFcUJRKvLzK5MhjWKENzZOzLZ6a1DBc62_PI3_hso7m1Y7yiGhd_T2Ke85hzKBIO2MsRYCibyxRU5SJWWQc_UV5-rBUwLQ6HhNCUtNofOV9AUD/s400/w%253ADrive-In_Brussels+w%253Ainflatable+screen.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An inflatable screen in Brussels, Belgium. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.</td></tr>
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Those of us of a certain age remember a classic comedy routine by Cheech & Chong - Pedro and Man at the Drive-In (on their album <i>Los Cochinos.</i>) There are a limited number of drive-ins left in the U.S., which is sad because great childhood memories are meant to be shared.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of www.drive-ins.com</div><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-43300809691134760992012-01-24T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-24T00:01:00.672-08:00The Big Sirs of Big Sur<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXjnUPN-0ZifRoMV8wBcCrI4bs5JbN1ADAEs23bSqTvNZcdl5w47_oxUa9Mx1CZZDD0AdTnjYYJOoVvrqaLT4pABWfaF6ldyk7XkNr1zB9cR6m3jgf2kyp5TQzcU3Nw4rwfZQIlagWeGF/s1600/Big-Sur-Road-by-californiaimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXjnUPN-0ZifRoMV8wBcCrI4bs5JbN1ADAEs23bSqTvNZcdl5w47_oxUa9Mx1CZZDD0AdTnjYYJOoVvrqaLT4pABWfaF6ldyk7XkNr1zB9cR6m3jgf2kyp5TQzcU3Nw4rwfZQIlagWeGF/s400/Big-Sur-Road-by-californiaimage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Big Sur is the short, anglicized name for <i>el país grande del sur </i>or "the big country of the south" because it was an impenetrable region south of Monterey, the capital of the Spanish colony of Alta California. It is a unique spot in the U.S. for two reasons: Cone Peak, the highest coastal mountain in the contiguous 48 states (5,155 feet above sea level); and arguably one of the most scenic driving routes in the world.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtBV8I5fjw5aOLRiEYBpaE4axBSEP-ciwalPmHshqq0R2ti_Gu34RnjSUWtOyoTshVS0uyTKeeDHXq2OKt60Sf86DT2D47932HkwaVwPO_I8qFQoMk9XNik3rSbpS5psj3PKMfXfQP8s6/s1600/800px-6506-BigSurDinosaurRock%2526BixbyBridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtBV8I5fjw5aOLRiEYBpaE4axBSEP-ciwalPmHshqq0R2ti_Gu34RnjSUWtOyoTshVS0uyTKeeDHXq2OKt60Sf86DT2D47932HkwaVwPO_I8qFQoMk9XNik3rSbpS5psj3PKMfXfQP8s6/s400/800px-6506-BigSurDinosaurRock%2526BixbyBridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous "Dinosaur Rock" and Bixby Bridge.</td></tr>
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The area basically runs along California State Route 1 between San Simeon and Carmel, covering 90 miles of coastline, and ranging from 3 to 20 miles inland. Since its discovery by non-natives, it has remained almost inaccessible. Up until the 1920s only two of the few homes in the entire region had electricity from water wheels and windmills. In the early 1950s connections were made to the California electric grid. Highway 1, a two-lane road, was completed in 1937 as the Roosevelt Highway, but in 1939 it was incorporated into the state highways system and renamed. It was designated as the first State Scenic Highway in 1965.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yfZAWky8_4-R0p3foLxe-d9ZVYs875MD9sGXr6UZZQBJju9q7f0_qHWRI_I4WH5GNip4eJKCe_DmmImwAiVxLbdvPPDVNc9isDtG-bQg-0WUq9SLZw7EjXEgsiq3_-adIuo8pELLpkKq/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yfZAWky8_4-R0p3foLxe-d9ZVYs875MD9sGXr6UZZQBJju9q7f0_qHWRI_I4WH5GNip4eJKCe_DmmImwAiVxLbdvPPDVNc9isDtG-bQg-0WUq9SLZw7EjXEgsiq3_-adIuo8pELLpkKq/s400/images.jpeg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy Stan Russell/www.bigsurcalifornia.org.</td></tr>
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It remains sparsely populated today, with no urban areas but small clusters of businesses. The area economy is based on tourism, although there is less than 300 rooms on the entire 90-mile stretch with 3 gas stations, according to the C<a href="http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/lodging.html">hamber of Commerce</a>. There are no chain hotels, supermarkets, or fast-food outlets, and the area adheres to strict codes which do not allow billboards or commercial development, as well as prohibitions against any new construction within view of the highway. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqa5rhUlg99nuRhYJwWMkfttbEEIACNuHPxaa8vXy2ge2Bz7YerrSpnb3i7uAvwB1nEuYbRX2hUFFcS0Xrz5AGYjjn8IbfCa9Xb0NbWbQnbQ2P19NbO92yOwqNsiE7Kh6H9mRITKbwT5zG/s1600/Big_Sur_5137-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqa5rhUlg99nuRhYJwWMkfttbEEIACNuHPxaa8vXy2ge2Bz7YerrSpnb3i7uAvwB1nEuYbRX2hUFFcS0Xrz5AGYjjn8IbfCa9Xb0NbWbQnbQ2P19NbO92yOwqNsiE7Kh6H9mRITKbwT5zG/s400/Big_Sur_5137-9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of Lee W. Nelson.</td></tr>
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This is unusual in a state where coastlines are studded with pricey enclaves of expensive homes. Protected once by its remoteness, it is now also protected by law and the efforts of environmentalists. Despite and because of its isolation, the area attracts nature lovers and artists of all media. Specifically, this rustic, secluded landscape has attracted a number of famous writers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQNwBvcWFPctvYPSYNOvzVwFQvULd4RFlyOMEfmYiHWitmwqbsHsyJFo-TZPxJhUWYEPzU_IgbImjFvoZ2gjkS5RLYpTWmaYPFyutmjTViWw0iSAYDwUnqQWmnALjEozxdknV729BaqRx/s1600/Robinsonjeffers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQNwBvcWFPctvYPSYNOvzVwFQvULd4RFlyOMEfmYiHWitmwqbsHsyJFo-TZPxJhUWYEPzU_IgbImjFvoZ2gjkS5RLYpTWmaYPFyutmjTViWw0iSAYDwUnqQWmnALjEozxdknV729BaqRx/s400/Robinsonjeffers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeffers in 1937, photographed by Carl Van Vechten.</td></tr>
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John Robinson Jeffers, the poet and environmentalist, was one of the first to succumb to Big Sur's beauty. Jeffers was known as an outdoorsman, and his work speaks of the natural world in epic form, often compared to the ancient Greek poets. Most of his poems were set in Big Sur and explored the relationship of humans to the beauty of nature. He was at his peak in the 1920s and 1930s, but his popularity declined and his work questioned after his opposition to U.S. involvement in WWII.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2iltDrYXkUqVRYdgDpAJf9o0Dw8xGsol9KA2NJspt4qKxFo921LsgAylULYGHWvZMQELk1qn2sUUNEDHZ20SmftfixpEPxuBhs-CBfUy3jiN-kwNbGsoVRsw4ktcnzg_HOzGOXS17tXd/s1600/450px-Robinson_Jeffers_Hawk_Tower%252C_Tor_House%252C_Carmel%252C_CA_2008_Photo_by_Celeste_Davison.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2iltDrYXkUqVRYdgDpAJf9o0Dw8xGsol9KA2NJspt4qKxFo921LsgAylULYGHWvZMQELk1qn2sUUNEDHZ20SmftfixpEPxuBhs-CBfUy3jiN-kwNbGsoVRsw4ktcnzg_HOzGOXS17tXd/s400/450px-Robinson_Jeffers_Hawk_Tower%252C_Tor_House%252C_Carmel%252C_CA_2008_Photo_by_Celeste_Davison.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hawk Tower, named for a hawk that appeared when Jeffers was<br />
working on the structure then disappeared when it was done.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2Bo3bIWmyi_K6XOOO4meQowzLEpOmu1Zq-MZWnINkgLkwQEoNgr-U1PjBGl0R0RVvWbTHA0qM4xTZDlr1Dz88lEkkSPUMUcIgbUhryiLiS4-_YssxAoHR5KI_KxYvCDfUMJ8gABxrcyd/s1600/Tor-House-Summer-2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2Bo3bIWmyi_K6XOOO4meQowzLEpOmu1Zq-MZWnINkgLkwQEoNgr-U1PjBGl0R0RVvWbTHA0qM4xTZDlr1Dz88lEkkSPUMUcIgbUhryiLiS4-_YssxAoHR5KI_KxYvCDfUMJ8gABxrcyd/s400/Tor-House-Summer-2008.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hawk Tower on left, Tor House on right. Tor House was his home where he<br />
wrote his major poetical works. Image courtesy of www.torhouse.org.</td></tr>
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Although his work has been marginalized, Jeffers has been translated and published all over the world, and influenced many authors. He also has been admired by several photographers of the early 20th century, including Ansel Adams, Morley Baer, and Edward Weston. Today he is an icon for environmentalists.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRY0nA3hP7qQXQbeo4Uv7F3OTS4MMOrdBSy_gu4OX2GZbU3_OregqwB9E6RMou7-oxtp6Sx9nhNR1ECmkzfaCGLeBa29fPKRfj_IXzNkXKHOiENmXDx2onQ4dREpg1_kkwixGbyrPrIdGi/s1600/486px-Henry_Miller_1940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRY0nA3hP7qQXQbeo4Uv7F3OTS4MMOrdBSy_gu4OX2GZbU3_OregqwB9E6RMou7-oxtp6Sx9nhNR1ECmkzfaCGLeBa29fPKRfj_IXzNkXKHOiENmXDx2onQ4dREpg1_kkwixGbyrPrIdGi/s400/486px-Henry_Miller_1940.jpg" width="323" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry Miller in 1940, photographed by Carl Van Vechten.</td></tr>
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Henry Valentine Miller was a novelist and painter. His work was initially banned in the U.S. as it was considered obscene with detailed accounts of sexual encounters. He had moved to Paris in 1930, but returned to the U.S. ten years later and settled in Big Sur where he continued to write challenging works. His banned books were smuggled into the country, giving him an underground, notorious reputation, and inspiring the Beat Generation of writers. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XVgYYq0bbozIxYjnv4Zll-RoUoyOFo92pyxlNJrgZcUniv-3ddOO-o7zAxJ0O94ykrdiIu3XI6RnP6-PPIF49DRMl_Rp6eoYfjw-xdwPDhEXB_2ssS3fAZ11EO6w6ghd1CqnkjXLgG8-/s1600/good-Libr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XVgYYq0bbozIxYjnv4Zll-RoUoyOFo92pyxlNJrgZcUniv-3ddOO-o7zAxJ0O94ykrdiIu3XI6RnP6-PPIF49DRMl_Rp6eoYfjw-xdwPDhEXB_2ssS3fAZ11EO6w6ghd1CqnkjXLgG8-/s400/good-Libr.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Henry Miller Library in Big Sur, founded by his friend, Emil White.<br />
This houses a collection of his works and serves as a public gallery with<br />
performances and workshop spaces for artists, musicians, and writers.<br />
Image courtesy of the Henry Miller Library.</td></tr>
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His book <i>Tropic of Cancer</i> was finally published in the U.S. in 1961 which led to obscenity trials resulting in a Supreme Court ruling that declared the book a work of literature. But he was not just a fiction writer; he wrote excellent travel books, especially about Greece. After his death at the age of 88, his ashes were scattered in the waters off Big Sur.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1tUl1Wmbwg2dfBqfxYIgeeSUGlKvSmwHZFjHoPF4fxREnv5BW6U8eD2I_72nlfPytNMcpZXprOmouYTOfpKuALymZgEiemihFjG5V8jZNEgDY5Ld8FrP1AeG-rB6yPJvwR2Sz4myvnqz/s1600/Richard_Brautigan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1tUl1Wmbwg2dfBqfxYIgeeSUGlKvSmwHZFjHoPF4fxREnv5BW6U8eD2I_72nlfPytNMcpZXprOmouYTOfpKuALymZgEiemihFjG5V8jZNEgDY5Ld8FrP1AeG-rB6yPJvwR2Sz4myvnqz/s400/Richard_Brautigan.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard Brautigan</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The troubled writer Richard Brautigan's first novel was <i>A Confederate General From Big Sur</i>. It met with little success, but his other novel which followed was <i>Trout Fishing in America</i>, which brought him fame and labeled him a representative of the counterculture of the late 1960s. Although he was averse to middle class values and conformity he is not considered a Beat writer. There is not a great deal of information about his life, but at some point(s) he experienced and was inspired by Big Sur.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack Kerouac by Tom Palumbo, circa 1956.</td></tr>
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Jean-Louis "Jack" Kerouac was one of the founders of the Beat Generation. After he attained fame and acclaim, he needed to escape his life on Long Island: "Drunken visitors puking in my study, stealing books and even pencils...Me drunk practically all the time to put on a jovial cap to keep up with all of this but finally realizing I was surrounded and outnumbered and had to get away to solitude again or die." (Quoted from his book <i>Big Sur</i>.) He found it at Big Sur in a little cabin. The cabin was owned by his friend, Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti.<br />
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He wrote the novel in 1962. It is another autobiographical fiction piece telling of the events of his alter-ego living at Big Sur. Another quote from the book: "So later when I heard people say 'Oh Big Sur must be beautiful?' I gulp to wonder why it has the reputation of being beautiful above and beyond its fearfulness, its Blakean groaning roughrock Creation thoes, those vistas when you drive the coast highway on a sunny day opening up the eye for miles of horrible washing sawing." In 2012 the movie <i>Big Sur</i> is due out - based on the novel and filmed in Big Sur.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hunter S. Thompson in 1988.</td></tr>
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Hunter Stockton Thompson, the creator of Gonzo journalism, where reporters become the stars of their own stories, was also a brief resident of Big Sur. For eight months he worked as a caretaker and security guard at the Big Sur hot springs in 1961 (now the Esalen Institute). During this time he wrote two novels, <i>Prince Jellyfish</i> and <i>The Rum Diary</i>, as well as short stories but with no success. (<i>The Rum Diary</i> was eventually published in 1998.) He did get a national publication (<i>Rogue</i> magazine) to publish his feature on the bohemian culture of Big Sur, but the publicity got him fired from the hot springs.<br />
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These writers have one thing in common, besides an appreciation of raw beauty: they are iconoclasts. A rare and untamed wildness attracts the rare and untamed. There is a synchronism there.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of Wikipedia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-43680781304348661172012-01-23T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-23T07:31:39.331-08:00The View From the Top<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3WxpVFex28FkwafoblJyH7owoG9z4Y_aXP0cC0elm6axol4UkRVQYZq3pii9qCBNiHVLUORHMAJ_0RiJKPCFqsvJgXqy0BcVpy9dD4WH-XG8MmR7UtF2ajXNmAygenxrM1MtuYVSpAdl/s1600/800px-Ocean_City_Ferris_Wheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3WxpVFex28FkwafoblJyH7owoG9z4Y_aXP0cC0elm6axol4UkRVQYZq3pii9qCBNiHVLUORHMAJ_0RiJKPCFqsvJgXqy0BcVpy9dD4WH-XG8MmR7UtF2ajXNmAygenxrM1MtuYVSpAdl/s400/800px-Ocean_City_Ferris_Wheel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ocean City Ferris Wheel on the boardwalk in New Jersey.</td></tr>
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George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. was an engineer from Pittsburgh whose firm specialized in testing and inspecting metal for use in bridges and railroads. In 1891, the directors of the World's Columbian Exposition to be held in 1893 in Chicago, issued a challenge to American engineers. They sought a monument for the expo that would surpass the structure built for the Paris International Exposition of 1889 - the Eiffel Tower. They asked for something "original, daring, and unique." Ferris was intrigued and designed a rotating wheel that would allow visitors to see the entire expo and would "out-Eiffel Eiffel."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8XjvVEDlrDCfWVNIVku8ei_Rvu2v8QUIX-FSSd4SzzOSQrbepeT92ArtFW63OHIwMjvQ0GnkMHDl3hgjjhMfS39lCQiqUDUbnQvFLTi29dU4BxdofAwTE7Ge2HeyW9GtYKVngsk_4X64/s1600/Ferris-wheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8XjvVEDlrDCfWVNIVku8ei_Rvu2v8QUIX-FSSd4SzzOSQrbepeT92ArtFW63OHIwMjvQ0GnkMHDl3hgjjhMfS39lCQiqUDUbnQvFLTi29dU4BxdofAwTE7Ge2HeyW9GtYKVngsk_4X64/s400/Ferris-wheel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ferris Wheel of the 1893 Chicago World's Columbian Exposition.</td></tr>
