Fontainebleau with some snow gently falling
The Palace of Fontainebleau, located 55 kilometres from the centre of Paris, is one of the largest French royal châteaux. The palace as it is today is the work of many French monarchs, building on an early 16th century structure of Francis I. The building is arranged around a series of courtyards.
Today part of the château is home to the Écoles d'Art Américaines, a school of art, architecture, and music for students from the United States. The school was founded by General Pershing when his men were stationed there during World War I.
24 August, 2009
23 August, 2009
Playing around this morning with FlickrToys
You can convert your picture to a painting and even virtually frame it. How cool. I wonder what just the picture would look like printed.
22 August, 2009
Ground Zero of the Mid Atlantic Ridge
This view was captured near the site where the original Viking settlers held their annual parliament. It also happens to be geologically important because it is the rift between two separate continental plates that are drifting apart by approximately 1.5cm per year.
Here's a little more on the annual Parliment:
After only 50 years of Viking settlement, a national assembly, the Althing, was established in Tingvellir. With no monarch or ruler this was a unique governing structure of the Middle Ages and the oldest parliament in Europe. Meeting only two weeks every summer, the assembly, comprised of both men and women from all around Iceland, passed new laws and settled disputes. The Althing held no power to implement punishment or change, this was left up to the individual, and individual’s obligation to society is a main theme of the Sagas.
Here's a little more on the annual Parliment:
After only 50 years of Viking settlement, a national assembly, the Althing, was established in Tingvellir. With no monarch or ruler this was a unique governing structure of the Middle Ages and the oldest parliament in Europe. Meeting only two weeks every summer, the assembly, comprised of both men and women from all around Iceland, passed new laws and settled disputes. The Althing held no power to implement punishment or change, this was left up to the individual, and individual’s obligation to society is a main theme of the Sagas.
21 August, 2009
Donkey Ride?
One of my favorites. How about a donkey ride in Paris? Yes you can - in Jardin De Ranelagh. It's just steps away from the Monet Museum.
Howard Street Bridge
Howard Street's twin steel arch-style bridge that crosses over the Jones Falls Expressway. The 979-foot (298 m) long bridge was built in 1938 by the J. E. Greiner Company to replace an earlier 19th century iron arch bridge.
20 August, 2009
19 August, 2009
Washington commanding Lafayette
An interesting perspective that I've never noticed before. A monument to Lafayette directly below the Washington Monument in Baltimore. From this perspective it appears to me as if Washington is commanding Lafayette. Makes me wonder if it was an intentional design consideration of the monument and the park layout. Read more on Wikipedia
Dreaming of Sunsets and Deep Blue Oceans
Pictures are a wonderful way to capture a memory. I can't remember what Jerry was talking about - but it might have been the sunset.
Anyway - I'm sitting here this morning thinking about the jungle, monkeys, birds and the warm surf.
Anyway - I'm sitting here this morning thinking about the jungle, monkeys, birds and the warm surf.
17 August, 2009
Honfleur Harbor - France
Wonderful place for an evening dinner and stroll
Honfleur has a picturesque 17th-century harbour ringed with 15th- and 16th-century buildings. The town dates from the 11th century and changed hands many times in the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453) between England and France.
Honfleur has a picturesque 17th-century harbour ringed with 15th- and 16th-century buildings. The town dates from the 11th century and changed hands many times in the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453) between England and France.
16 August, 2009
Courtyard at Český Krumlov Castle
A little rainy - but still very beautiful
The existence of the fountain on the IInd Courtyard of Český Krumlov Castle was first mentioned in the year 1602. The exact time of its foundation is unknown but it can probably be connected with the so-called Buchhalterie construction in 1578 (Castle No. 59 - New Burgrave\'s House).
In 1746 it was noticed that the water leaving the fountain was damaging the Mint building\'s foundation due to faulty structure. The decision was made to move the fountain farther from the Mint.
In 1996 the fountain was reconstructed with a renewed water regime, and has become a refreshing element of the IInd Castle Courtyard, especially in hot summer days.
