Velázquez with Bob
Two excellent things today. I went swimming for the first time in months today, albeit slowly and gingerly. Felt a fleeting feeling of well being after which was excellent.
In the evening went off with Mad Dog, (now mid-transformation into SAD Dog due to the lack of light) to the Velázquez exhibition at the National Gallery. This very good fun. There were 46 pictures there, some of which I'd seen before. Found myself very interested in some of the work. He has a trick of making the less "important" people the subjects of the paintings.
Two I liked in particular were kitchen scenes painted around 1618 -- when the artist was about 19. In both pictures are serving hatches which are like frames into another world.
In one you can see Mary and Martha with Christ, and in the other you can see a newly resurrected Christ with two apostles. Compositionally much more important are the people in the kitchen however, and for me this lead to to much enjoyable speculation about why. Bob meanwhile was very taken with the portrait of Pope Innocent X who had the formidable face of a bludgeon.
After this spot of culture we busied ourselves with a couple of beers and quite a nice curry. It was very good to catch up with Bob as usual. Then home at midnight.
Pleased to hear that the Democrats have done well over the pond. Good news for just about everyone on the planet I'd say.
Copped these off the internet. The two fascinating kitchen scenes, and the formidable Pope Innocent.
Two excellent things today. I went swimming for the first time in months today, albeit slowly and gingerly. Felt a fleeting feeling of well being after which was excellent.
In the evening went off with Mad Dog, (now mid-transformation into SAD Dog due to the lack of light) to the Velázquez exhibition at the National Gallery. This very good fun. There were 46 pictures there, some of which I'd seen before. Found myself very interested in some of the work. He has a trick of making the less "important" people the subjects of the paintings.
Two I liked in particular were kitchen scenes painted around 1618 -- when the artist was about 19. In both pictures are serving hatches which are like frames into another world.
In one you can see Mary and Martha with Christ, and in the other you can see a newly resurrected Christ with two apostles. Compositionally much more important are the people in the kitchen however, and for me this lead to to much enjoyable speculation about why. Bob meanwhile was very taken with the portrait of Pope Innocent X who had the formidable face of a bludgeon.
After this spot of culture we busied ourselves with a couple of beers and quite a nice curry. It was very good to catch up with Bob as usual. Then home at midnight.
Pleased to hear that the Democrats have done well over the pond. Good news for just about everyone on the planet I'd say.
Copped these off the internet. The two fascinating kitchen scenes, and the formidable Pope Innocent.
Comments