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This idea was not greeted with enthusiasm, as it was thought it would be unsafe and topple over. But Ferris obtained opinions from other established engineers, and then secured financing from local investors to cover the construction costs of $400,000. It was built with 36 cars accommodating 2,160 people. 38,000 people rode it daily; before it was demolished in 1906 some 2.5 million people had ridden on it. It was 264' tall and the main axle weighed 71 tons. A ride cost 50 cents and took 20". It closed in April of 1894 and was dismantled and stored. The following year it was rebuilt in the Lincoln Park area where it was in use from October of 1895 to 1903, when it was again dismantled and moved to St. Louis for the 1905 World's Fair. It was destroyed in 1906 with dynamite in a controlled explosion.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvZHEjkYmKpHYSGV_9EmfCsvy9pSE1ltAHn2YRREX6TIRmBVKG_qwZncP0qj3aH90vNRSP6x5QTppOxHQjEwGtlS21YDVdtfKwFk5SY61FngF-PhZdzVgpvCc1EoMK3zUb0Omu_z8n4Af/s1600/ferriswheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvZHEjkYmKpHYSGV_9EmfCsvy9pSE1ltAHn2YRREX6TIRmBVKG_qwZncP0qj3aH90vNRSP6x5QTppOxHQjEwGtlS21YDVdtfKwFk5SY61FngF-PhZdzVgpvCc1EoMK3zUb0Omu_z8n4Af/s400/ferriswheel.jpg" width="363" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of Ferris's wheel. The 45' axle was the largest <br />
single piece of forged steel ever made at that time.</td></tr>
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Ferris died before settling a lawsuit he began against the 1893 Chicago Expo for his and his investors' share of the profits from the Ferris wheel. Looks like karma may have had a hand in this, as Ferris got his idea from three wooden wheels built by William Somers in Asbury Park and Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Coney Island, New York. Ferris had ridden the Atlantic City wheel a year before designing his. Somers had been granted a patent for a "roundabout", and sued Ferris for infringement. But Ferris and his lawyers had prevailed by arguing that his technology was different and the case was dismissed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyt3zYP7l30ZhvD29HqYqeVK1vFsxc_UueHon7VV3Ct8ZIcV16L2jE0-2VsxPV_L7SLlZ7XxIYR4zQWmb1DSTLwajMnm8SbziMQDS9xs-S-o9UQkgCB7YMeDL5uZ5A1a7wOxklR4zR2MCR/s1600/787px-Olearius_uvesel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyt3zYP7l30ZhvD29HqYqeVK1vFsxc_UueHon7VV3Ct8ZIcV16L2jE0-2VsxPV_L7SLlZ7XxIYR4zQWmb1DSTLwajMnm8SbziMQDS9xs-S-o9UQkgCB7YMeDL5uZ5A1a7wOxklR4zR2MCR/s400/787px-Olearius_uvesel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 1656 engraving of a pleasure wheel by Adam Olearius.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8nK5toBXfr2j6LmElJi5-y13Ggy04iOCiez3sbY3Is1anCjUPGEytYEsZyyRQCq1dNXtIGqApc2MQyf1hZtp27cwVbsVvoGoK-YBEUuGiCWuGXuAhh_64eO9BHbNVuNMOJzfrSRBGUpS/s1600/Ferris_ups.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8nK5toBXfr2j6LmElJi5-y13Ggy04iOCiez3sbY3Is1anCjUPGEytYEsZyyRQCq1dNXtIGqApc2MQyf1hZtp27cwVbsVvoGoK-YBEUuGiCWuGXuAhh_64eO9BHbNVuNMOJzfrSRBGUpS/s320/Ferris_ups.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawing by En:User:Ridetheory (Wikipedia) after a 17th C. drawing.</td></tr>
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Pleasure wheels are thought to have been invented in Bulgaria in the 17th century. The first ones had chairs suspended from large wooden rings which passengers rode as men turned the rings. Antonio Manguino, a Frenchman, brought the idea to the U.S. in 1848, when he constructed a small wooden pleasure wheel at a fair he ran in Georgia.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdJDM2t0aICL6TS6lZQrqRjHp7xBBuFvA2UQtgR1Jf3Syeaw2lo5E-GVWQGYkxqTSY8KbHIC7Dt3QqKfQZhJbGzZZ2His8QjIYSxe7bFvsVF4RM2LbRf5pJrPShJcj9r-l5LPxZMuUivh/s1600/384px-Riesenrad_Wiener_Prater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdJDM2t0aICL6TS6lZQrqRjHp7xBBuFvA2UQtgR1Jf3Syeaw2lo5E-GVWQGYkxqTSY8KbHIC7Dt3QqKfQZhJbGzZZ2His8QjIYSxe7bFvsVF4RM2LbRf5pJrPShJcj9r-l5LPxZMuUivh/s400/384px-Riesenrad_Wiener_Prater.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wiener Riesenrad at Prater amusement<br />
park in Leopoldstadt in Vienna.</td></tr>
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In 1897, the Wierner Riesenrad (Viennese Giant Wheel) was built to honor Emperor Franz Josef I's Golden Jubilee. From 1920 to 1984 it was the world's tallest - 212.4', and had 30 passenger cars. It burnt down in 1944, but was reconstructed with 15 passenger cars. It remains today one of the top tourist attractions in Vienna.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIrj5aGjeArXrd-QazmJYv9XXmXGvfEOFzG7oSlD9gdLfXT9kSMmYOS2xsZGDvrQ5qx0ZpD7fEDBeRM_7nvhXsWgx8VUSgFk431ZSOVu3PEDQhF0L7mYbCAh_kDc2spLY2W-B6_zwmdwD/s1600/singapore-flyerducktours_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIrj5aGjeArXrd-QazmJYv9XXmXGvfEOFzG7oSlD9gdLfXT9kSMmYOS2xsZGDvrQ5qx0ZpD7fEDBeRM_7nvhXsWgx8VUSgFk431ZSOVu3PEDQhF0L7mYbCAh_kDc2spLY2W-B6_zwmdwD/s400/singapore-flyerducktours_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Singapore Flyer. Image courtesy of http://listverse.com.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7C4qkK83i4wn_38DnaNE5_T7XiRpLsZpibxBnfxlYgtqBPiOIY7tv_UkWC7wtgyAu-sERILxS-iFQKWy6Nap3M2yl8MQZZPC1Lo1WwR-WsTF3N9p1mk5tqYNAgWu4VqTDzYflsg9ooegd/s1600/450px-Singapore_flyer_capsule_inside.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7C4qkK83i4wn_38DnaNE5_T7XiRpLsZpibxBnfxlYgtqBPiOIY7tv_UkWC7wtgyAu-sERILxS-iFQKWy6Nap3M2yl8MQZZPC1Lo1WwR-WsTF3N9p1mk5tqYNAgWu4VqTDzYflsg9ooegd/s400/450px-Singapore_flyer_capsule_inside.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside one of the capsules of the Singapore Flyer.</td></tr>
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The current tallest in the world is the Singapore Flyer, which is 541'. It has 28 air-conditioned cars that hold 28 passengers each, and have restrooms and bars within. It opened on February 11, 2008. The cost was based on a lucky number - 8,888 Singapore dollars (about $6,988 U.S. dollars today). Ferris wheels are also known as observation wheels, and this one seems to nail the concept, drinks included.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIDwpDMI6GyDtAUVldNERYWwscK9U0TdKW1gBSZ6ZgNwJ6a-WN4Kh-oHMSk5LWYYdwB6cGGLhw9aeS82KeydYcqmeAJ7cckop4E-heGEoB1-b0-Q_5RUsf_a0TOk6iBp1K5WGqK7lZf7r/s1600/800px-MinatoMirai21_-_FerrisWheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIDwpDMI6GyDtAUVldNERYWwscK9U0TdKW1gBSZ6ZgNwJ6a-WN4Kh-oHMSk5LWYYdwB6cGGLhw9aeS82KeydYcqmeAJ7cckop4E-heGEoB1-b0-Q_5RUsf_a0TOk6iBp1K5WGqK7lZf7r/s400/800px-MinatoMirai21_-_FerrisWheel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cosmo Clock - still the world's largest clock.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGipz8KNBXiyW5aLRnX10A2I7cpsbkosJGWb9V6gqZT60ecUsOzOJf43G5Jgt12bphTuIYeBcO6NujEg5xItPgXqkAvtfNAXKJHNES0HJrZbK-6KDnoZ8qgyrHC4RqDxrpebaorIsOjB0x/s1600/800px-Cosmo_Clock_21_at_night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGipz8KNBXiyW5aLRnX10A2I7cpsbkosJGWb9V6gqZT60ecUsOzOJf43G5Jgt12bphTuIYeBcO6NujEg5xItPgXqkAvtfNAXKJHNES0HJrZbK-6KDnoZ8qgyrHC4RqDxrpebaorIsOjB0x/s400/800px-Cosmo_Clock_21_at_night.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cosmo Clock at night.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
A previous holder for title of tallest ferris wheel in the world is the Cosmo Clock, constructed in 1989 for the '89 Yokohama Expo in Yokohama, Japan. It was the tallest from 1989, when it was constructed, until 1997. It has 60 cars that hold 8 people, and a complete rotation takes 15". It is still the world's largest clock.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPMATQOphFIMeueuZ5eAXss2pyQkmQqU08cqGybw8NJVNV6tBbsgqQZKErEwTwG9-TJfqbmrUI7aSgrUNumydhn4jHvIZz-nh_ovaXK2M7e4q6FjA4TsufmZxaL552sOPh_JqwXzHsbcx/s1600/800px-Tianjin_Eye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPMATQOphFIMeueuZ5eAXss2pyQkmQqU08cqGybw8NJVNV6tBbsgqQZKErEwTwG9-TJfqbmrUI7aSgrUNumydhn4jHvIZz-nh_ovaXK2M7e4q6FjA4TsufmZxaL552sOPh_JqwXzHsbcx/s400/800px-Tianjin_Eye.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tiajin Eye on the Yongle Bridge (formerly the Chihai Bridge).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2NmvAw49cc7lE93cR-xX7XD65cnSJh94iPWg_Am8eUkI1p589F989dGcyVBuWDEqCex8f7rx_GC3SC8VvqaE1i5ZUZkLniXUMakGkDCaZsySd9pKvxMH8Pa_V6IlcublMmnRClH21jf5/s1600/800px-%25E7%2582%25AB%25E5%25BD%25A9%25E6%25B4%25A5%25E9%2597%25A811Tianjin_Eye_and_Haihe_River.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2NmvAw49cc7lE93cR-xX7XD65cnSJh94iPWg_Am8eUkI1p589F989dGcyVBuWDEqCex8f7rx_GC3SC8VvqaE1i5ZUZkLniXUMakGkDCaZsySd9pKvxMH8Pa_V6IlcublMmnRClH21jf5/s400/800px-%25E7%2582%25AB%25E5%25BD%25A9%25E6%25B4%25A5%25E9%2597%25A811Tianjin_Eye_and_Haihe_River.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tiajin Eye at night, reflecting on the Hai River.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
One of the most unusual ferris wheels is the Tianjin Eye. It is 390' and is built on the Yongle Bridge crossing the Hai River in Tianjin, China. Built in 2007, it is the only ferris wheel in the world built on a bridge. It can handle 770 riders an hour in its 48 cars, and takes 30" for a complete rotation.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGs8P5VmQs-bXn9x0opX9ICxkxSnYyBUl2C62FtrPs9zFwCZx08Fg798OBC_GUhxKgAvXDfTllKlB178JYfQhfFbtM6GeO8WYAp53SondpLyYaME1EivHXOBt1hpowS1vmxpJm2nBG2-3W/s1600/screen-shot-2011-07-12-at-2-36-42-pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGs8P5VmQs-bXn9x0opX9ICxkxSnYyBUl2C62FtrPs9zFwCZx08Fg798OBC_GUhxKgAvXDfTllKlB178JYfQhfFbtM6GeO8WYAp53SondpLyYaME1EivHXOBt1hpowS1vmxpJm2nBG2-3W/s400/screen-shot-2011-07-12-at-2-36-42-pm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pacific Wheel at the Santa Monica pier. Image courtesy of listverse.com.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
A famous ferris wheel that has appeared in numerous films, TV commercials, and music videos, is the Pacific Wheel. Located at the Santa Monica Pier at the end of Route 66, it was built in 1996 and featured 5,392 light bulbs. It stood for 12 years, then was sold on eBay for $132,400 of which half was donated to the Special Olympics. Its replacement is almost identical, but has 160,000 energy-efficient light bulbs and is the world's only solar-powered wheel. It is 90' tall, and stands just 130' from the Pacific Ocean.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ujWXfNEvQqVF9gANo0x7jLxylSyHF6Xc4wXoj0K2SF-99jgigLjv9T6nlc1Aux_Ycwpygf5zq5ZwBmVkOGAoG39eTskOR_lukpZf_2irQvoGJHtwcSYaWStbEC4iLpLHrFGvC5gpZRGx/s1600/thunder_dolphin-big_o_ferris_wheel-hd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ujWXfNEvQqVF9gANo0x7jLxylSyHF6Xc4wXoj0K2SF-99jgigLjv9T6nlc1Aux_Ycwpygf5zq5ZwBmVkOGAoG39eTskOR_lukpZf_2irQvoGJHtwcSYaWStbEC4iLpLHrFGvC5gpZRGx/s400/thunder_dolphin-big_o_ferris_wheel-hd.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Big-O, with the Thunder Dolphin going through it. Image courtesy of listverse.com.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The Big-O is in Tokyo, Japan, and has the distinction of having no center axle, no spokes, and no internal support structure. Instead, the wheel is held up by two side supports. To make things even more interesting, Japan's tallest and fastest roller coaster, the Thunder Dolphin, runs through the middle of its 200' rim.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSerhIQmTKS9lDyB4ZzZQwykIVio63nBlUA6X4UNZjWfPhtuA5UaX72F6Iv6SkNedoUCUHJvjhzCx2NGoSvl_WZUQ3ZpHvj6mwqESymdjVwNjGyGb4o2sCSNV4j_IxEQ9RPtKXWlh1CyaM/s1600/800px-London_Eye_Twilight_April_2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSerhIQmTKS9lDyB4ZzZQwykIVio63nBlUA6X4UNZjWfPhtuA5UaX72F6Iv6SkNedoUCUHJvjhzCx2NGoSvl_WZUQ3ZpHvj6mwqESymdjVwNjGyGb4o2sCSNV4j_IxEQ9RPtKXWlh1CyaM/s400/800px-London_Eye_Twilight_April_2006.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The London Eye.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMix__gWoGOqNjBNTsea58QMdL0LFEF5mR6SqEgWIp6rUj1qBUU1Cge8-nle6FT7VsDW7-fjerAxvWz2xR_XNgk1zFsOpr-raw7pxdBlSldbJkVTQtDCNNuULhLOOVmQvxGFXKHpQ84jM/s1600/800px-An_Eye_Pod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMix__gWoGOqNjBNTsea58QMdL0LFEF5mR6SqEgWIp6rUj1qBUU1Cge8-nle6FT7VsDW7-fjerAxvWz2xR_XNgk1zFsOpr-raw7pxdBlSldbJkVTQtDCNNuULhLOOVmQvxGFXKHpQ84jM/s400/800px-An_Eye_Pod.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside an "Eye" pod.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Opened at the millennium on New Year's Eve, the London Eye is the world's third largest ferris wheel, and the largest in the western hemisphere. Supported on only one of its two sides, it is a cantilever wheel which provides riders with a pretty much unobstructed view of London. The cars are attached to the outside rim by rotating circular mounts so that a full 360-degree panoramic view can be seen from the top. It is slow enough that it doesn't have to stop for passengers to embark and disembark, and a full rotations takes 30". It carries 10,000 riders a day, or more than 3 million annually. The cost is £14.50 (roughly $22.60 U.S.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNIAr77c5CiYyUeiXbKk3acSN2s7vptVsStlkiVjajamq4IcB9W2F8ld0_Br6BfWlMXjnQ8l7bTKQm5ggmALUE-c1GqZe4ZmNydCtr86TEmu1_mdpZwBfmSQ-P9Xj79Z7W0qH_S3uD_jO/s1600/wonder-wheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNIAr77c5CiYyUeiXbKk3acSN2s7vptVsStlkiVjajamq4IcB9W2F8ld0_Br6BfWlMXjnQ8l7bTKQm5ggmALUE-c1GqZe4ZmNydCtr86TEmu1_mdpZwBfmSQ-P9Xj79Z7W0qH_S3uD_jO/s400/wonder-wheel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
But perhaps the most famous and beloved in the U.S., or at least the east coast, is the Wonder Wheel. This was built in 1920 in Coney Island, and along with Nathan's hot dogs is an icon. It is 150' tall with 24 cars that hold 144 riders. It was built by the Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company. This type of wheel is known as an eccentric wheel, as some of the cars slide on rails between the hub and rim as the wheel turns, instead of being fixed to the rim. Mickey's Fun Wheel at Disneyland was inspired by the Wonder Wheel.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpVRSZyjv1u3Pcoy9FWO2GW0CJxy7i46rXkgieQg3KHckoYvHOjfhWv75v5Ce9gR5Y0O1H3fWSMMYWNb7rc0ELh8Y2pyMcDgE8F__Do055sb3U4BMZAtcHJgOZ01GDuws6nfaa5Q_jh_8/s1600/Sky_Whirl_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpVRSZyjv1u3Pcoy9FWO2GW0CJxy7i46rXkgieQg3KHckoYvHOjfhWv75v5Ce9gR5Y0O1H3fWSMMYWNb7rc0ELh8Y2pyMcDgE8F__Do055sb3U4BMZAtcHJgOZ01GDuws6nfaa5Q_jh_8/s400/Sky_Whirl_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sky Whirl in Gurnee, Illinois, 2000.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Today taller and more technologically advanced ferris wheels are being designed and built. It was announced last year that there will be a 550' one to be built in Las Vegas. Moscow announced a proposal to build a 722' one, but the timeframe and site have yet to be determined. There are also double and triple wheels, Sky Whirl being the first triple wheel, debuting at Marriott's Great America parks in California and Illinois simultaneously in 1976. We are probably most familiar with transportable ferris wheels that can be mounted on trailers and moved intact or easily dismantled and rebuilt. There are notable ones in this category, but most of us have seen the small ones that can be found in traveling fairs. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwnSOdPeEBSffLCc0g58W1v7YDZlPdKHjm9-KMzHONYdhGBTtSB05dG-w7zEG_-Hgr0UieBkUj58MF0PpmoA1R-wqYnVr8DMHjZWHPl-TC9F2PS88FRdL3RnF_pmZqr3dSqX9bGbpu298/s1600/450px-Roue_De_Paris_%2528Geleen%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwnSOdPeEBSffLCc0g58W1v7YDZlPdKHjm9-KMzHONYdhGBTtSB05dG-w7zEG_-Hgr0UieBkUj58MF0PpmoA1R-wqYnVr8DMHjZWHPl-TC9F2PS88FRdL3RnF_pmZqr3dSqX9bGbpu298/s400/450px-Roue_De_Paris_%2528Geleen%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Roue de Paris, one of the most famous transportable<br />