The existence of the fountain on the IInd Courtyard of Český Krumlov Castle was first mentioned in the year 1602. The exact time of its foundation is unknown but it can probably be connected with the so-called Buchhalterie construction in 1578 (Castle No. 59 - New Burgrave\'s House).
In 1746 it was noticed that the water leaving the fountain was damaging the Mint building\'s foundation due to faulty structure. The decision was made to move the fountain farther from the Mint.
In 1996 the fountain was reconstructed with a renewed water regime, and has become a refreshing element of the IInd Castle Courtyard, especially in hot summer days.
14 August, 2009
The impressive Oberammergau
The town is filled with these Lüftlmalerei. Makes for a wonderful afternoon stroll.
Oberammergau is famous for its "Lüftlmalerei," or frescoes, of traditional Bavarian themes, fairy tales, or religious scenes found on many homes and buildings. Lüftlmalerei is common Upper Bavaria and its name may be derived from an Oberammergau house called Zum Lüftl, which was the home of facade painter Franz Seraph Zwinck (1748–1792).
Oberammergau is famous for its "Lüftlmalerei," or frescoes, of traditional Bavarian themes, fairy tales, or religious scenes found on many homes and buildings. Lüftlmalerei is common Upper Bavaria and its name may be derived from an Oberammergau house called Zum Lüftl, which was the home of facade painter Franz Seraph Zwinck (1748–1792).
10 August, 2009
View of Hohensalzburg Fortress
The 900-year-old Hohensalzburg Fortress, the city's chief landmark, is the biggest and most fully-preserved fortification in Europe. Best viewed from the world-famous Mirabell Gardens
Hohensalzburg Fortress - Museum
Construction of the fortress began in 1077 under Archbishop Gebhard von Helfenstein. Built 400 feet above the Salzach River. The city and fortress were never take by force. Although they did surrender to Napoleon.
In the museum you'll find this enactment of a scene in a defensive maneuver, with pieces of armour and weapons
In the museum you'll find this enactment of a scene in a defensive maneuver, with pieces of armour and weapons
09 August, 2009
Wieskirche - Shapes
The Wieskirche (or "church of the meadow'), in open country near Fussen and Oberammergau in southern Bavaria, has an undistinguished exterior. Inside is a miracle of light and color and swirling all encompassing decorative motifs, giving the visitor coming through the door an extraordinary feeling of welcome and joy.
- - A world history of art By Hugh Honour, John Fleming
- - A world history of art By Hugh Honour, John Fleming
08 August, 2009
The finer details at the Wieskirche
A superb example of Rococo.
Rococo is a style of 18th century French art and interior design. Rococo rooms were designed as total works of art with elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing architecture, reliefs, and wall paintings. It was largely supplanted by the Neoclassic style.
The word Rococo is seen as a combination of the French rocaille, or stone garden (refering to arranging stones in natural forms like shells), and the Italian barocco, or Baroque style. Due to Rococo love of shell-like curves and focus on decorative arts, some critics used the term to derogatively imply that the style was frivolous or merely modish; interestingly, when the term was first used in English in about 1836, it was a colloquialism meaning "old-fashioned". However, since the mid 19th century, the term has been accepted by art historians. While there is still some debate about the historical significance of the style to art in general, Rococo is now widely recognized as a major period in the development of European art.
www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Rococo#encyclopedia
Rococo is a style of 18th century French art and interior design. Rococo rooms were designed as total works of art with elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing architecture, reliefs, and wall paintings. It was largely supplanted by the Neoclassic style.
The word Rococo is seen as a combination of the French rocaille, or stone garden (refering to arranging stones in natural forms like shells), and the Italian barocco, or Baroque style. Due to Rococo love of shell-like curves and focus on decorative arts, some critics used the term to derogatively imply that the style was frivolous or merely modish; interestingly, when the term was first used in English in about 1836, it was a colloquialism meaning "old-fashioned". However, since the mid 19th century, the term has been accepted by art historians. While there is still some debate about the historical significance of the style to art in general, Rococo is now widely recognized as a major period in the development of European art.
www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Rococo#encyclopedia
07 August, 2009
Wieskirche
Can a picture ever capture the moment? Wieskirche is very special.
