I hope my U.S. friends had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I always wonder how you do it, with Thanksgiving so close to Christmas. Both times require a lot of preparation, so my hat goes off to you all.
Earlier this year, I made my way to Toronto and I thought I'd share a few pics. I saw a painting by Rubens that the AGO recently acquired for 150 million dollars. I was vastly overwhelmed by the subject matter, so I didn't take a picture of it. However, with that said, it was amazing, vivid and looked like it had been painted yesterday.
"The Lady of Shallot" by Tennyson a favourite poem of mine has, thankfully, been painted so beautifully by John William Waterhouse. I am not sure how many he painted in that series, but they are all wonderful.
'I am Half-Sick of Shadows,' said the Lay of Shallot.
Click here to see a clearer version.
"On either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the wold and meet the sky;
And thro' the field the road runs by
To many-tower'd Camelot;
And up and down the people go,
Gazing where the lilies blow
Round an island there below,
The island of Shalott."
Tennyson
Loreena McKennitt's song "The Lady of Shallot." You can listen here.
Monet
Lady with Soup. Picasso ~ Blue Period
* * *
I love to imagine what the palace was like.
I made it to the O'Keefee exhibit with only a day or two to spare before the closing date. Pictures were prohibited. However, this wonderful photo covered the wall at the end of the show. And people were lining up to have their picture taken with Georgia.
* * *
My orchid has been blooming for more than two months!
In keeping with my usual winter habits, I've planted a few Amaryllis bulbs. I should have one in bloom next week.
* * *
"I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I never let that stop me from a single thing I wanted to do."
Georgia O'Keeffe
Cultivate your dreams.
'Til next time. . .
6 comments:
This post is filled with wondrous images, lovely Dixie. How wonderful to be able to walk around and drink in the paintings of Georgia O'Keeffe; a momentous occasion indeed. I too love Greek sculptures and looking upon an original Monet painting is always a most wondrous thing. Love the photo of your orchid and love the quote!
Hi Dixie so glad that you visited my blog this week because it gave me a chance to meet you and see these beautiful works of art. Maybe we'll see you for Mosaic Monday next week?
Maggie
Hi Dixie
I agree with Maggie in her comment above--I'm glad you commented on my blog so I could find yours. I enjoyed seeing all the exquisite art you showed. I also like Georgia O'Keefe's paintings and hope to visit her museum in Santa Fe in the near future. I found the quote by her that you ended this post with so powerful!
What a wonderful post today, Dixie. 'The Lady of Shallot' and the picture of Georgia O'Keefe are especially appealing to me. I have read everything I can get my hands on about O'Keefe, including her life story. I'm at a place in my life, and have been for some time, where I love her desert paintings, the animal skull, where once I loved only her luscious flowers (!)It was my dream to go to Santa Fe, New Mexico to the art gallery (or museum?) there with her paintings. She lived to a grand age, loving a much younger man. OMG How I love THAT! Love, Joannie
Absolutely amazing! Must have been an wonderful experience for an artist like you. So much inspiration.
-Soma
150 million dollars ... what would Rubens think? Your orchid is luminous!
Post a Comment