ferris wheels, here pictured in the Netherlands in 2005.<br />
It has operated in France, England, Belgium, and Thailand<br />
as well as the Netherlands. It can be erected in 72 hours<br />
and dismantled in 60. It uses a water ballast for a stable base.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Bigger and higher seem to be the goals in ferris wheel designs, but faster is left to that other amusement ride - <a href="http://cerebralboinkfest.blogspot.com/2011/07/higher-faster-and-even-more-hair.html">roller coasters</a>. To have a commanding view of a location, ferris wheels are the way to go!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of Wikipedia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-50197666536135976872012-01-20T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-20T00:01:02.360-08:00Mercedonius: Cheating with the Marking of Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguENYyTXFFegTR5lbT0pOjRW5yqEKbGO_H2BLT1zVOh-KkbYpEtp4CjVZg-kXpZ4ZIw3N9zw_8bO9RHTWAf_lF-gwm58toTHUfvcU3IMX0wiFqH-hHSAFncT4MvTk4QCu5HaRXMUcqoJFH/s1600/Roman-calendar.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguENYyTXFFegTR5lbT0pOjRW5yqEKbGO_H2BLT1zVOh-KkbYpEtp4CjVZg-kXpZ4ZIw3N9zw_8bO9RHTWAf_lF-gwm58toTHUfvcU3IMX0wiFqH-hHSAFncT4MvTk4QCu5HaRXMUcqoJFH/s400/Roman-calendar.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Roman-calendar.png">Fasti Antiates Maiores</a></i>, part of a fresco found at Nero's villa at Antium, shows<br />
a pre-Julian calendar with the months Quintilis (QVI) and Sextilius (SEX).</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Before the Julian calendar was introduced in 46 BCE, the Roman calendar was in use. One of the versions of the Roman calendar was supposedly invented by Romulus, legendary founder of Rome, and had ten months with 30 or 31 days in each month, for a total of 304 days: Martius, Aprilis, Maius, Iunius, Quintilis, Sextilis, September, October, November, December. This was "fixed" by Numa Pomilius, the king of Rome who succeeded Romulus. He added Ianuarius and Februarius for a total of 12 months and another 57 days, which totaled 355 days. This was a lunar calendar, but to align the calendar with the solar year a leap month - Mercedonius - was added from time to time in the middle of February, resulting in a year that was 377 or 378 days long.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40Zc_krAw1yBk-MMnNQbmRMQHok-vjwEJ46OHW0MuXfr1IqxSOUy1w2QlbmwpNIvm0NmC8-u3xSbezGYiYtotgQwPLlWhh2sF47p-n0FsfO8SnTy5USeLIo3SA5kfOlf6Aa46A2rmxc39/s1600/490px-Kalender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40Zc_krAw1yBk-MMnNQbmRMQHok-vjwEJ46OHW0MuXfr1IqxSOUy1w2QlbmwpNIvm0NmC8-u3xSbezGYiYtotgQwPLlWhh2sF47p-n0FsfO8SnTy5USeLIo3SA5kfOlf6Aa46A2rmxc39/s400/490px-Kalender.jpg" width="326" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fasti</i> were chronological or calendar-based lists of sanctioned<br />
events. Derived from the word <i>fas</i>, meaning what is allowed.<br />
The word came to denote lists organized by time. This example<br />
is a fragment of a Roman calendar in the Museo Epigrafico, Rome.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Intercalation is the insertion of a leap year, month, or day into a calendar to adjust its length so that it follows a solar year or the moon phases. In the traditional leap year for some countries in the West which follow the Gregorian calendar, a day is added every four years. This is because this calendar is a solar calendar which has 365.24 days. Thus the extra day every four years helps us "catch up". This extra day is added to the end of February and is an intercalary day. Mercedonius was an intercalary month in the Roman calendar, but was not added on a scheduled basis.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2YvUYOe-_VYxG_IxapAusVOnCRXOM3VGk68SkAJzOHm94zfAri7QrBammHyO3STZan7hhgFRAwFhITS6rjbI8Szdq1bT8og4LLtXkLa2yK_sSJubeEMrDf4zEsELj7ll0fAw91fvMyln/s1600/50254_2235290660_8239_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2YvUYOe-_VYxG_IxapAusVOnCRXOM3VGk68SkAJzOHm94zfAri7QrBammHyO3STZan7hhgFRAwFhITS6rjbI8Szdq1bT8og4LLtXkLa2yK_sSJubeEMrDf4zEsELj7ll0fAw91fvMyln/s400/50254_2235290660_8239_n.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of Facebook's The Loyal Society of<br />
the Most Noble Order of Mercedonius.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Mercedonius comes from the Latin word <i>merx</i>, for which one meaning is wages (where "mercenary" also derives from), since it occurred at the time of year when workers were paid. The decision to add the month to a year was made by the Pontifex Maximus, the high priest of the Collegium of Pontiffs in ancient Rome. This group and office were also founded by Numa Pompilius, and were thought to originally act as advisors to the king on religious matters. They had control over religious rites, funds, institutions, and the instruction of religion. But their real power came when the monarchy of Rome was abolished, and those sacral duties of the former king were given to the Pontifex Maximus. His greatest power was administering divine law - divine law as interpreted by the Collegium.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCD55fuSMzKDhtEHPIMYie7poSkKUy74iVY7C5EFPw04Xf3nOA-axHj04SMklH36t5bmnf0HjFXfnvsv-pCvT4O-79mQIg_4DVRvTQyAhfbL6m_xRzZ6vyrB9u4G_nXdkbmVZIjvMA0N5q/s1600/270px-August_Labicana_Massimo_Inv56230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCD55fuSMzKDhtEHPIMYie7poSkKUy74iVY7C5EFPw04Xf3nOA-axHj04SMklH36t5bmnf0HjFXfnvsv-pCvT4O-79mQIg_4DVRvTQyAhfbL6m_xRzZ6vyrB9u4G_nXdkbmVZIjvMA0N5q/s400/270px-August_Labicana_Massimo_Inv56230.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Augustus as Pontifex Maximus,<br />
circa last decade of 1st century CE.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
So the Pontifices became politicians, and the office was often held by statesmen. Since one of their duties was to regulate the calendar, and since a magistrate's term of office corresponded with a calendar year, this became a convenient political tool. When one of his allies was in power the Pontifex could lengthen the year; when his opponents were in power he could refrain from lengthening it and effectively force them out of office. It also affected contracts and other legal arrangements. Since it was often decided late to add Mercedonius, this caused the people, especially those outside of Rome, to not know the date. Eventually the years became very much out of sync with the seasons. For example, Julius Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon on January 10 in 49 BCE, was actually in mid-autumn. This abuse of power over the calendar led to the calendar being so out of alignment with the solar year that the vernal equinox occurred three months later, in June instead of March. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOMd37yIrJ-a-ywwr64k_dCB5g11BrXQhyF34qn0SBqY8g-yQAjBkfcAquJwO3NZWFgOFZpHsbbEhrCCr6BUpYJphfgwvDVOaCZbGvm9avfOFqvkRLhhz7_edK8MFlaAs3AmYGRQGw4I5/s1600/444px-CaesarTusculum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOMd37yIrJ-a-ywwr64k_dCB5g11BrXQhyF34qn0SBqY8g-yQAjBkfcAquJwO3NZWFgOFZpHsbbEhrCCr6BUpYJphfgwvDVOaCZbGvm9avfOFqvkRLhhz7_edK8MFlaAs3AmYGRQGw4I5/s400/444px-CaesarTusculum.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <i>Tusculum Portrait</i> of Julius Caesar, possibly the<br />
only surviving bust made during his lifetime.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The last years of the pre-Julian calendar are known as the "years of confusion" because the calendar was so out of alignment and there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to it. Mercedonius was eliminated by Julius Casesar when he introduced the Julian calendar, which remained aligned to the sun without mediation. Finally dates could be assigned to the seasons, which was impossible prior to this time. The Julian calendar gave alternate months beginning, with January, 31 days; the other months 30 days, except for February which had 29 (but every fourth year, 30). He also renamed Quintilis, in honor of himself, Iulius. Augustus followed suit by changing Sextilis to Augustus, but since this day had only 30 days he added an extra one so he would have the same amount of days in his month as Iulius. This required other months to be changed. Later emperors also renamed some of the months after themselves, but these didn't stick.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlkRwoXwXZv0psC1Vk0dJXnnlzMSqHmsMtwa4THDIl1_SWoJ4_EucmZy4CmIBBey42K9GcKSVLW2cxyuyUU_vkGF_eWe6-k97BvRAZJgfq_Ouw_oAzOP4lgSNnk2_gfNhZsMX-P2vfQlk/s1600/Gregory_XIII.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlkRwoXwXZv0psC1Vk0dJXnnlzMSqHmsMtwa4THDIl1_SWoJ4_EucmZy4CmIBBey42K9GcKSVLW2cxyuyUU_vkGF_eWe6-k97BvRAZJgfq_Ouw_oAzOP4lgSNnk2_gfNhZsMX-P2vfQlk/s400/Gregory_XIII.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pope Gregory XIII, circa 1570-1585, by Lavinia Fontana.</td></tr>
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Still, the year was not in line with the vernal equinox, as Julius Caesar's astronomer, Sosigenes, calculated the astronomical year to be 11 minutes and 14 seconds longer than it is. Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 made changes so that the real astronomical equinox, which was important as it was used to calculate the date of Easter (determined by the First Council of Nicaea in 325 CE to be the first Sunday after the full moon following the northern hemisphere's vernal equinox), would fall on the right date. One change was in determining leap years. Years that are divisible by four are leap years; century years are leap years only if they are divisible by 400. Pope Gregory XIII was himself motivated to change the calendar not in the interests of making it correct, but to restore the edict for the date of Easter by the Council of Nicaea.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosrDTC72ajjg-_lEM_68n-za2T_Wa9XCnUnj5422UGcrvX-SHDmEC3_gBiWp9IDq_uU3J-caZJDdSvNoT-G6FgNU7cDJLLGulp5oK7EkZ_YXqYgT1qjTYK4ErRcHDUOrVubFI6CjwEluA/s1600/AxialTiltObliquity.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosrDTC72ajjg-_lEM_68n-za2T_Wa9XCnUnj5422UGcrvX-SHDmEC3_gBiWp9IDq_uU3J-caZJDdSvNoT-G6FgNU7cDJLLGulp5oK7EkZ_YXqYgT1qjTYK4ErRcHDUOrVubFI6CjwEluA/s400/AxialTiltObliquity.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illumination of the earth by the sun at the vernal equinox.<br />
Illustration made by DNA-webmaster (Wikipedia) with NASA image.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The Julian and Gregorian calendars are still imperfect, but both are still followed in the West. Politics reigned from the imposition of Mercedonius to assuring the calendar supported the Council of Nicaea's edict. Thankfully, modern politics are more civilized and would never resort to these kind of machinations. ;-)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of Wikipedia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-46622359407893510972012-01-10T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-10T07:25:34.597-08:00The Secret Drink of the Caucasus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwMQaJ2EIITYvnFnWclr-abuEoTZVwjJf9h5MxJot3gC6HaPG0W22FkP95L_iRp8tyKIw89He8E7tQ5TpZApJ4znBvEuRw6_se8TOxadPD4fMSXDjXItw4SAULDHYv8sEmcEHGcp2mh13/s1600/358px-Wasserkefir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwMQaJ2EIITYvnFnWclr-abuEoTZVwjJf9h5MxJot3gC6HaPG0W22FkP95L_iRp8tyKIw89He8E7tQ5TpZApJ4znBvEuRw6_se8TOxadPD4fMSXDjXItw4SAULDHYv8sEmcEHGcp2mh13/s400/358px-Wasserkefir.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This kefir is made with water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Fermented foods - from kimchi to pickles to yogurt - have been proven to be healthy for the human body, and some advocates state that one should eat something fermented every day. Kefir (pronounced <i>ke-'feer</i>) is a fermented milk drink made with special grains that are a combination of beneficial bacteria and yeasts. Similar to yogurt but more liquid, it has been made and drunk for centuries. The word comes from the Turkish <i>keif</i>, meaning a state of feeling good.<br />
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It was first documented in the Caucasus mountain regions where shepherds discovered that innoculating milk with kefir grains would produce this potable drink. Scientists and others have written about the longevity of people from this area, especially Soviet Georgia, and while it is often attributed to yogurt, most likely it is kefir. Marco Polo mentioned kefir in the tales of his travels. But as so often happens in history, the story of its origin has divine beginnings - it is said to have been given from Allah through his prophet Mohammed, and passed down through the generations by his followers, never shared with strangers.<br />
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Russian doctors got wind of kefir, and in the late nineteenth century published the first scientific studies that it was good for the treatment of tuberculosis and intestinal and stomach diseases. However kefir grains were carefully guarded. The All Russian Physicians' Society were determined to try kefir and sought to get hold of some of the grains. They contacted the Blandov brothers who owned the Moscow Dairy but also had businesses in the Caucasus Mountain area including a cheese-making plant. As this would make them the only commercial producers, they concocted a plan. They sent an employee, the beautiful Irina Sakharova, to the court of local prince Bek-Mirza Barchorov to charm him and get some of the grains. The prince refused to part with any "Grains of the Prophet" for fear of religious reprisal. Ms. Sakharova left empty-handed, but was kidnapped by local tribesmen and taken back to the prince. Her employers mounted a daring rescue, and the prince was made to appear before the Tsar who ruled that Ms. Sakharova would receive ten pounds of grains in compensation.<br />
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The grains were taken to the Moscow Dairy and in September of 1908 the first bottles were sold in Moscow. In the 1930s kefir was manufactured on a large scale for commercial consumption. However, commercial kefir is not as good. Traditionally it was made in sacks made of animal hides, or wooden buckets or clay pots. The contents were constantly prodded, and as the kefir was consumed more milk was added so the fermentation continued. In the 1950s a new method for commercial production was introduced. In 1973, the minister of the Food Industry in the Soviet Union sent a letter to Ms. Sakharova thanking her for bringing kefir to the Russian people. She was by then 85 years old. It is the most popular fermented milk product in Russia. Today it is produced commercially in countries throughout Europe, parts of southeast Asia, and in the U.S. and Canada. <br />