From wikipedia:
The pilgrimage church of Wies (German: Wieskirche) is an oval rococo church, designed in the late 1740s by Dominikus Zimmermann, who spent the last eleven years of his life in a nearby dwelling. It is located in the foothills of the Alps, the Steingaden municipality of the Weilheim-Schongau district, Bavaria, Germany. In 1738 tears were seen on a dilapidated wooden figure of the Scourged Saviour. This miracle resulted in a pilgrimage rush to see the sculpture. In 1740 a small chapel was built to house the statue, but it was soon realized that the building would be too small for the number of pilgrims it attracted, and thus Steingaden Abbey decided to commission a separate shrine. Many people who have prayed in front of the statue of Jesus on the altar have claimed that people have been miraculously cured of their diseases, which has made this church even more of a pilgrimage site.
Construction took place between 1745 and 1754, and the interior was decorated in stuccowork in the tradition of the Wessobrunner School. "Everything was done throughout the church to make the supernatural visible. Sculpture and murals combined to unleash the divine in visible form"[1].
A popular myth claims that the Bavarian state had planned to sell or demolish the rococo masterpiece during Secularization at the beginning of the 19th century, and that only protests from the local farmers saved this jewel of rococo architecture from destruction. Available sources however document that the state commission in charge clearly advocated the continuation of Wies as a pilgrimage site, in spite even of economic objections from the Steingaden abbot.[2]
The Wieskirche was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983 and underwent massive restoration in 1985-91.
From wikipedia:
The pilgrimage church of Wies (German: Wieskirche) is an oval rococo church, designed in the late 1740s by Dominikus Zimmermann, who spent the last eleven years of his life in a nearby dwelling. It is located in the foothills of the Alps, the Steingaden municipality of the Weilheim-Schongau district, Bavaria, Germany. In 1738 tears were seen on a dilapidated wooden figure of the Scourged Saviour. This miracle resulted in a pilgrimage rush to see the sculpture. In 1740 a small chapel was built to house the statue, but it was soon realized that the building would be too small for the number of pilgrims it attracted, and thus Steingaden Abbey decided to commission a separate shrine. Many people who have prayed in front of the statue of Jesus on the altar have claimed that people have been miraculously cured of their diseases, which has made this church even more of a pilgrimage site.
Construction took place between 1745 and 1754, and the interior was decorated in stuccowork in the tradition of the Wessobrunner School. "Everything was done throughout the church to make the supernatural visible. Sculpture and murals combined to unleash the divine in visible form"[1].
A popular myth claims that the Bavarian state had planned to sell or demolish the rococo masterpiece during Secularization at the beginning of the 19th century, and that only protests from the local farmers saved this jewel of rococo architecture from destruction. Available sources however document that the state commission in charge clearly advocated the continuation of Wies as a pilgrimage site, in spite even of economic objections from the Steingaden abbot.[2]
The Wieskirche was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983 and underwent massive restoration in 1985-91.
05 August, 2009
The Dome of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Prague
The interior of St. Nicholas is finely decorated with statues, paintings, and frescoes by leading artists of the day. Particularly impressive is the dome fresco from Franz Palko, showing The Celebration of the Holy Trinity, filling the 70m high dome.
Kilian Ignaz further expanded the interior by adding a huge dome supported on paired columns and vertical pendentives, extended on three sides by shallow transepts and choir. Part of a large Jesuit complex, the church stood within a large space. Christoph's undulating facade dominated the square on one side, while on the choir end, overlooking the Charles Bridge and the Old Town, Kilian Ignaz constructed a bell tower, asymmetrically, next to the dome. This unique combination creates an urban ensemble in which dome and tower dance about one another as they are experienced from different locations within the city.
The dome was completed in 1751, shortly before Kilian Ignaz died.
Kilian Ignaz further expanded the interior by adding a huge dome supported on paired columns and vertical pendentives, extended on three sides by shallow transepts and choir. Part of a large Jesuit complex, the church stood within a large space. Christoph's undulating facade dominated the square on one side, while on the choir end, overlooking the Charles Bridge and the Old Town, Kilian Ignaz constructed a bell tower, asymmetrically, next to the dome. This unique combination creates an urban ensemble in which dome and tower dance about one another as they are experienced from different locations within the city.
