Abandoned Picasso…

Pablo Picasso was known for reusing canvases,  and would layer on more than  13 coats of paint to add texture and revise the original work.  There is a hidden portrait of a man behind The Blue Room  (1901) , and he transformed a painted-over landscape into The Crouching Woman  (1902).

New X-ray and infrared imaging technologies have allowed art historians and conservators to better reconstruct an artist’s work.   Still Life,  a Cubist rendering of a guitar, wine bottle and compote,  masks an  entirely separate  still life  painted in a neoclassical style,  not the blocky,  grid-like design of the 1922 over-painting.

 

 

Two Laughing Boys…

…the masterwork by 17th Century Dutch golden age artist Frans Hals has  been stolen  from the  Hofje van Mevrouw van Aerden museum in Leerdam for the third time.   It was previously stolen from the same museum in 2011 and 1988, being recovered after six months and three years, respectively.

Dutch art detective Arthur Brand  is on the hunt,  but three thefts from the same place strikes me as rather suspicious   I trust Mr. Brand will discover it quickly and return it,  but in the meantime,  someone should find out why it appears to be relatively easy to steal from this museum,.

 

 

Sabo skewers Schiff…

The street artist has put his sights on Rep. Adam Schiff by creating a new series of  impeachment-themed posters parodying the long running Showtime series Shameless,  and placing them throughout Schiff’s district in Los Angeles. It’s not hard to figure out that Sabo is no fan of the impeachment manager.

 

 

Da vinci portrait?

I’m no artist,  and certainly not an art historian,  so I have no idea whether this  is actually Leonardo da Vinci,  but I find it rather convincing.   What is astonishing is that the sketch was discovered by Martin Clayton, head of prints and drawings at the Royal Collection,  while he was examining papers stored in Windsor Castle.

 

Easter 2019…

First we begin with  a list of Easter candy,  ranked from best to worst by PureWow.   I seldom eat candy any more,  but I don’t have a major quibble with the rankings.

Once again I lack an invitation to the White House Egg Roll,  but I’m sure the 30,000 or so guests won’t miss me a bit on Monday.    But I’m getting a close up sneak peek at the 2019 Commemorative Egg which will be presented to the First Lady.   If you’re not familiar with the art of quilling,  it involves tiny strips of rolled up paper,  fine motor control,  some artistic talent, and a whole bunch of patience.  This year’s egg is quite beautiful,  as you can  see here,  and I hope the weather is perfect.   If by some chance any of the 7,000 eggs aren’t claimed,  they will be taken to local food banks.

NOTE:  I’ll be adding to this post throughout the day, as there are generally some fine photos or statements to share, so check back.   In the meantime,  a  Blessed Easter  to you all.   As usual,  terrorism  has not taken a holiday.

UPDATE:  If you don’t quite understand the mission of Jesus,  Trevor Thomas makes it clear  in this piece.   Nicholas Frankovich explains the suffering of the cross.   You might also appreciate  some thoughts  of Kathryn Jean Lopez on Good Friday.   And the Poles should remember it is Easter and  get over  themselves.

Doodle dress…

This Texas  art teacher  found an astonishing way to inspire her students.  Our educational system would be so much better if we had more teachers like Rebecca Bonner,  and the students would certainly enjoy school much more.

 

 

Paint by numbers…

Do you remember those kits?  If you had good fine motor control and perhaps just a smidgen of artistic talent,  you could turn out something pretty decent.    Dan Robbins,  the artist who created the first paint-by-numbers pictures and helped turn the kits into an American sensation during the 1950s,  has died  at age 93.

His efforts were panned by many art critics,  but the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History celebrates his creative achievement,  which is a lot more than can be said for any of the critics,  isn’t it?

 

Art wins…

A federal judge has  suspended enforcement  of Mount Dora, Florida’s fines against the owners of a home painted with Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” theme,  ruling that such punishment would cause “immediate and irreparable injury” to the owners.

The city has gone from saying it didn’t care how the owners painted the wall on their property, to saying the house had to match, to levying large fines.   Constitutionally stupid,  and very bad publicity for a town which prides itself on its artsy features.

 

 

 

Chinese snow festival…

Snow sculptures are beautiful to look at,  but likely brutal to execute.   This festival  in China attract millions of visitors despite temperatures near zero.

 

Valentine’s 2018…

I treated myself to a mini-spa session this morning,  since I do not need to be eating chocolate.   I hope all of you are celebrating Valentine’s Day in whatever way pleases you.   you can start by finding the  heart hidden  in this brainteaser of a herd of elephants.

Here is  Debby Witt’s collection of links for this special occasion.

UPDATE:  And we still are  not rid of   His Oneness and Our Lady of Perpetual Dissatisfaction.

UPDATE:  Yet another progressive school district  gets backlash  from parents.

UPDATE:  Do you know the  true origins  of this special day?