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It can be made of any type of milk (cow, goat, sheep, coconut, rice, or soy) or even water. Whatever type of fluid is chosen, it is fermented with special "grains", which are actually yeast and bacteria colonies that look like cauliflower. These are gelatinous white or yellow particles which ferment the fluid and then are strained and reused or stored. The drink is effervescent and tart when plain, but various fruits and flavorings can be added. While available commercially, it is easy to make.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of www.bonappetit.com.</td></tr>
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The grains are initially purchased or given by someone producing kefir. The grains cannot be produced from scratch, but since they grow during fermentation additional grains are generated. The traditional methods of making kefir are now artisanal efforts. Grains and milk are added to an acid-proof, dark container which is left out at room temperature and agitated several times a day. The container must be dark in order to prevent the degradation of vitamins. The grains are sifted out and reused for the next batch. The temperature is not critical as long as it does not get above 104 degrees F or under 39 degrees F.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDFmU9EXXWE35eUE97Fnprf3MDa1rxSS70FtifK_SGvala312Or_5cy8C04zsAFCb-N33snP1dbjEDK-rEx76Bk2baHhf6Pdb_n2y_AY69ymw3hZhyKodNuTLeOsS9tODAOh4UkkbwMTR/s1600/800px-Kefir-insieme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDFmU9EXXWE35eUE97Fnprf3MDa1rxSS70FtifK_SGvala312Or_5cy8C04zsAFCb-N33snP1dbjEDK-rEx76Bk2baHhf6Pdb_n2y_AY69ymw3hZhyKodNuTLeOsS9tODAOh4UkkbwMTR/s400/800px-Kefir-insieme.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
If not drunk immediately the kefir will thicken in several days, and also will sour. It will be good for a few days, then should be refrigerated. The grains can be stored in milk in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks, or frozen for a couple of months. For even longer term storage, they can be dried and kept for a couple of years. If the kefir is left out for a couple of days after the grains are removed, a thick cream will develop on the top. This can be scooped out and used as sour cream.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of www.mercola.com.</td></tr>
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The abundance of beneficial yeasts and bacteria in kefir produce lactase, the enzyme that consumes lactose, and thus any lactose that develops in the fermenting process is absorbed. This makes it tolerable for those who are lactose-intolerant. In European countries kefir is drunk much like a glass of milk, even served with sweets. Because it has a sour taste, some people prefer mixing fruit with the kefir in a blender, and that is mainly how it is produced in the U.S. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of www.kefirstore.com.</td></tr>
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When you drink, and especially when you make, kefir you are taking part in a process that was secret for centuries and is now celebrated for its benefits. Za tva-jó zda-ró-vye!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unless otherwise noted, imaged courtesy of Wikipedia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-53424963705036228452011-12-30T00:01:00.000-08:002011-12-30T00:01:00.703-08:00Happy 2012!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ1jw9JS6JVaba4NSYC9EHeboY8lhPagRCDs6d6LnD_aWTC0HYj_lnfJv6MJZPpwzIvYVccXNAra32FfVA7qeSnYP9JC_BS0ns8cWL2DCuVgZa0SM_8I4jqVq0IXK4uJPRBI3rJcKuUWy/s1600/2012-new-year-wallpapers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ1jw9JS6JVaba4NSYC9EHeboY8lhPagRCDs6d6LnD_aWTC0HYj_lnfJv6MJZPpwzIvYVccXNAra32FfVA7qeSnYP9JC_BS0ns8cWL2DCuVgZa0SM_8I4jqVq0IXK4uJPRBI3rJcKuUWy/s400/2012-new-year-wallpapers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Each new year opens with a sense of optimism. "This year, everything will go right." What this involves is different for everyone, but we all want happiness and security. New year celebrations go back to Roman times when this day and month was dedicated to Janus, the god of doors and beginnings. Janus had two faces on opposite sides of his head, looking forward and backward. Thus another one of our celebrations has its beginnings in pagan traditions.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj652m7nNyLHrbn3ySvYlb_S2uI2u0XuXjbIQyNNKZiTjFLmYzajCegEZLPFaaVwjd5fHbei9O47xJL2oYiACW1SfC2gJM3VKQCflTKlCZkQI4PZzTxkZNhpgwToC0VLMaGb7jbeu-8A07/s1600/As_janus_rostrum_okretu_ciach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj652m7nNyLHrbn3ySvYlb_S2uI2u0XuXjbIQyNNKZiTjFLmYzajCegEZLPFaaVwjd5fHbei9O47xJL2oYiACW1SfC2gJM3VKQCflTKlCZkQI4PZzTxkZNhpgwToC0VLMaGb7jbeu-8A07/s1600/As_janus_rostrum_okretu_ciach.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An as of Janus (Roman coin).</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The January 1st date became New Year's Day when the Gregorian calendar was adopted. Cultures that use other calendars still celebrate the new year, the most famous of which is probably <a href="http://www.cerebralboinkfest.blogspot.com/2011/02/kung-hei-fat-choi-xin-nian-kuai-le.html">Chinese New Year</a>. Hindu new year is in mid-April. Nowruz celebrates both the new year and the beginning of spring, and has been observed for over 3,000 years in Central Asia, South Asia, Northwestern China, Crimea, and other areas where ancestors were Zoroastrian. The Islamic new year is moveable since their calendar is lunar.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8W9ajqoY-Ax3_czmGHJ7k0jDMcfTvyvbEAAMcqZh4YAaOIwrq_E7_DJ-dUgVXB2-thX0AD7VcXNyTfOYdXe6kgni85NfYqk-OV1Cvy-yJ9nfRaLfCVKIax4di3OxcKE_MRCqNHAkLN-e/s1600/800px-HaftSin-Iran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8W9ajqoY-Ax3_czmGHJ7k0jDMcfTvyvbEAAMcqZh4YAaOIwrq_E7_DJ-dUgVXB2-thX0AD7VcXNyTfOYdXe6kgni85NfYqk-OV1Cvy-yJ9nfRaLfCVKIax4di3OxcKE_MRCqNHAkLN-e/s400/800px-HaftSin-Iran.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half Sīn, the traditional table setting of Nowruz.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
A significant part of the Western new year celebration is the making of resolutions - a commitment to a goal, often the changing of a habit. A resolution stands out from other goals made because of the new beginnings aspect of the new year, thus a resolution may mark a change in a new direction.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rmc_AdAZy-Sv3q26F6NXOkf8hb4rKOBcOOXxU0Qz3HgPjE24tISS8SSre_SBpcrnnA1WqRH9l1QqIi64bunY64KsgrZh2Nzk232x8ZbYZ8dRgg7X3Sx8_zUCTfL9Ss2FpApyJRkxUF3p/s1600/Postcards2CardsNewYearsResolution1915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rmc_AdAZy-Sv3q26F6NXOkf8hb4rKOBcOOXxU0Qz3HgPjE24tISS8SSre_SBpcrnnA1WqRH9l1QqIi64bunY64KsgrZh2Nzk232x8ZbYZ8dRgg7X3Sx8_zUCTfL9Ss2FpApyJRkxUF3p/s400/Postcards2CardsNewYearsResolution1915.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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A recent study showed that while 52% of the participants expected success in keeping their resolutions, only 12% actually did. It is suggested that goals be made in baby steps - say one pound a week instead of 20 pounds total if one is working on weight loss. Getting support from family and friends help, although making your goals public can backfire if people, intentionally or not, try to undermine you.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mp-ltzL9KMg/TvycJPEyn8I/AAAAAAAAFqQ/JO8IdcgEeXo/s1600/40-New-Stirring-Happy-New-Year-2012-Wallpapers.34-e1323431367251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mp-ltzL9KMg/TvycJPEyn8I/AAAAAAAAFqQ/JO8IdcgEeXo/s400/40-New-Stirring-Happy-New-Year-2012-Wallpapers.34-e1323431367251.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
However you celebrate, whether you make resolutions or not, may the new year bring you positive things, and all changes be for the best!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of Wikipedia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-42399680611217204592011-12-28T00:01:00.000-08:002011-12-28T00:01:01.153-08:00Waxing Artistically for History<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGOdKQ7t-LdmOLNdSnDYU9ZruleQKxxU7S0KE5mPITAJe28vm_IqHLXSJHb7rXIQ-KrIwlIuO-o5hvB8bPMMoBEABxstN_5zfDmr9HVe1OE-OwkQYXvrI7To2VxuJwNsUSBrhXXuX40ZW/s1600/The_Beatles_wax_dummes2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGOdKQ7t-LdmOLNdSnDYU9ZruleQKxxU7S0KE5mPITAJe28vm_IqHLXSJHb7rXIQ-KrIwlIuO-o5hvB8bPMMoBEABxstN_5zfDmr9HVe1OE-OwkQYXvrI7To2VxuJwNsUSBrhXXuX40ZW/s400/The_Beatles_wax_dummes2005.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Beatles at Madame Tussauds, London.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Wax sculptures have been made since the Middle Ages, although there is some evidence that wax was used for making death masks in ancient Rome. During the Middle Ages wax figures were made as votive offerings to churches, and wax masks were made of monarchs and important people. This is when the superstition began of sticking pins in wax figures to cause harm to whoever was represented.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmY1ZzUjubhQmvez-lOOEaSD_HZzC_JnJZE6WlnDpPFzlWPQUc2fqu_QCCNLwIk7J9y4_4wCYkbWiSe_87qOuBCESHIjQwPtfYjz6E6p7O6coT6xIQXrhQvJF2MY1E2vRAji-R4uFW05tK/s1600/3462952015072421dc5a8752c59c85fb_1M.png.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmY1ZzUjubhQmvez-lOOEaSD_HZzC_JnJZE6WlnDpPFzlWPQUc2fqu_QCCNLwIk7J9y4_4wCYkbWiSe_87qOuBCESHIjQwPtfYjz6E6p7O6coT6xIQXrhQvJF2MY1E2vRAji-R4uFW05tK/s400/3462952015072421dc5a8752c59c85fb_1M.png.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pouring wax into molds is an ancient practice. What developed was the modeling <br />
of colored waxes into masks and figures. Image courtesy of www.dipity.com.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
During the Italian Renaissance, wax modeling was used to create medallions and other types of metalwork. Antonio Abondio, a famous medalist, made wax relief portraits in miniature. Only thirteen survive. Moulage, the modeling of human anatomical parts, used wax as its medium (later replaced by latex and rubber), and was first practiced in Florence to teach anatomy at this time.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvb0YyB909H8FojpYCrLdhcbcj0gX_9MWjM8oDqYRo3gIcO6CX9nFAntSJBZ4nnt7JhfrY9Of-9wdk8AtuD_19rAJxPPTvTv9Y47C89k9LMb-XpDG8CYgbUUBixHtQnFzq8M1Rj602nDr/s1600/591px-Anna_von_Tirol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvb0YyB909H8FojpYCrLdhcbcj0gX_9MWjM8oDqYRo3gIcO6CX9nFAntSJBZ4nnt7JhfrY9Of-9wdk8AtuD_19rAJxPPTvTv9Y47C89k9LMb-XpDG8CYgbUUBixHtQnFzq8M1Rj602nDr/s400/591px-Anna_von_Tirol.jpg" width="393" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaiserin Anna von Tirol by Antonio Abondio, 1618.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
By the end of the 1700s medallion portraits and relief groups became very popular in Europe. Polychromatic works, of the kind made popular by Abondio, were more prevalent, and many of the artists were women. John Flaxman did many portraits and figural reliefs that Josiah Wedgwood used in his famous pottery.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bRftBq08CNA/TvpPxucrwpI/AAAAAAAAFkk/rfuReNojZn0/s1600/800px-UCL_Flaxman_Gallery_and_sculpture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bRftBq08CNA/TvpPxucrwpI/AAAAAAAAFkk/rfuReNojZn0/s400/800px-UCL_Flaxman_Gallery_and_sculpture.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Flaxman Gallery in the octagon building of the main library<br />
at the University College London.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Works made of wax were and are often considered a lower form of art. But they have become popular in the images of celebrities and other famous people. This has evolved into wax museums which feature wax figures in lifelike poses. The more horrific characters of a wax museum are usually in special rooms where they are exhibited in a "chamber of horrors".<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRKduQM4B-PhExF78I3YZtKU1wUBfKAqasIFLK_eoKH6QXi0hTmVwlXwoiCSsOw3h-CcRAWv5wW-DrnlnhEzl9IGrPs85fZCI4KJ8FppKPQHcChijuLJIUYBRnp_VeEfrcAIkOD5TI8VP/s1600/4410109277_b055432077_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRKduQM4B-PhExF78I3YZtKU1wUBfKAqasIFLK_eoKH6QXi0hTmVwlXwoiCSsOw3h-CcRAWv5wW-DrnlnhEzl9IGrPs85fZCI4KJ8FppKPQHcChijuLJIUYBRnp_VeEfrcAIkOD5TI8VP/s400/4410109277_b055432077_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wax heads of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Carrier, Hébert, and <br />
Robespierre are in the Chamber of Horrors at Madame Tussauds <br />
London site. Image courtesy of flickr.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
One of the most famous of these museums is Madame Tussauds, originally in London but now with branches in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok, Dubai, Blackpool, Manchester, Hamburg, Berlin, Vienna, Moscow, Amsterdam, Niagara Falls, Las Vegas, Hollywood, New York City, San Antonio, and Washington, D.C. Madame Tussaud created her first permanent site on Baker Street in London in 1835. Madame Tussaud was a wax sculptor herself who created her first work, a figure of Voltaire, in 1777. She also did figures of Ben Franklin and Rousseau. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX2U9LzBJv3BTbTs4pBmg1x0GEmx9iaa0WDqX82PMTj8EjiervAi72V39OosI2EG8RzmxvK84YpOl3bAPTYOhM0jHHUqubfBAzpc0XwzV-qSu1ggAyB7CbKKQVOYfqzGf6JjQlKr3XgWu/s1600/450px-%2527Madame_Tussaud%2527_herself_at_%2527Madame_tussauds_waxworks_in_London..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX2U9LzBJv3BTbTs4pBmg1x0GEmx9iaa0WDqX82PMTj8EjiervAi72V39OosI2EG8RzmxvK84YpOl3bAPTYOhM0jHHUqubfBAzpc0XwzV-qSu1ggAyB7CbKKQVOYfqzGf6JjQlKr3XgWu/s400/450px-%2527Madame_Tussaud%2527_herself_at_%2527Madame_tussauds_waxworks_in_London..jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A figure of Madame Tussaud greets <br />
entrants to the London site.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
She learned her trade from a doctor for whom her mother was a housekeeper, and when he died she inherited his collection of wax models. She made models during the French Revolution of many of the victims of <a href="http://cerebralboinkfest.blogspot.com/2011/11/madame-guillotine.html">Madame Guillotine</a>, reportedly searching through the corpses to find decapitated heads. She eventually took to the road, exhibiting her collection throughout Europe. Once settled into a permanent place on Baker Street, she planned and coined the phrase "chamber of horrors".<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhyDGBkDzKxNDNjB0cKyS2ismUi7GcI7LxEDH8OcccDrqLJ3e0s6uiNoCHaXHvojiS-JBeD4zcR3VIWzD-Ojbh-48Dxz4RMvIzsVR1NtnjhZwjdwkB7QY_OC9o69Gf0mGQWIo5ZSVwrtz/s1600/800px-Religious_leaders_in_Madame_Tussauds_London.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhyDGBkDzKxNDNjB0cKyS2ismUi7GcI7LxEDH8OcccDrqLJ3e0s6uiNoCHaXHvojiS-JBeD4zcR3VIWzD-Ojbh-48Dxz4RMvIzsVR1NtnjhZwjdwkB7QY_OC9o69Gf0mGQWIo5ZSVwrtz/s400/800px-Religious_leaders_in_Madame_Tussauds_London.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pope John Paul II and other religious leaders, as well as Lady Gaga, Queen<br />
Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, and Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow (below)<br />