The dome was completed in 1751, shortly before Kilian Ignaz died.
A view of Charles Bridge
As you can see it's a VERY popular foot bridge. This photo was taken as we walked down a footpath from the Prague Castle.
The Charles Bridge s a famous historical bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of 15th century. As the only means of crossing the river Vltava (Moldau), the Charles Bridge used to be the most important connection between the Old Town, Prague Castle and adjacent areas until 1841.
The bridge is 516 meters long and nearly 10 meters wide, resting on 16 arches shielded by ice guards. It is protected by three bridge towers, two of them on the Lesser Quarter side and the third one on the Old Town side. The Old Town bridge tower is often considered to be one of the most astonishing civil gothic-style buildings in the world. The bridge is decorated by a continuous alley of 30 statues and statuaries, most of them baroque-style, erected around 1700.
The Charles Bridge s a famous historical bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of 15th century. As the only means of crossing the river Vltava (Moldau), the Charles Bridge used to be the most important connection between the Old Town, Prague Castle and adjacent areas until 1841.
The bridge is 516 meters long and nearly 10 meters wide, resting on 16 arches shielded by ice guards. It is protected by three bridge towers, two of them on the Lesser Quarter side and the third one on the Old Town side. The Old Town bridge tower is often considered to be one of the most astonishing civil gothic-style buildings in the world. The bridge is decorated by a continuous alley of 30 statues and statuaries, most of them baroque-style, erected around 1700.
04 August, 2009
Church of St Nicholas of Mala Strana in Prague
Another statue from St Nicholas. Additional history that I found on another website.
St. Nicholas Cathedral (Chram sv. Mikulase) from the Lesser Quarter in Prague has put its name into Czech and European Baroque era and is now Prague number one church of this kind. Its history is linked to Czech re-catholisation process that followed the defeat of the Hussites in the Battle of the White Mountain (1620).
The beginnings of the imposing Cathedral that we see today go back to the year 1283, when the place of worship started its existence as a parish church under the name and protection of St. Nicholas. With the change of authority in the 17th century, Baroque era began also for the Lesser Quarter and its buildings. In 1702 Kryštof Dientzenhofer himself designed the plans for the new Prague Baroque pearl. After his death it was his son, the famous Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, who completed the work and designed unique vault and robust dome that later became one of the Prague’s main landmarks. Another of his masterpieces is St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square, decorated with a superb crystal glass candelabra.
The Cathedral was added two new wings, Chapel of St. Barbara on the left of the entrance and Chapel of St. Anne on the right. The whole construction was finished in 1752 with the 80 meters high bell-tower, modified by Anselmo Lurago. Both the greenish Dome and Bell Tower are now symbols of Prague and most prominent figures of the Lesser Quarter.
St. Nicholas Cathedral (Chram sv. Mikulase) from the Lesser Quarter in Prague has put its name into Czech and European Baroque era and is now Prague number one church of this kind. Its history is linked to Czech re-catholisation process that followed the defeat of the Hussites in the Battle of the White Mountain (1620).
The beginnings of the imposing Cathedral that we see today go back to the year 1283, when the place of worship started its existence as a parish church under the name and protection of St. Nicholas. With the change of authority in the 17th century, Baroque era began also for the Lesser Quarter and its buildings. In 1702 Kryštof Dientzenhofer himself designed the plans for the new Prague Baroque pearl. After his death it was his son, the famous Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, who completed the work and designed unique vault and robust dome that later became one of the Prague’s main landmarks. Another of his masterpieces is St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square, decorated with a superb crystal glass candelabra.
The Cathedral was added two new wings, Chapel of St. Barbara on the left of the entrance and Chapel of St. Anne on the right. The whole construction was finished in 1752 with the 80 meters high bell-tower, modified by Anselmo Lurago. Both the greenish Dome and Bell Tower are now symbols of Prague and most prominent figures of the Lesser Quarter.