can be seen at the London Site.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODW5zC-tTE3jjvnQM06konyfWM9yzSWLpW_76q-hn3dVTjTXbEqUP23vCVWOvmzz4NONl9AVLVf7mQnFsA5XNbAcysfTOimcGFvN5WZJkWcFzf0zncVyONfjtdrJXwQiEJkEDb6G5PeB9/s1600/343px-Gaga_vax_at_Madame_Tussauds_London.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODW5zC-tTE3jjvnQM06konyfWM9yzSWLpW_76q-hn3dVTjTXbEqUP23vCVWOvmzz4NONl9AVLVf7mQnFsA5XNbAcysfTOimcGFvN5WZJkWcFzf0zncVyONfjtdrJXwQiEJkEDb6G5PeB9/s400/343px-Gaga_vax_at_Madame_Tussauds_London.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAo_bTKQKjszhsS7Uk6dNQtVj-SAED3nU8S_wFsiIgKWI9qrgfLNxJSdNtP-5iBwdtnTQBVpvPce07zOWz1TunoM4HF78WfU-dLA7Qu56X5S6yGdDIrvqFiWFhB3s28BcHr4MzpzteZIr/s1600/800px-Elizabeth_II_Wax_Statue_in_Madame_Tussauds_London.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAo_bTKQKjszhsS7Uk6dNQtVj-SAED3nU8S_wFsiIgKWI9qrgfLNxJSdNtP-5iBwdtnTQBVpvPce07zOWz1TunoM4HF78WfU-dLA7Qu56X5S6yGdDIrvqFiWFhB3s28BcHr4MzpzteZIr/s400/800px-Elizabeth_II_Wax_Statue_in_Madame_Tussauds_London.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VfscOB3R0S4/TvpdXkD_kGI/AAAAAAAAFls/yjaScKI0N3U/s1600/398px-Jack_Sparrow_-_Johnny_Depp_%2528Madame_Tussauds%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VfscOB3R0S4/TvpdXkD_kGI/AAAAAAAAFls/yjaScKI0N3U/s400/398px-Jack_Sparrow_-_Johnny_Depp_%2528Madame_Tussauds%2529.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><br />
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There are a few of her sculptures left, but there was fire damage in 1925 and German bombs in 1941, destroying most of the older figures. She died in 1850, but her grandson moved the museum to a new building he commissioned on Marylebone Road, which opened in 1884. Although it was very successful, financial problems and family squabbles led to the sale of the enterprise to a group. Still a major tourist attraction in London the museums are now owned by Merlin Entertainments, and have grown to include royals, sports heroes, stars of all media, and famous murderers.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bKSe2inEOfQ/TvpZckyFodI/AAAAAAAAFk8/qj1sxBJQz6g/s1600/410px-Adolf_Hitler_Wax_Statue_in_Madame_Tussauds_London.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bKSe2inEOfQ/TvpZckyFodI/AAAAAAAAFk8/qj1sxBJQz6g/s400/410px-Adolf_Hitler_Wax_Statue_in_Madame_Tussauds_London.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This figure is in Madame Tussauds London museum.<br />
This statue, unveiled in 1933, has been frequently<br />
vandalized and a 1936 replacement has been carefully<br />
guarded. In 2008, the Hitler statue in the Berlin <br />
museum was decapitated by a man who later confessed<br />
it was done on a bet. It has since been repaired.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The premiere wax museum in the U.S. was the Movieland Wax Museum in Buena Park, California. It opened in 1962 and featured models of famous show business personalities. Stars would attend the unveilings of their wax figures, but attendance dwindled, and the museum closed in 2005.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBrD7fDI2fo3S26_J_8VgCJkPyCSgjS3haZIw3SRKcVsbjRH8O3mfQnFEW2iVCNzWVnbceFAJ-zLzD4c8CQzwb6y6BpL3Urj__Th0rROOqKzahm67_-BYfSI5VKn0giWccHClp8z6WC5I/s1600/278px-Movieland_Wax_Museum_Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBrD7fDI2fo3S26_J_8VgCJkPyCSgjS3haZIw3SRKcVsbjRH8O3mfQnFEW2iVCNzWVnbceFAJ-zLzD4c8CQzwb6y6BpL3Urj__Th0rROOqKzahm67_-BYfSI5VKn0giWccHClp8z6WC5I/s400/278px-Movieland_Wax_Museum_Sign.jpg" width="185" /></a></div><br />
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The Hollywood Wax Museum opened in 1965, and claims to be the only wax museum dedicated to celebrities. It has 180 wax figures of movie and television stars as well as other characters, such as Nintendo's Mario. In 1985 another was built in Branson, Missouri. (A 2007 museum built in Gatlinburg, Tennessee soon closed.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OsvYIR5XeLY/TvphdYarA7I/AAAAAAAAFmQ/eUCVDPFR9M4/s1600/450px-Wax_Museum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OsvYIR5XeLY/TvphdYarA7I/AAAAAAAAFmQ/eUCVDPFR9M4/s400/450px-Wax_Museum.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hollywood Wax Museum on Hollywood Blvd., in Hollywood.</td></tr>
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There are many wax museums all over the world, and more are being erected, especially in the last few years. An interesting way to record and show the people who have made and are making history, even if it is sometimes gruesome.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of Wikipedia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">******************************</div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-59594215582529593192011-12-27T00:01:00.000-08:002011-12-27T00:01:00.718-08:00Art Deco's Most Famous Artist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w5q8gB6lWvI/TvjHHIgpGCI/AAAAAAAAFhQ/MzBQincOEVQ/s1600/421px-RocCt-LeeLawrie-Wisdom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w5q8gB6lWvI/TvjHHIgpGCI/AAAAAAAAFhQ/MzBQincOEVQ/s400/421px-RocCt-LeeLawrie-Wisdom.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A part of "Wisdom, with Light and Sound" that is over<br />
the entrance of the GE Building in New York City.<br />
(30 Rockefeller Center.) Image courtesy of Wikipedia.</td></tr>
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</div>Art Deco was an art movement that began in Paris in the 1920s, and became internationally popular up until WWII. It was a style that encompassed all areas of design, from fashion to graphic arts to architecture. It was notably different from the curves and organic forms of Art Nouveau, the movement that preceded it. A hallmark of Art Deco was symmetry and linear forms. Drawing from ancient art and cubism and modernism, it was purely decorative without philosophical or political import. There is one artist who embodied and defined the ornamental style of Art Deco.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ej7WQ448Yjo/Tve3hT1xVDI/AAAAAAAAFg4/zxldz4lBajc/s1600/P1008+tempest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ej7WQ448Yjo/Tve3hT1xVDI/AAAAAAAAFg4/zxldz4lBajc/s400/P1008+tempest.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>L'arc en Ciel</i>, 1929. <i>Harper's Bazaar</i> cover design.</td></tr>
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His name was Romain de Tirtoff, although he was called Roman Petrovich Tyrtov in his native Russia. He was born in St. Petersburg in 1892 to an admiral of the Russian fleet. He became famous as an artist with the pseudonym of Erté - the French pronunciation of his intials, R. T. He used the pseudonym to avoid disgracing his family, which expected that he become a naval officer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUQPMTktRzQargojlF8SJjv0rIL0XhGQV5KtrK8-4zCLljiniCSna1mFor9VnS5Y-Wph-NN08zxzdf4MLuCgBcfsfoetdOjLHkdQkDjiAWTgZzRTEpJPRDohDF35u4E5wSh43n9kIbNVI/s1600/latosca2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUQPMTktRzQargojlF8SJjv0rIL0XhGQV5KtrK8-4zCLljiniCSna1mFor9VnS5Y-Wph-NN08zxzdf4MLuCgBcfsfoetdOjLHkdQkDjiAWTgZzRTEpJPRDohDF35u4E5wSh43n9kIbNVI/s400/latosca2.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Costume design, 1923, for "The Marriage of Figaro"<br />
for the Chicago Opera Company.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5FFTFPTX6VhRg-yH0-ARI4D2Ov6xpVpeW0yBzT03QrixhMtFhv0U0DEYLciVseJHN93URIMewlfuWVRg3zd7fQ1_OnJ6SNtLLl4u8WAAJoGhOsTGSMvsAfjHWdhmrO9-JH4mfjPzvBiM/s1600/womanwithwings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5FFTFPTX6VhRg-yH0-ARI4D2Ov6xpVpeW0yBzT03QrixhMtFhv0U0DEYLciVseJHN93URIMewlfuWVRg3zd7fQ1_OnJ6SNtLLl4u8WAAJoGhOsTGSMvsAfjHWdhmrO9-JH4mfjPzvBiM/s400/womanwithwings.JPG" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Costume design, 1923, "Woman with Wings"<br />
for the Folies Bergère.</td></tr>
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When he was a young boy he became intrigued with Persian miniatures he found in his father's library. He created his first costume when he was five. The exotic and brightly-colored patterns and designs influenced his style. He had a profound influence on the entire Art Deco movement. He forged a new path when he was 75, working in bronze and serigraphy. This brought about a rebirth in popularity of Art Deco in the 1960s, which was a boost for him as he had become relatively obscure in the 1940s and 1950s. This was the time of WWII, and people sought more practical things.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBeNpmJDEbG-HfyCFBF6yjEAiy2wrU-a4TM2nFJHtB1D8wvDzzT-95XsvIn77htlUy_wpwyKIoDFzLWRKsVe61wlP7FwIPrQLA78IlKVQUfL95Zl6PhH4FQ3qCNqAEJP0CR_cQXldc8rh/s1600/cleopatre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBeNpmJDEbG-HfyCFBF6yjEAiy2wrU-a4TM2nFJHtB1D8wvDzzT-95XsvIn77htlUy_wpwyKIoDFzLWRKsVe61wlP7FwIPrQLA78IlKVQUfL95Zl6PhH4FQ3qCNqAEJP0CR_cQXldc8rh/s400/cleopatre.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Cleopatre" produced in 1986.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BfxriEzutmL06zEVIbsjp_mgXOOkOcYUzBhT_hMBEhmxJyiPZtLBcz98PsPM7X3BhEzVzgN_iE5JTejfMsXwVRSw_oPcpC4fLYwNmp8QZ5qpg38q3ksjhaFiXf84v70-Zmp-_aQzYpBy/s1600/sampsondelilah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BfxriEzutmL06zEVIbsjp_mgXOOkOcYUzBhT_hMBEhmxJyiPZtLBcz98PsPM7X3BhEzVzgN_iE5JTejfMsXwVRSw_oPcpC4fLYwNmp8QZ5qpg38q3ksjhaFiXf84v70-Zmp-_aQzYpBy/s400/sampsondelilah.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Samson and Delilah" produced in 1980.</td></tr>
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He moved to Paris to begin a career as a designer in his twenties. His career took off with his work for <i>Harper's Bazaar</i> magazine, where he designed over 200 covers between 1915 - 1937. He also did illustrations for other magazines, including <i>Vogue, Cosmopolitan, </i>and<i> Ladies Home Journal.</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYKmNUwQ4LaDxMrqla83ZWd5-NAciF1p-s-kp6JLJw2Reg_IKlEvpN8_VcXvOJtkyocIVXK3JzXkDcUyJ6xq9sEVLKHquiMXyW1G7cepqOCYvhj8kKt7KMwm6zCDcCNGE-QKFiMFkiaYE/s1600/Aquarium%253A1923%253AHB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYKmNUwQ4LaDxMrqla83ZWd5-NAciF1p-s-kp6JLJw2Reg_IKlEvpN8_VcXvOJtkyocIVXK3JzXkDcUyJ6xq9sEVLKHquiMXyW1G7cepqOCYvhj8kKt7KMwm6zCDcCNGE-QKFiMFkiaYE/s400/Aquarium%253A1923%253AHB.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Aquarium", 1923, cover for <i>Harper's Bazaar</i>.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiXKMxX4bzVHPjkckUhcxay_H16A0Fgw6c1dZzJW_ff-xp32rv57-kWlgjqL5z4PTgKVLVfAkAfouVLLOAsgdWagbD-CDkFub0euonO64XmuEvVWNMn3c7SCkqgSLNvKKI9x1kmA8EIIc/s1600/seagulls%253A1938%253AHB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiXKMxX4bzVHPjkckUhcxay_H16A0Fgw6c1dZzJW_ff-xp32rv57-kWlgjqL5z4PTgKVLVfAkAfouVLLOAsgdWagbD-CDkFub0euonO64XmuEvVWNMn3c7SCkqgSLNvKKI9x1kmA8EIIc/s400/seagulls%253A1938%253AHB.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Seagulls", 1938, cover for <i>Harper's Bazaar</i>.</td></tr>
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</i><br />
Soon he was doing fashion design and creating stage sets. His costumes and program designs were featured in the Folies Bergère and the Ziegfield Follies. This was the 1920s and the Art Deco movement was in full swing. His work captures the giddy spirit of the "Roaring Twenties".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ty3fPCq6SQ4/TvjLgXsfOoI/AAAAAAAAFio/C1pL6xRpBEI/s1600/mermaids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ty3fPCq6SQ4/TvjLgXsfOoI/AAAAAAAAFio/C1pL6xRpBEI/s400/mermaids.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Mermaids" from 1926.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-koM-p60rD2k/TvjLoCPf-NI/AAAAAAAAFiw/gc06-wKlEyc/s1600/curtain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-koM-p60rD2k/TvjLoCPf-NI/AAAAAAAAFiw/gc06-wKlEyc/s400/curtain.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curtain design from "The Oriental Ballet", 1925, while at MGM.</td></tr>
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In 1920 he designed the costumes and set for a Marion Davies movie financed by William Randolph Hearst. He went to Hollywood in 1925, to design sets and costumes for a silent film by Louis B. Mayer. This film - <i>Paris</i> - had many problems with the script, so while this was being sorted out Erté worked on other projects, one of which was the film <i>Ben-Hur.</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9VO-3fL0mSOsktn_KXEFupSkGon_Mymib7aqjOnP382IqLbcQedNez0d6dZED_m3x8q89ycfa3AGqpmnyyD5xLiez5FryJDFju9mKPTpXrBfoaZjRSpkypRulARaYCr0N6-lBiNQ8qjP/s1600/ebony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9VO-3fL0mSOsktn_KXEFupSkGon_Mymib7aqjOnP382IqLbcQedNez0d6dZED_m3x8q89ycfa3AGqpmnyyD5xLiez5FryJDFju9mKPTpXrBfoaZjRSpkypRulARaYCr0N6-lBiNQ8qjP/s400/ebony.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Ebony" a 1982 graphic.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmONLPOoBfmdTI6Ki9dcbqwNKT2faVZiKENs6IgnKwZ_L97AtcVB90exp-yYSbPiSuHwwgcz78EoUyDr3OYDerW6oEUp1vsLDGouXDThcynqLs8VhGLXRaWi6CDTQLTXrpR1sQjYI1OjUd/s1600/l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmONLPOoBfmdTI6Ki9dcbqwNKT2faVZiKENs6IgnKwZ_L97AtcVB90exp-yYSbPiSuHwwgcz78EoUyDr3OYDerW6oEUp1vsLDGouXDThcynqLs8VhGLXRaWi6CDTQLTXrpR1sQjYI1OjUd/s400/l.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The letter "L" from his alphabet, 1976.</td></tr>
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</i><br />
During his "second career" in the 1960s, he also did jewelry, furniture, fabrics, interior designs, sculpture and produced limited edition prints. His flamboyant style and his talents assured him longevity as an artist. He died in 1990 at the age of 97, being one of those artists who knew fame and acclaim during his lifetime. His work can be seen in museums and galleries all over the world.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44xpWtyhcYfQgxH1Mc7riWoEifYWt4hti01p5kbkqeF16tQDa54EKlJ_1dlsgQWVLbmPyE76y-HxdUMD2AptB14hpPICJGgxYo8bjl6ii9uCfgDPVo4e0RE7OVLuSZUMHWoFurtO1Wd9j/s1600/210px-Ertesignature.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44xpWtyhcYfQgxH1Mc7riWoEifYWt4hti01p5kbkqeF16tQDa54EKlJ_1dlsgQWVLbmPyE76y-HxdUMD2AptB14hpPICJGgxYo8bjl6ii9uCfgDPVo4e0RE7OVLuSZUMHWoFurtO1Wd9j/s1600/210px-Ertesignature.svg.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His famous signature, courtesy of Wikipedia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of <a href="http://www.erte.com./">www.erte.com.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div></div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-35211279032826621462011-12-26T00:01:00.000-08:002011-12-26T00:01:00.479-08:00The Ultimate Monument to Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1IbzWFwKJ7mGOEAqmq030M8rX9JUTxyg2VWKDswM1rj6g6oQ-bUpuyZO-YyEDYBqrYrC2-fVEN_mn_J9ff8x7qz-uScfl62u6bcVeNnQLKzyj6V9h84LQ-LynkE5SO50JnRWNk7HOlp0/s1600/Mumtaz_Mahal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1IbzWFwKJ7mGOEAqmq030M8rX9JUTxyg2VWKDswM1rj6g6oQ-bUpuyZO-YyEDYBqrYrC2-fVEN_mn_J9ff8x7qz-uScfl62u6bcVeNnQLKzyj6V9h84LQ-LynkE5SO50JnRWNk7HOlp0/s400/Mumtaz_Mahal.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mumtaz Mahal, the face that launched a thousand<br />
artisans. Painting circa 17th-18th century.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Prince Khurram, the fifth and favorite son of the Mughal emperor Jahangir, was smitten when he first saw her in a bazaar. He was fourteen years old. He went home and told his father that he wanted to marry her. Fortunately she was a Persian princess, Arjuman Banu Begum. A marriage was arranged, but they had to wait five years for the auspicious date the court astrologers had chosen. By all accounts they had a very close and loving relationship. She went everywhere with him, even to battles. He called her "Mumtaz Mahal" - "the jewel of the palace". He had been named "Shah Jahan" ("King of the World") by his father for his victorious military campaigns.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxEq8cXmXKN1kkvZafHcEQsFzNeBC8TGNOMqL53Q_C0Gph3qC8vrBDMzxVOfW_-5Fu1ziTNZtAPOEfEy7owVUd9lkLtgVISDUmIu3qsa63A0xy0f27hgaX60r4kX0MCGDpuwYk6Zy1bV_/s1600/Shahjahan_on_globe%252C_mid_17th_century%2540Smithsonian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxEq8cXmXKN1kkvZafHcEQsFzNeBC8TGNOMqL53Q_C0Gph3qC8vrBDMzxVOfW_-5Fu1ziTNZtAPOEfEy7owVUd9lkLtgVISDUmIu3qsa63A0xy0f27hgaX60r4kX0MCGDpuwYk6Zy1bV_/s640/Shahjahan_on_globe%252C_mid_17th_century%2540Smithsonian.jpg" width="436" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shah Jahan, "King of the World", standing on a globe.<br />
Mid-17th century, Mughal dynasty.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Mumtaz Mahal, the third, and evidently most dearest, wife of Shah Jahan, died in 1631 giving birth to their 14th child while accompanying him on a military campaign. In his grief he began construction on a mausoleum that would take 22 years to complete. This monument - the Taj Mahal - is an internationally recognized architectural masterpiece.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1w_6iidZGm56NeN2Mf9-JcOEOGGrqvafKbfKxPkDm3xd6XihzppHLt8_OU95_tNecKm1jGXRUWtB1ubgjxHDrufizwAPf2CuK6FIWwGr3SJDNbtl2KTnppvYd6MCLDMsFe0EHyFmtVcw/s1600/tajmahal_large2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1w_6iidZGm56NeN2Mf9-JcOEOGGrqvafKbfKxPkDm3xd6XihzppHLt8_OU95_tNecKm1jGXRUWtB1ubgjxHDrufizwAPf2CuK6FIWwGr3SJDNbtl2KTnppvYd6MCLDMsFe0EHyFmtVcw/s400/tajmahal_large2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Taj Mahal. Image courtesy of pbs.org. When the complex is open to<br />
the public, the walks and grass areas are filled with people.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It is the gold standard for Mughal architecture, a blend of Persian, Indian, and Turkish styles. While the mausoleum is the most famous structure, it is actually part of a complex. The 42-acre site borders on the Yamuna River in Agra, India, and is surrounded on the other three sides by crenellated red sandstone walls. Red sandstone was the primary material that had been used in Mughal architecture, but Shah Jahan built the mausoleum of marbles from all over that part of the world and inlaid precious and semi-precious stones throughout. His reign was quite peaceful and prosperous, and during a time when gems were being mined in great quantities.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t6R4WE-sWVE/TvPJpuqlMUI/AAAAAAAAFTI/09cXbvbD0B4/s1600/Taj+jewels+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t6R4WE-sWVE/TvPJpuqlMUI/AAAAAAAAFTI/09cXbvbD0B4/s400/Taj+jewels+web.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of some of the art work made of inlaid stones. When the<br />
British were in India, parts were vandalized and the stones, especially<br />
lapis lazuli, were taken. The British government had repairs made.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The mausoleum is the central focus and is a symmetrical structure on a square plinth topped by a dome. It has arch-shaped doorways and the corners are chamfered, creating an unequal octagon. Each 180-foot side has a vaulted archway, with two balconies on either side. Each corner of the plinth has a minaret opposite the chamfered corners. Inside the main chamber are the sarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan, although they are buried at a lower level. Since Shah Jahan's entombment was never planned, his cenotaph and casket in the mausoleum disrupts the symmetry found throughout.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplQkjiDLGluVHkOHZ4xOIDJCjoqqUokFEKOkLggbqtc2hw70fCSuBgxo93lOQyXY6udAm6CvLgn754jM57m6XCjg-pmePXgSExPaZTpNDHHcNeEfSjG5I12KKbAB0EjW-a8MRz_EmWNq9/s1600/TajCenotaphs3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplQkjiDLGluVHkOHZ4xOIDJCjoqqUokFEKOkLggbqtc2hw70fCSuBgxo93lOQyXY6udAm6CvLgn754jM57m6XCjg-pmePXgSExPaZTpNDHHcNeEfSjG5I12KKbAB0EjW-a8MRz_EmWNq9/s400/TajCenotaphs3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are the cenotaphs of Shah Jahan (left) and Mumtaz Mahal (right).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydd-EVBIwLTNiZgnAr0XihsZKEjkYMhyphenhyphenliyUqcHmPltaAUOXDBpXjKtHbeJ9SlDh92r-WaZAB9qV9DBgfaRD9J1JfR-zyFtNzgGm6Q_fwD9A90rC1oG6B_PhJoZdz8o2wOlEopU0jQ7J9/s1600/TajJoli1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydd-EVBIwLTNiZgnAr0XihsZKEjkYMhyphenhyphenliyUqcHmPltaAUOXDBpXjKtHbeJ9SlDh92r-WaZAB9qV9DBgfaRD9J1JfR-zyFtNzgGm6Q_fwD9A90rC1oG6B_PhJoZdz8o2wOlEopU0jQ7J9/s400/TajJoli1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the screen, or jali, which borders the cenotaphs, made of eight <br />
marble panels with carved piecework. Detail of the inlay shown below.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pdX6zb4OECSLdfIfPVa5U7zOL4WtqjQnismQNxl6I4gnUU5ENTaHMbj9Vtoy1bbGkZPdnqRQuGXhyL7XpSeIImG_Au7t6qGdqzBMuNVEOlKkg3pxk-Xev3FYn4Y4EUwrtW4nHcxPqvbh/s1600/352px-TajJaliInlay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pdX6zb4OECSLdfIfPVa5U7zOL4WtqjQnismQNxl6I4gnUU5ENTaHMbj9Vtoy1bbGkZPdnqRQuGXhyL7XpSeIImG_Au7t6qGdqzBMuNVEOlKkg3pxk-Xev3FYn4Y4EUwrtW4nHcxPqvbh/s400/352px-TajJaliInlay.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQuoExRY-vA/TvPR5sF2KkI/AAAAAAAAFTU/NzK7lG7qOyg/s1600/Tombs-in-crypt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQuoExRY-vA/TvPR5sF2KkI/AAAAAAAAFTU/NzK7lG7qOyg/s400/Tombs-in-crypt.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The real tombs are in a lower chamber with plain walls, in keeping with the<br />
Islamic tradition prohibiting the elaborate decoration of graves. Both bases<br />
and caskets are inlaid with gems and have calligraphic inscriptions with verses<br />
from the Qu'ran. Mumtaz Mahal's casket is on the right, and the sides have the<br />
ninety-nine beautiful names of Allah. Shah Jahan's casket is larger and the lid of<br />
his casket has a writing tablet and pen box,which are traditional funerary icons.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The marble dome is its most fabulous feature. It is 115 feet high atop a 23-foot round pedestal. The dome is called an onion dome, and typically their diameters are wider than the drum, or pedestal, that they stand on. There are four smaller domes over the chamfered corners. The finial on top was originally made of gold, but was replaced with one of gilded bronze in the early 1800s. The finial is topped by a crescent moon with the horns pointed up. This is a standard Islamic motif. The minarets are "working" minarets, used by the muezzin to call Muslims to prayer. They are 130 feet tall, and each have two balconies dividing the minarets into equal parts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1OqpJsvRfpg/TvUHMehXNdI/AAAAAAAAFaU/_AJqHF0g1wU/s1600/TajAndMinaret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1OqpJsvRfpg/TvUHMehXNdI/AAAAAAAAFaU/_AJqHF0g1wU/s400/TajAndMinaret.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The base, dome, and one of the four minarets.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFcX6V1RcjlaTpEWaCQkcERReimIb7nfuG0h0Qz1LGBFO2eBAo2afsRnsur4Dm-rWTovhCxrmfdRw6giHD7ZxxnaDbsT05OFn-teApXcdbbhxdJ8YbS3LYHe0zjUGWpUehhAlzhtqzT3_/s1600/600px-Taj_Mahal_finial-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFcX6V1RcjlaTpEWaCQkcERReimIb7nfuG0h0Qz1LGBFO2eBAo2afsRnsur4Dm-rWTovhCxrmfdRw6giHD7ZxxnaDbsT05OFn-teApXcdbbhxdJ8YbS3LYHe0zjUGWpUehhAlzhtqzT3_/s320/600px-Taj_Mahal_finial-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gilded brass finial.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSfWb_7TFHeWaumapCqIHczAGXa3NEfefNOb4WUzuKxO-vUUUVL_rv5vn1QyNElkARD8JOi910hqI5mGOXxm2yfnIgPCHQqPx1IKMDB5Mr4AEyMk01rM86n-IgPVz5QufKW6hVrOBSVX0/s1600/450px-Minaret_of_Taj_Mahal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSfWb_7TFHeWaumapCqIHczAGXa3NEfefNOb4WUzuKxO-vUUUVL_rv5vn1QyNElkARD8JOi910hqI5mGOXxm2yfnIgPCHQqPx1IKMDB5Mr4AEyMk01rM86n-IgPVz5QufKW6hVrOBSVX0/s400/450px-Minaret_of_Taj_Mahal.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the minarets.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
Both interior and exterior decorations keep with the Islamic view that anthropomorphic forms are forbidden. Instead floral or abstract forms are used and calligraphy is an important decorative element, especially passages from the Qur'an. Much of the calligraphy is made of black marble or jasper, set into the white marble. Geographic forms, such as herringbone and tesselations, are used throughout.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwj73XxZ5LukCEFSq0BTS6EGoZrga9HM6efPyGqTutWbtTT28JDTgp0w0v9bK0HBT5b24p8hy-3YwCbW6zVEIL5oVAJxiKtOVHIHL6_Fum4pkcZrJUYGzq3rzmKA_I_leFijq1turiDAQ8/s1600/TajGuldastaGeometricDeco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwj73XxZ5LukCEFSq0BTS6EGoZrga9HM6efPyGqTutWbtTT28JDTgp0w0v9bK0HBT5b24p8hy-3YwCbW6zVEIL5oVAJxiKtOVHIHL6_Fum4pkcZrJUYGzq3rzmKA_I_leFijq1turiDAQ8/s200/TajGuldastaGeometricDeco.jpg" width="61" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A column with herringbone.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uax00bjESbY/TvUIudmv_xI/AAAAAAAAFaw/dstkX3CcqPU/s1600/TajFlowerCloseUp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uax00bjESbY/TvUIudmv_xI/AAAAAAAAFaw/dstkX3CcqPU/s200/TajFlowerCloseUp.jpg" width="130" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carved floral motif.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The inner decorations feature the precious and semi-precious gems. Much of the art work within is in a smaller scale than the exterior. The building is octagonal and planned to allow entry from all four sides, although the door leading to the garden is the only one used.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpLEQyKnZgh5pIe97qY6Gg-siOv7NXxVKyq5QoP7Dm_x5sBaaN04444Rfokr0C75ei_lprWgDcfjZ6H0zKbeAYqnQO2NsoLhs2Q-1TnnEPxByqBcEiZucIzEIJ-7D8D_2j0X6I0Syia-Z/s1600/800px-Taj_Mahal_Mosque_Interior_Hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpLEQyKnZgh5pIe97qY6Gg-siOv7NXxVKyq5QoP7Dm_x5sBaaN04444Rfokr0C75ei_lprWgDcfjZ6H0zKbeAYqnQO2NsoLhs2Q-1TnnEPxByqBcEiZucIzEIJ-7D8D_2j0X6I0Syia-Z/s400/800px-Taj_Mahal_Mosque_Interior_Hall.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the mosque's interior hall.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Outside of the tomb are two structures on the eastern and western walls that mirror each other. On the western side is a mosque, featuring a long hall. The opposite structure may have been a meeting room or guesthouse. On the outside the two buildings are identical and balance each other symmetrically, but they are different inside.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Pk3yCi8uQY/TvUJZEFE1MI/AAAAAAAAFa8/IkoxNTsvRPU/s1600/800px-Taj_site_plan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Pk3yCi8uQY/TvUJZEFE1MI/AAAAAAAAFa8/IkoxNTsvRPU/s400/800px-Taj_site_plan.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Complex:<br />
1. The Moonlight Garden (north of the Yamuna River).<br />
2. The Terrace area with mausoleum, mosque and guesthouse.<br />
3. The gardens with pavilions.<br />
4. The gateway, other tombs, and attendant accomodations.<br />
5. The bazaar area.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The gardens of the complex are meant to represent the Islamic idea of Paradise - a garden of abundance with four rivers flowing from the center (usually a spring or a mountain) separating the garden into quarter sections. The garden south of the tomb (No. 3 in the above diagram) is 980 feet square. Raised pathways divide each of the four quarters into 16 sunken beds. A normal Muslim garden is rectangular with a tomb or pavilion in the center, but this garden has a raised marble water tank central instead, and a pool on the north-south axis which reflects the mausoleum beautifully. Early accounts of the garden describe an abundance of flowers and fruit trees, but as the Mughal Empire declined so did the garden. When the British took over the management of the site during their occupation of India, they redid the garden in a British style with lawns instead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXi1SQqvrpbZ0iiWYDx2tm5xBRsgsuscstxrEqh1hCXm_7Ty-2P-Cw6yYothMYygLHZDTKwwvgzKBBLmNOes4XBnpalJ7jKBW_PDt0fGKvAfP2f3lsv-AQmgQSsyxhTCcrkfEenayTxnnb/s1600/393px-Taj_Mahal_art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXi1SQqvrpbZ0iiWYDx2tm5xBRsgsuscstxrEqh1hCXm_7Ty-2P-Cw6yYothMYygLHZDTKwwvgzKBBLmNOes4XBnpalJ7jKBW_PDt0fGKvAfP2f3lsv-AQmgQSsyxhTCcrkfEenayTxnnb/s640/393px-Taj_Mahal_art.jpg" width="417" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An artist's rendering of the complex, circa 1790-1810.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdXFC08UupyHXCpi5YnIAkkDZqyjeuLejV2o_3uZml05EIa1s-J1_AksWQC6MLa-xtDrQFuq2E8CFyf5VWCn9I4g-T8rEwLLYwQpayMc0Xw7A4QcVZrLitVtIH2LqcmwU9_4umY_l4a-w/s1600/430px-GreatMughalsTM_%2528complete%2529.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdXFC08UupyHXCpi5YnIAkkDZqyjeuLejV2o_3uZml05EIa1s-J1_AksWQC6MLa-xtDrQFuq2E8CFyf5VWCn9I4g-T8rEwLLYwQpayMc0Xw7A4QcVZrLitVtIH2LqcmwU9_4umY_l4a-w/s640/430px-GreatMughalsTM_%2528complete%2529.svg.png" width="457" /></a></div><br />
On the other side of the Yamuna River is the "Moonlight Garden". It is thought that the river was intended to be part of the design as one of the rivers of Paradise. It, too, was replanted with lawns. There is a myth that Shah Jahan planned a black marble mausoleum for himself across the Yamuna River from the Taj Mahal, but that has never been proven.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LglHQKduWWz-ucM1hPeyud-IxFPt9RNXGCTe4ycm1g9AsftwSikpclm7i-dVplb0f6ESgMB_avt4kOArZ-nEutfKw9QO5S6b2vqXcdJICk1zh1T9jK-fNWqEHAJ_vtMUhup7tGkkB9tC/s1600/800px-Taj_Mahal%252C_Agra%252C_India-23Feb2007b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LglHQKduWWz-ucM1hPeyud-IxFPt9RNXGCTe4ycm1g9AsftwSikpclm7i-dVplb0f6ESgMB_avt4kOArZ-nEutfKw9QO5S6b2vqXcdJICk1zh1T9jK-fNWqEHAJ_vtMUhup7tGkkB9tC/s400/800px-Taj_Mahal%252C_Agra%252C_India-23Feb2007b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the Taj Mahal from across the Yamuna River.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Calligraphy is an important element in Islamic art, and throughout the complex passages of the Qu'ran are incorporated into the decorations. The calligraphy was designed by Abd ul-Haq in 1609, and Shah Jahan gave him the title of "Amanat Khan" to show his esteem. The calligrapher's modesty is revealed in an inscription inside at the base of the dome, "Written by the insignificant being, Amanat Khan Shirazi." <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNXHJRE7o7Z4LlChgDAQBw3nOeYGfEFpJxSAYAYyeYEByyMYxUxvHEZhE-P7l9mx3f4Dum9h3_jh7xH6elvD0aVUxNKznDvgcjj28_EfIpxPaUMeKJhtCryIEZEiuHG5AAj1U07liDXqn/s1600/800px-Entrance_fort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNXHJRE7o7Z4LlChgDAQBw3nOeYGfEFpJxSAYAYyeYEByyMYxUxvHEZhE-P7l9mx3f4Dum9h3_jh7xH6elvD0aVUxNKznDvgcjj28_EfIpxPaUMeKJhtCryIEZEiuHG5AAj1U07liDXqn/s400/800px-Entrance_fort.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Great Gate, the entrance to the complex. It has calligraphy that says, "O Soul <br />
thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you."</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Outside the walls of the complex are more mausoleums, include those of Shah Jahan's other wives. These are typical Muslim tombs, and are made of red sandstone. There is a bazaar that used to sell trinkets and other small artifacts to support the upkeep of the complex until 1996.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1V14jbc2WWsLllgG0Sh7fkf-ZSZjpVGu2gBcIL4GfVadDXZAOTWCaLONWZgd8dnP3vcZ9hnJopPDObJ3T4tpA7BWRjVx415uQlAVgnzy_tcVs2VWW0MysXXSV1RRm7kj40Q36PDgw3xZr/s1600/800px-Taj-Mahal_from_red-Fort-Cooper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1V14jbc2WWsLllgG0Sh7fkf-ZSZjpVGu2gBcIL4GfVadDXZAOTWCaLONWZgd8dnP3vcZ9hnJopPDObJ3T4tpA7BWRjVx415uQlAVgnzy_tcVs2VWW0MysXXSV1RRm7kj40Q36PDgw3xZr/s400/800px-Taj-Mahal_from_red-Fort-Cooper.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the Red Fort.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The construction of the complex was very involved and built in stages. First was the mausoleum which took 12 years to complete. Then the minarets, mosque, guesthouse, and gateway was built. The ground was carefully prepared and fortified. Instead of a bamboo scaffold, a brick one was built. When the time came to dismantle it - a daunting project - Shah Jahan decided that anyone could keep the bricks of the scaffold, and the local population dismantled it overnight. Twenty thousand workers were employed - from sculptors and calligraphers, to stonecutters and specialists in all kinds of construction. The total cost has been estimated to be 32 million rupees at that time. This project supported many workers, artisans, and craftsmen.<br />
<div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zLOqcAGydio/Tveaz0xH5nI/AAAAAAAAFgg/3kCfiIEVkng/s1600/300px-TajMahalbyAmalMongia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zLOqcAGydio/Tveaz0xH5nI/AAAAAAAAFgg/3kCfiIEVkng/s400/300px-TajMahalbyAmalMongia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div>Over a thousand elephants were used to haul the materials, which were from all over India and as far as Arabia and China. Twenty-eight different types of precious and semi-precious stones were used for inlay. After the complex was completed, Shah Jahan was deposed by his son, Aurangzeb, and put under house arrest at the Red Fort until his death.</div><div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zMRzqjg5WJ0/TvUjrKHp-iI/AAAAAAAAFcM/KBX2nvqDXa8/s1600/redfort-greatrail.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zMRzqjg5WJ0/TvUjrKHp-iI/AAAAAAAAFcM/KBX2nvqDXa8/s400/redfort-greatrail.com.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Taj Mahal as seen from the Red Fort. Shah Jahan may have gazed<br />
at it from this place when he was under house arrest.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
Today the Taj Mahal is visited by between 2 and 4 million people yearly. Depending on the time of day, the Taj appears to be a different color every time you look at it. This is said to reflect the different moods of Woman. The style of the architecture, the grounds, and the decorations feature many departures from traditional Mughal ones, and is still a topic of interest among art historians and scholars. Almost four centuries later, it is an international symbol of undying love and devotion, and a simply beautiful reflection of one man's ideas, aesthetics, and emotions.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of Wikipedia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div></div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-17789999737017102172011-12-23T00:01:00.000-08:002011-12-23T00:01:02.428-08:00Celebrate!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqBI8TcCL0E3NvH7EJSSctuz2KTE36sxIGAW7ZqnzSU5cNiPLDSVsSxLDj00g-jRCkum5OIuNd6eFO9vM0A3S0Mp62K13QkZBT4j5SfO9EIzMVdwQP8CMTGyJhB5_UZeqQxCgi5B2GeyP/s1600/il_fullxfull.285535596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqBI8TcCL0E3NvH7EJSSctuz2KTE36sxIGAW7ZqnzSU5cNiPLDSVsSxLDj00g-jRCkum5OIuNd6eFO9vM0A3S0Mp62K13QkZBT4j5SfO9EIzMVdwQP8CMTGyJhB5_UZeqQxCgi5B2GeyP/s400/il_fullxfull.285535596.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
However you choose to observe a winter celebration, may you do so in peace with goodwill toward ALL!<br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>All of which (even the FSM and the teapot indirectly) came from:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aEmTM4ChHtjtHGJk-s7jGbtjJwJKwf0jgqkNNmy7eD1i-1q9TnGdD9q3oIxvu6p8EQ1JL6GWLGMUwp4Jt2_M_nd5jYgHN9is9wgh_JuuPodBFa5G1YhIATHIQOI2oGjga5glu_yXsnwo/s1600/407500_10150486444359025_765859024_8507025_845958347_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aEmTM4ChHtjtHGJk-s7jGbtjJwJKwf0jgqkNNmy7eD1i-1q9TnGdD9q3oIxvu6p8EQ1JL6GWLGMUwp4Jt2_M_nd5jYgHN9is9wgh_JuuPodBFa5G1YhIATHIQOI2oGjga5glu_yXsnwo/s640/407500_10150486444359025_765859024_8507025_845958347_n.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>Share the love!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-75251259251446998102011-12-22T00:01:00.000-08:002011-12-22T00:01:00.531-08:00The Amazon - The Ancient Wonder Woman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuSYIzuyNXYCUi7qNriNjM0Hd38kw1KZGhYPGaKaqc_8r_lO4IaQkRx_Imlrzj3vcxbZTF1j-cBx5Gl6Ky7RrH1mu6IMf3RpSH-OS1DzQYt7JX_tttPInI42kVgVYTcDfrKkNVAmfJsYA/s1600/AmazonCentaurvonStuck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuSYIzuyNXYCUi7qNriNjM0Hd38kw1KZGhYPGaKaqc_8r_lO4IaQkRx_Imlrzj3vcxbZTF1j-cBx5Gl6Ky7RrH1mu6IMf3RpSH-OS1DzQYt7JX_tttPInI42kVgVYTcDfrKkNVAmfJsYA/s400/AmazonCentaurvonStuck.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Amazon and Centaur</i> by Franz von Stuck. <br />
Image courtesy www.paleothea.com.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Amazons were fierce female warriors, described by the ancients as independent and powerful women. One of the many myths about them states that men were not allowed to live in their territories or have sexual relations with them, except for one night a year. At that time they visited an all-male tribe, the Gargareans, who lived in the south Caucasus. The male children that resulted from this night of union were either given to the Gargareans, killed, or left in the wild. The female children were reared and taught the art of war, hunting, and agriculture. Some stories say they captured the finer specimens of men they conquered and used them as slaves and for breeding purposes.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUW1u3Xic2trS-J7veJ3Nl-WHwz_Q1gOjhdzWr-i5X7OYXIuLz5dl4wgqJbB-Wegqbi64w5SDUjKlDhzhBwfxWnj1Tafw-8bSx5_H5P5DIBd6g81eCB7LDtDHKi7nCBd4BZDi_zQwSXTh/s1600/392px-Amazonomachie_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUW1u3Xic2trS-J7veJ3Nl-WHwz_Q1gOjhdzWr-i5X7OYXIuLz5dl4wgqJbB-Wegqbi64w5SDUjKlDhzhBwfxWnj1Tafw-8bSx5_H5P5DIBd6g81eCB7LDtDHKi7nCBd4BZDi_zQwSXTh/s400/392px-Amazonomachie_03.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Currently in the Louvre, this mosaic depicts an Amazonomachy,<br />
or battle between Greeks and Amazons. This is from Antakya, now<br />
Antioch, in Turkey, dated second half of the 4th century CE.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
But the most salacious myth about Amazons is that they cut off or burnt their right breasts, the better to use a bow with or cast spears. There is no evidence of this in any extant artwork, perhaps because of a squeamish reluctance on the artist's part, however the right breast is often covered.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicr_JpaO144Xox7ncVlDHaXwdXDZd5tMVVDvdp2GsxU2Ril1KOLiBESdbb9HPH8VhM3iyoZ2QTWJHM_wbP3J32enZxPkCOi4bhHyy5gqMd4iRaxxeCNum9iTvCKLqIQZ2M29nunzqkprQQ/s1600/AmazonErte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicr_JpaO144Xox7ncVlDHaXwdXDZd5tMVVDvdp2GsxU2Ril1KOLiBESdbb9HPH8VhM3iyoZ2QTWJHM_wbP3J32enZxPkCOi4bhHyy5gqMd4iRaxxeCNum9iTvCKLqIQZ2M29nunzqkprQQ/s400/AmazonErte.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The legend of the Amazons even inspire more<br />
modern artists, as this statuette by Erté proves.<br />
Image courtesy of www.paleothea.com.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The etymology of their name is debated. The Iranians have an ethnonym, "ha-mazan", meaning "warriors". Another theory states the name came from a different ethnonym, "Amazigh", which refers to what some Berbers call themselves, meaning "free people". An interesting idea is that the name came from an Iranian word meaing "virility-killing" or "ama-janah". The most popular explanation is that the name came from the Greek "amazoi" or "breast-less". Herodotus called them "androktones" or "killers of men". In the <u>Iliad</u> they were referred to as "antianeirai" - "those who fight like men".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQ16v0hTChxJscyWeqne7ZyJK7Meq64XdeKBzeelzeKGUNpZPn0reKXqdDjmLhkQ9ykzhcC-Ut3bzVk0rbTae2ijeiNMomdQE3u6dCWht7x1Awip1pmeV-9iO6M8a8VAM9ZltmdUrHdlm/s1600/battle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQ16v0hTChxJscyWeqne7ZyJK7Meq64XdeKBzeelzeKGUNpZPn0reKXqdDjmLhkQ9ykzhcC-Ut3bzVk0rbTae2ijeiNMomdQE3u6dCWht7x1Awip1pmeV-9iO6M8a8VAM9ZltmdUrHdlm/s400/battle.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Amazon in battle. Image courtesy of www.spauda.it.</td></tr>
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Even more perplexing is trying to figure out where they came from geographically. Although they mostly are said to have been from the Pontus area, near the Euxine (Black) Sea, some ancient writers attest that they originally came from Scythia. They were claimed to be the founders of many cities, including Ephesus, Smyrna, Sinope, Cyrene, Myrina and Paphos. There is a possibility that there were several groups dispersed geographically who were known as Amazons.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNlTQYukG72-UW_2MGNh49tAVyd5AA18AphuIgiRbNqu6wKZr28FRWJQBEBdQ_qI4k2icJutaXS1O6lZqd_GbAFn07ORHgJNxf6yW_KGiMeDWBfguDc_UoxSPpmqXj380tZprHL90MiSx/s1600/MinorAsiaCities.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNlTQYukG72-UW_2MGNh49tAVyd5AA18AphuIgiRbNqu6wKZr28FRWJQBEBdQ_qI4k2icJutaXS1O6lZqd_GbAFn07ORHgJNxf6yW_KGiMeDWBfguDc_UoxSPpmqXj380tZprHL90MiSx/s400/MinorAsiaCities.gif" width="252" /></a></div><br />
They worshipped Ares, the god of war, and Artemis, the goddess of hunting. They were born of Ares and an ancient goddess, Otrera. Otrera is also considered the founder of the temple of Artemis at Ephesus. Sometimes she is mentioned as the daughter of Ares. They were excellent on horseback, and this fact is attested to by use of "hippo" - "horse" in Greek - in some of their names.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcVHtG05lxTPBKhgkPk7VBB2P5YtBx5rnxloa-dpy-ozIfiVA59V0cn3MIG4n9SO4stOyF2_hoCrsir_-T3_CfUM5cHQCxumyIwxgTrqYmVhnD0SWLfM0VRnhawI1dbt_v7EhRdCCILIL/s1600/440px-Pelike_01_pushkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcVHtG05lxTPBKhgkPk7VBB2P5YtBx5rnxloa-dpy-ozIfiVA59V0cn3MIG4n9SO4stOyF2_hoCrsir_-T3_CfUM5cHQCxumyIwxgTrqYmVhnD0SWLfM0VRnhawI1dbt_v7EhRdCCILIL/s400/440px-Pelike_01_pushkin.jpg" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Amazon surrounded by griffins. Attic red-figure (and <br />
black-figure) pottery gives us much of what we know of<br />
Greek society as few paintings survived except what is found <br />
on everyday earthenware. Attica is a historic Greek region.</td></tr>
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Their most famous queen is perhaps Hippolyta, she of the girdle given to her by the god Ares, and the taking of which became the ninth labor of Heracles. Some versions of the myth claim Heracles killed her. Others claim that his friend Theseus, who had accompanied him, married her and had a son named Hippolytus. In other versions Theseus marries her sister, Antiope. Another notable Amazon queen was Penthesilea, also a sister of Hippolyta along with Melanippe. Penthesilea had accidently killed Hippolyta while hunting, and although she wanted to kill herself the only honorable way for an Amazon and queen to do that was in battle, so she fought in the Trojan War on the side of Troy. She was then killed by Achilles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCeUcJT4SL3jAc-3CTDlcAU9DSeViWoAb7VxbbD8KQjU1F6fXyiS9LIMgCPOu2pcx5ULtzalqRh1Alo7yVPWwRrv7i3e_88RHVvGHOZCfWS_39x_VZt2pxSwPM8Uq872l-PvCUwWY2HNP/s1600/AnAmazonvonStuck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCeUcJT4SL3jAc-3CTDlcAU9DSeViWoAb7VxbbD8KQjU1F6fXyiS9LIMgCPOu2pcx5ULtzalqRh1Alo7yVPWwRrv7i3e_88RHVvGHOZCfWS_39x_VZt2pxSwPM8Uq872l-PvCUwWY2HNP/s400/AnAmazonvonStuck.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>An Amazon</i>, by Franz von Stuck.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The saddest queen was Thalestris. She was the cream of the crop of Amazons, and lived during the time of Alexander the Great. Since he was the best of the best of men, she talked him into having sex with her in order to give birth to a superior child. He agreed as long as a male child would be given to him. Alas, despite spending 13 days (a sacred number) together hunting and having sex, she did not conceive.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31bCY79vrxqrmlnkFM0UydupjLXPgEZ4rbrWUjckPMiznbKMlGv7RzvCx4U8Q9O5042j1rZ0kdmiFNiy1TFkh1zu15EV1Gf_1AT2_BApjZzVox81dPiuGMz8METjFGGgKjHaR1CM3s1ma/s1600/726px-Akhilleus_Penthesileia_Staatliche_Antikensammlungen_2688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31bCY79vrxqrmlnkFM0UydupjLXPgEZ4rbrWUjckPMiznbKMlGv7RzvCx4U8Q9O5042j1rZ0kdmiFNiy1TFkh1zu15EV1Gf_1AT2_BApjZzVox81dPiuGMz8METjFGGgKjHaR1CM3s1ma/s400/726px-Akhilleus_Penthesileia_Staatliche_Antikensammlungen_2688.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Achilles killing Penthesilea on the tondo of an Attic <br />
red-figure kylix from Vulci, circa 470-460 BCE.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Amazons were said to have invaded areas from Scythia to the northern coasts of Africa, including some Aegean islands. Their existence was even debated by ancient authors, and it is posited that rumors of women from the some of the tribes of the Caucasus, who performed duties traditionally done by men, gave rise to the idea of an independent race of warrior women. The concept of Amazons may also have come from the priestesses of Artemis, who like many priestesses of very ancient times, were somewhat autonomous, going back to a time more matriarchal (if there ever truly was one!) than patriarchial.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4Fy6rK0tgT_Hj63iCSbaMAY9bfuseH06Ax5Cx5YhQztBaFH-5jy7jM0iG8irw4RAUm5fS8WHtQP2U36n3l9nDsyC8oezqxiK-3rkxHhS0fbQ00ti7HxrAzmxkcsN-gL0N8E5j-lgIo-N/s1600/622px-Amazone_Staatliche_Antikensammlungen_2342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4Fy6rK0tgT_Hj63iCSbaMAY9bfuseH06Ax5Cx5YhQztBaFH-5jy7jM0iG8irw4RAUm5fS8WHtQP2U36n3l9nDsyC8oezqxiK-3rkxHhS0fbQ00ti7HxrAzmxkcsN-gL0N8E5j-lgIo-N/s400/622px-Amazone_Staatliche_Antikensammlungen_2342.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side B of an Attic red-figure amphora circa 420 BCE featuring an Amazon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
There is evidence in the archaeological record of warrior women. Whenever an ancient burial of a warrior is found, it has always been assumed that it was a male. But there are modern archaeologists who are looking at going through the evidence from all of those burials and sexing the skeletons to ascertain if any of them were women. In the Altai Mountains of Siberia there have been mummified burials of women found in kurgans, some of them buried with the gear of war - weapons, headgear, etc. - with legs bowed from riding and with battle scars. These ancient people - the Pazyryk culture - also buried horses, some of which had been sacrificed. This culture goes back to the approximate time that Herodotus wrote of Amazons. Warrior graves on the lower Don and lower Volga from the Scythian-Sarmatian Iron Age culture are about 20% women, buried with weaponry and saddles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTBnMFnQS9784bsRBt8riumBP5oQ9SnMSudFz89lsMpA-M9iJAYlIeM6HG1EF7cKdVSbsrRiK6C_z42fOvQfBuqSnxDzQ6I17e9i7sy8V3177ooyJeRj-NohVhVz63yVslPYuKz9fkT7b/s1600/Mummy_of_the_Ukok_Princess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTBnMFnQS9784bsRBt8riumBP5oQ9SnMSudFz89lsMpA-M9iJAYlIeM6HG1EF7cKdVSbsrRiK6C_z42fOvQfBuqSnxDzQ6I17e9i7sy8V3177ooyJeRj-NohVhVz63yVslPYuKz9fkT7b/s400/Mummy_of_the_Ukok_Princess.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Pazyryk mummy is known as the "Ice Maiden". She was found in <br />