Church of St Nicholas of Mala Strana in Prague
There are countless beautiful churches in Prague. This is just one of them.
St Nicholas's was the result of work by an architectural dynasty: Christoph Dientzhofer built the nave, then his son, Kilian Ignaz, oversaw the construction of the dome and choir stall. His brother-in-law, Anselmo Lurago, made the steeple and interior decoration. The dome (1750) and steeple (1755) are the same height at 74 metres and look similar to the steeples of Martinville of Prague, playing hide-and-seek depending on where you look at them from. All the architects' work consisted in reducing the perspectives: concave and convex alternate from the facade in a clever mixture of lines with horizontal splits, while the pilasters, columns and niches hold statues giving vertical perspectives. The interior is in unison: the pillars are oblique, there are many trompe-l'oeils, the nave ceiling is painted ( Apotheosis of St Nicholas), the cuploa has frescos ( Glory of the Holy Trinity), as does the St Cecilia Chapel, not forgetting the statues by Platzer. Everything here shows the art of the Jesuit Counter-Reform with a richness that is breathtaking, and an ostentatious image of spectacular proliferation, that of the omnipresent and omnipotent God.
St Nicholas's was the result of work by an architectural dynasty: Christoph Dientzhofer built the nave, then his son, Kilian Ignaz, oversaw the construction of the dome and choir stall. His brother-in-law, Anselmo Lurago, made the steeple and interior decoration. The dome (1750) and steeple (1755) are the same height at 74 metres and look similar to the steeples of Martinville of Prague, playing hide-and-seek depending on where you look at them from. All the architects' work consisted in reducing the perspectives: concave and convex alternate from the facade in a clever mixture of lines with horizontal splits, while the pilasters, columns and niches hold statues giving vertical perspectives. The interior is in unison: the pillars are oblique, there are many trompe-l'oeils, the nave ceiling is painted ( Apotheosis of St Nicholas), the cuploa has frescos ( Glory of the Holy Trinity), as does the St Cecilia Chapel, not forgetting the statues by Platzer. Everything here shows the art of the Jesuit Counter-Reform with a richness that is breathtaking, and an ostentatious image of spectacular proliferation, that of the omnipresent and omnipotent God.
03 August, 2009
The view from the Tower
There are a 162 steps to the top of the Tower at Český Krumlov Castle. This window was near the top and offered a fantastic view of the town and St Vitus Church
02 August, 2009
Venus Grotto
Would you like to go for a ride in a grotto on a boat shaped like a shell?
The building is wholly artificial and was built for the king as an illustration of the First Act of Wagner's "Tannhäuser". Ludwig liked to be rowed over the lake in his golden swan-boat but at the same time he wanted his own blue grotto of Capri. Therefore 24 dynamos had been installed and so already in the time of Ludwig II it was possible to illuminate the grotto in changing colours.
The building is wholly artificial and was built for the king as an illustration of the First Act of Wagner's "Tannhäuser". Ludwig liked to be rowed over the lake in his golden swan-boat but at the same time he wanted his own blue grotto of Capri. Therefore 24 dynamos had been installed and so already in the time of Ludwig II it was possible to illuminate the grotto in changing colours.
01 August, 2009
Beinhaus (Bone House) - Hallstatt Austria
The Beinhaus (bone house) in Hallstatt dates back to twelve century AC. There are over 1200 skulls in the charnel, of them 610 have been painted in flowery designs, they are neatly stacked in rows along with next of kin and have the date of decease written on them. Since the cemetery is so small without the possibility to expand and due to the fact that cremations were in former days forbidden there was just not enough space. The graves were opened 10 - 15 years later and the skulls were removed along sometimes with other bones. The skull was cleaned and exposed to the sun and moon light for weeks until they were bleached ivory white. As one would decorate a grave with flowers the skulls were painted symbolically with a crown of flowers. This tradition began in 1720 AD. The last skull to go into the Beinhaus (Bone house) was in 1995. It is directly beside the cross. The woman died 1983; it was her last request to be stored in the Beinhaus (Bone house)
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