1993 by archaeologist Natalia Polosmak, along with six sacrificed <br />
horses. This is from the 5th century BCE. Note the tattoos.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
But much as modern women would love to claim them as role models, most likely their purpose was the opposite. For they were everything that a "good woman" ought not to be in ancient Greece, and in all their battles, particularly against Athens, they were the losers. A lesson, for sure, but one that is a cautionary tale against stepping out of assigned gender roles. But it must have been an exciting idea for the ancient Greeks; even more exciting to vanquish them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePtU9pGbRuEOsnbRmESyCV0O4ZRLnH3r1xkVEjD2OW7qntwvJdhYqtFZTO-jy1FY1tMXDF7MKfMKW3dcLIck_atbKYMoojT8f6zKDQq8BLU_aZPTXPzP_oqcHd6J5WUClMegs7J9T-bAZ/s1600/320px-Amazone_altar_Louvre_CA1710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePtU9pGbRuEOsnbRmESyCV0O4ZRLnH3r1xkVEjD2OW7qntwvJdhYqtFZTO-jy1FY1tMXDF7MKfMKW3dcLIck_atbKYMoojT8f6zKDQq8BLU_aZPTXPzP_oqcHd6J5WUClMegs7J9T-bAZ/s400/320px-Amazone_altar_Louvre_CA1710.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Amazon in front of an altar. Attic<br />
red-figure lekythos, circa 475-450 BCE.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
However, there are tales of great warrior woman in many cultures. Celtic legends have many strong and warring women. The Irish hero Cúchulainn was sent for warrior training with the woman Scáthach. This leads to another problem - either few women in ancient times wrote, or else their writing has not survived. There is the slimmest of hopes that some writings attributed to men were authored by women.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYL7qTTMeS0QdMb-K6EJT1vZ7_TSRXg8Yu0XHtl3THtp91kdjpD8t5Bk11dkiTHFlO-8vNSwAJF3Nx3Im79cOYVkeOHCvnxcATswX4hjqSWxkoyuyAEgF16uTGSg6c9S8Xd2ALwWgM9JCA/s1600/540px-Amazons_MAR_Palermo_NI1821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYL7qTTMeS0QdMb-K6EJT1vZ7_TSRXg8Yu0XHtl3THtp91kdjpD8t5Bk11dkiTHFlO-8vNSwAJF3Nx3Im79cOYVkeOHCvnxcATswX4hjqSWxkoyuyAEgF16uTGSg6c9S8Xd2ALwWgM9JCA/s320/540px-Amazons_MAR_Palermo_NI1821.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br />
At any rate, the concept of strong, independent, capable women has survived and beguiled up to the present time. Although the thought of taking up arms, not to mention cutting off the right breast, may not appeal to modern women, Amazons are still a symbol of the once and future liberated and emancipated woman.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of Wikipedia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684946039950733232.post-58479861373424574732011-12-21T00:01:00.000-08:002011-12-21T07:22:09.986-08:00Holy Holly<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlrQnwmuJ72yNRG6QtnsAy7IbjPFFM7xguKghGxbUEvHqT7RPyYDI7T0vKJ6zjUnW8ZjNDrjCU4ga14VxnUcFhggE48e0sHo4eVz_uLL-zcC8RaGVUiVjJCpEf0YA25r7Mas8XGvKBJyL/s1600/422px-Ilex_aquifolium_Atlas_Alpenflora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlrQnwmuJ72yNRG6QtnsAy7IbjPFFM7xguKghGxbUEvHqT7RPyYDI7T0vKJ6zjUnW8ZjNDrjCU4ga14VxnUcFhggE48e0sHo4eVz_uLL-zcC8RaGVUiVjJCpEf0YA25r7Mas8XGvKBJyL/s400/422px-Ilex_aquifolium_Atlas_Alpenflora.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><br />
Holly has been associated with spiritual rituals since Roman times. The type that most people are familiar with is commonly called English or Christmas holly, but its formal name is <i>Ilex aquifolium</i>. The Romans called it <i>ilex</i> because of the leaves' resemblance to oak (<i>Quercus ilex</i>). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9yxdxg8CrAuBxzzcL46GiSkgl6t1uYDjHsIRCoR2gf7QiQ5C8iI2dMl8uTXNRVnK5NulS9zl3m98V6kKXDZ5K3Bjd2V_PCNaugVNOqYbYp_tF-ceYyDDhWIBe-9-rMG1lqx2hzSUiNGe/s1600/447px-1_Plant_sp._-_Kew_24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9yxdxg8CrAuBxzzcL46GiSkgl6t1uYDjHsIRCoR2gf7QiQ5C8iI2dMl8uTXNRVnK5NulS9zl3m98V6kKXDZ5K3Bjd2V_PCNaugVNOqYbYp_tF-ceYyDDhWIBe-9-rMG1lqx2hzSUiNGe/s400/447px-1_Plant_sp._-_Kew_24.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holly leaves can be bright, shiny green or have edges tinged with white.</td></tr>
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Because the holly is an evergreen, it became a symbol early on in every kind of winter celebration for the renewal of life that would occur in spring. In fact, many of the plants that now play a part in winter holidays and observances were evergreen, such as coniferous trees and mistletoe.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJREiu8nccW1LaQor8aGChJiPZgWW7NyM4k8fmQ3qErf5kTvlso1rwfpex6TwR0VvHBRk6IQ6ehk70cKiNt3-lU2rtgTiw-F9Beg9LdXpKCULVV2m5omKA4gLO_q8azq9QNd-ySCbg7baE/s1600/dionysus-procession.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJREiu8nccW1LaQor8aGChJiPZgWW7NyM4k8fmQ3qErf5kTvlso1rwfpex6TwR0VvHBRk6IQ6ehk70cKiNt3-lU2rtgTiw-F9Beg9LdXpKCULVV2m5omKA4gLO_q8azq9QNd-ySCbg7baE/s400/dionysus-procession.jpg" width="185" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of a Tunisian mosaic showing<br />
Dionysus with an evergreen tree.<br />
Image courtesy of www.artehistoria.jcyl.es.</td></tr>
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In this capacity of rebirth, holly was associated with Dionysus in ancient Greece, and later with some pagan sun gods. The ancient Romans used it in their Saturnalia observances, and associated the plant with their god of agriculture and harvest, Saturn. Early Christians in Rome hung Saturnalian holly to avoid persecution, and later just kept the tradition.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlOEd1znYg8KTkhpi8I3qiHOiF9wWzcmkvMtoR4HTSz2N7IrNcZbZd-Rhh1laE-wpWpd6zknuKnra0NVv2yI9d_j1HMXy0u7S9oOVYBujLv6z_2OCOCQGmsr_4hWkM3Y-cHgPHuOcdIn7/s1600/hollyking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlOEd1znYg8KTkhpi8I3qiHOiF9wWzcmkvMtoR4HTSz2N7IrNcZbZd-Rhh1laE-wpWpd6zknuKnra0NVv2yI9d_j1HMXy0u7S9oOVYBujLv6z_2OCOCQGmsr_4hWkM3Y-cHgPHuOcdIn7/s400/hollyking.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of Photobasket.com.</td></tr>
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Druids are said to have hung it to ward off witches and evil spirits. It was hung on walls, especially near beds to insure sweet dreams. It was a pagan protection device, most likely because it stood out in the cold winter months when everything else was dormant and gray. It was considered bad luck to chop a plant down. The Celts believed in the Holly King, who ruled death and winter, as well as the Oak King, who ruled life and summer. In the Middle Ages the Holly King and the Ivy Queen were honored, especially in mummers' plays.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8NR6Vc4njLStv55n4MYY7jQi6C8HkROkrQgUCbmAzfFNnx1OPJyLCEw-1ya24oggBqcSFOvu9SiQLyRUc0o7KBe4Mq1GSlPFKTbhghlb9NGJXMoiPKWgEQ6UoQuw17md2AYgIY4SCT95/s1600/405px-Thor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8NR6Vc4njLStv55n4MYY7jQi6C8HkROkrQgUCbmAzfFNnx1OPJyLCEw-1ya24oggBqcSFOvu9SiQLyRUc0o7KBe4Mq1GSlPFKTbhghlb9NGJXMoiPKWgEQ6UoQuw17md2AYgIY4SCT95/s400/405px-Thor.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thor's Battle Against the Jötnar</i>, 1872, by Mårten Eskil Winge.</td></tr>
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In Norse mythology the holly was associated with Thor and Freya. Thor used lightning as a weapon, and Freya was in charge of weather. This led to the practice of hanging holly in one's house to protect against lightning. Holly trees conduct lightning into the ground better than most trees and with little injury to the tree itself.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiru1UNnYzIJTmLyv8V2J_ZlgHeOZUCF1A0iVE4IHj0rHCHRsauoRa0P2rNqGqVaOt0XQJgaVTbhlle86SPvXb1Qxc2C4RvR-X1UDmFrzl-NNHkKEPelg6eWxtd9ixmYZFwhW2NAFltoWfA/s1600/Lightning_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiru1UNnYzIJTmLyv8V2J_ZlgHeOZUCF1A0iVE4IHj0rHCHRsauoRa0P2rNqGqVaOt0XQJgaVTbhlle86SPvXb1Qxc2C4RvR-X1UDmFrzl-NNHkKEPelg6eWxtd9ixmYZFwhW2NAFltoWfA/s400/Lightning_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
In Japan there are several legends that feature holly. One features a Buddhist monk named Daikoku. Once when he was attacked by a devil, his companion rat ran off and brought back a holly branch, which devils will not go near. Thus, similar to European pagans, in rustic areas of Japan there is a tradition to keep devils away by hanging a holly branch on the doors of houses.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpozdSddz4bbjf_vZLOw2rgZknWMjh2ANFADTxoK5eV41IxiDD8YvRtlbcLsfjNuim645OcfyWsFxFv6fbdc8NvRZkNdy8WKE1E5QO84Px_e4MPGQoARuIqaBAeVgJQDsbaU-JqyWQ7EU/s1600/585px-Spiro_engraved_shell_opussum_HRoe_2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpozdSddz4bbjf_vZLOw2rgZknWMjh2ANFADTxoK5eV41IxiDD8YvRtlbcLsfjNuim645OcfyWsFxFv6fbdc8NvRZkNdy8WKE1E5QO84Px_e4MPGQoARuIqaBAeVgJQDsbaU-JqyWQ7EU/s320/585px-Spiro_engraved_shell_opussum_HRoe_2005.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An engraved shell cup.</td></tr>
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Archaeologists of the American southeast and southwest have found ritual shell cups with holly residue dating to 1,200 BCE. This speaks of a long tradition of using holly, a type called <i>Ilex vomitoria</i> used to induce vomiting and hallucinations as part of a ritual. The Cherokee and Creek tribes held it sacred even a century ago.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91Ak6ISbzD3iaS8gaytmvSqTQ-e3oY6TP5kRK-xCR4KNpy4VCmN6Owxgb39OxHGItiAAQgz2OsS77hdiOpiGeHN9WlGEvi1OH5jDNP9u1d_XGSktYYY021AcdOa2uFTC8dkqB4-Lq5N86/s1600/Ilex_vomitoria_fws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91Ak6ISbzD3iaS8gaytmvSqTQ-e3oY6TP5kRK-xCR4KNpy4VCmN6Owxgb39OxHGItiAAQgz2OsS77hdiOpiGeHN9WlGEvi1OH5jDNP9u1d_XGSktYYY021AcdOa2uFTC8dkqB4-Lq5N86/s400/Ilex_vomitoria_fws.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smooth-leaved <i>Ilex vomitoria.</i></td></tr>
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The word is thought to have come from the Indo-European <i>qel</i>, which means prickly. The name "Holly" comes from Old English <i>holegn</i>, related to Old High German <i>hulis. </i>The French took <i>hulis</i> and called it <i>houx</i>. It has no connection to the word "holy" despite its use in religious affairs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9XR4k9lpZRoD2XXHQJ5ToFDALBh5obsOpNaQ_gd5iJOJCeiBzPI9NOpZNg1cq0y9CHVU24bQNy2NGrPyjCII354QzLSi0KFWp3E4zUxbmhwSNaIayKsole163xANdnARo2AjkslQrMNb/s1600/685px-Ilex_aquifolium_15_ies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9XR4k9lpZRoD2XXHQJ5ToFDALBh5obsOpNaQ_gd5iJOJCeiBzPI9NOpZNg1cq0y9CHVU24bQNy2NGrPyjCII354QzLSi0KFWp3E4zUxbmhwSNaIayKsole163xANdnARo2AjkslQrMNb/s320/685px-Ilex_aquifolium_15_ies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
While the holly became associated with men, women's counterpart was ivy, hence the Christmas song. When all the winter traditions were coopted into Christmas, so was the holly plant. Later it became used in Christian iconography to symbolize the crown of thorns (the sharp leaves), blood of Christ (the red berries), and the innocence of Christ (the white flowers). There are claims that the tree from which the cross where Christ hung was a holly tree.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGUHiuR9R5maY1vnTivBmnJpJTVznML0V2zkceLvOsMAWyfGASPfh4-vnaaSS6nLFfL8YLhE_M5DaGlN0aW1EtcXCkbnUyIXBo6VnE6_6A-dstWdxuxatcXtxm2F6i2NMIwbJebt1T1Wo/s1600/800px-Ilex_aquifolium_31_ies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGUHiuR9R5maY1vnTivBmnJpJTVznML0V2zkceLvOsMAWyfGASPfh4-vnaaSS6nLFfL8YLhE_M5DaGlN0aW1EtcXCkbnUyIXBo6VnE6_6A-dstWdxuxatcXtxm2F6i2NMIwbJebt1T1Wo/s320/800px-Ilex_aquifolium_31_ies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Berries...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-R17ce4yxtLI7OPARgVPkErNq7tfrEYOZjcXUHookG0vXy8occ0XfLEI2j80yOGTqIhkloTIU7xrK8qEg02dBa7Xl2Nf-WT3S-GDTRYBc1fbIqwfCqSzf4hbiaOW0HbOOgghvJ8O2vAW/s1600/685px-Ilex_aquifolium_25_ies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-R17ce4yxtLI7OPARgVPkErNq7tfrEYOZjcXUHookG0vXy8occ0XfLEI2j80yOGTqIhkloTIU7xrK8qEg02dBa7Xl2Nf-WT3S-GDTRYBc1fbIqwfCqSzf4hbiaOW0HbOOgghvJ8O2vAW/s320/685px-Ilex_aquifolium_25_ies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and flowers.</td></tr>
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Although the prickly leaves are the first image that comes to mind when most people think of holly, there are smooth leaved varieties. (The smooth ones are associated with women - apparently more dainty.) The plant can be either a shrub or a tree, and though the popular one that comes to mind is an evergreen, there are deciduous types as well. The <i>ilex aquifolium</i> is found in Asia, Europe, and North America. While both male and female plants boost white flowers in the late spring, only the females produce berries. They depend on pollinators, like bees. While toxic to humans, the berries are an important food source for birds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtyYeGOdVxR2EJxrGYgcKrdIzGbQcgOp_3pbiiddAg12Nd__YOQfLj7eUU_TDfbeQ_sXDuSwtzPJB4eL5-QEnN1rdThz6plaOrDTBhZ2V2ofg8rEaURlrC7j7EqLDLSN7v6oke1StpUnb/s1600/Koeh-074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtyYeGOdVxR2EJxrGYgcKrdIzGbQcgOp_3pbiiddAg12Nd__YOQfLj7eUU_TDfbeQ_sXDuSwtzPJB4eL5-QEnN1rdThz6plaOrDTBhZ2V2ofg8rEaURlrC7j7EqLDLSN7v6oke1StpUnb/s400/Koeh-074.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ilex paraguariensis</i> where Yerba Mate tea comes from.</td></tr>
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Unlike the berries, the leaves are used in herbal concoctions to treat dizziness, fever, and hypertension, and are a popular purgative. The leaves are also a source of caffeine, and the herbal tea Yerba Mate comes from a type of holly. The type called <i>Ilex Gauyusa</i> has the highest known caffeine content of any plant. The roots can be used as a diuretic. The wood from the holly is hard and excellent for carving, sometimes used for walking sticks, chess pieces, and at one time for bagpipes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOWqEVgXLjWoXvgYAWN3Ix5TPOv7qTzlsZ9vS6Vi6lQF6r6tin4D0AVcXEp6ZG8nVMJycqJnSqOSFNKD7pbH1R9mfNqDA2pfgYmWfppwki9UmXnyJLPaArmKuTLw5CT5n7Y_W3yGG3-Do/s1600/384px-Great_Highlands_Bagpipe_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOWqEVgXLjWoXvgYAWN3Ix5TPOv7qTzlsZ9vS6Vi6lQF6r6tin4D0AVcXEp6ZG8nVMJycqJnSqOSFNKD7pbH1R9mfNqDA2pfgYmWfppwki9UmXnyJLPaArmKuTLw5CT5n7Y_W3yGG3-Do/s400/384px-Great_Highlands_Bagpipe_001.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Highlands bagpipes were often made with Holly wood.</td></tr>
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Whatever you celebrate this winter, if you deck the halls with boughs of holly you are keeping a tradition with an ancient and multinational pedigree.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">***************</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of Wikipedia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">*******************************</div></div>Linda Hedrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13518092321016623457noreply@blogger.com2