Friday, 22 January 2010
The American Leonardo da Vinci
The story of this painting starts in 1919 with the marriage of a car salesman from the midwest of the U.S. named Harry Hahn to a young Frenchwoman, Andree Lardoux. Miss Lardoux's godmother Louise Montaut, gave the painting to the couple as a wedding present. At the time, the painting was thought to be by Leonardo. Even so, the couple decided to sell it to the Kansas City Art Institute for at least $250,000. When a reporter from the New York World got wind of the transaction, he telephoned the notorious art dealer Joseph Duveen. It was one in the morning, and a sleepy Mr. Duveen answered the phone. When asked what he thought of the portrait, he instantly pronounced it a fake without ever having seen it, claiming that the picture "was a copy, where hundreds of these have been made and other Leonardo subjects and offered in the market as genuine." His hasty response set off a much-publicized legal battle between the Hahns and the Duveen. There is a book about it called " The American Leonardo" that was published last year and chronicles the history of the painting. The case went to trial in New York Supreme Court on February 6th 1929 and according to " The American Leonardo" it was a media zoo, with reporters and members of the public lining up each morning to get into the courtroom. On Mr. Duveen's side, were experts who argued that the painting was a fake, while the dealer himself said that his opinion was formed by "his study of all the great pictures of the world". The Hahns tried to prove their point with their own battery of experts and with what scientific tools were available at the time. But the case ended in a hung jury, and Mr. Duveen finally settled out of court, paying the Hahns $60,000 in damages. Last year, the can of worms was opened once again, when the Hahn's daughter, Jacqueline, curious about the painting that has been so much part of her family history, took it to the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles so conservators and experts could examine it. The curator at the Getty Museum Scott J. Schaefer said that the painting he had read so much about and thought to be Lucrezia Crivelli, a mistress of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan- was not what he expected when it was unwrapped. He thought it was much better than what they thought it would be and he said it wasn't just some copy of a painting but a skillful interpretation. Pigment analysis also revealed the use of lead-tin yellow, a colour employed in the 17th century that re-appeared again only in the 19th century. These findings suggest that the painting called : " La Belle Ferroniere " was probably painted before 1750. An expert Mr. Watchter informed the curator of the Getty Museum that after that date, it would have been hard to believe that lead-tin yellow would have been used: " because the formula for it was lost " When learning about the pigments, Mr. Scott J. Schaefer, curator of the Getty Museum said: "Suddenly I had to re-think things. It has been painted earlier than I imagined" still, he said, the mystery of the portrait only adds to its romance. " It's still a conundrum"
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Haiti Earthquake
France has accused the U.S. of occupying Haiti on Monday as thousands of American troops flooded into the country to take charge of aid efforts. Medicine Sans Frontiers was warned that is running short of vital medical supplies in the ground after five of its cargo planes were barred from landing in Haiti by the U.S. authorities. The U.S. military who are controlling the airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital have agreed to prioritise the landing of humanitarian aid flights, over military reinforcements as the needs for supplies grows ever more desperate. France has critized U.S. relief efforts in Haiti claiming the aid programmes should be about helping the country, not occupying it.
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Yupee !
The year is surely starting really well. Has anyone heard the latest news yet ? Jonathan Ross has quit the BBC. About time too ! There is much speculation about what is going to happen to the corporation if there is a change of government this year. Would the Conservatives tolerate the huge, costly bureaucracy, where there are job titles which do not exist in any other broadcasting system in the world?
What the BBC needs really desperately is a Director-General who fulfills the function of an editor, as the job was originally envisaged by founding Director General, John Reith. He/she should be answerable as it was in the past, before Tony Blair tinkered with useless reforms to a chairman and board of governors.
What the BBC needs really desperately is a Director-General who fulfills the function of an editor, as the job was originally envisaged by founding Director General, John Reith. He/she should be answerable as it was in the past, before Tony Blair tinkered with useless reforms to a chairman and board of governors.
Friday, 1 January 2010
HAPPY NEW YEAR !
1st of January 2010, the beginning of the first decade of the new millennium. It is so perplexing looking back to realize the subject of " time flying " as these 10 years feel like if it was yesterday. So where does the time go ? and why does it seem to speed up with every passing year ? Some people say that when we are young, a day is a huge amount of our life.
With each day and year that elapses, however, that day becomes a tiny fraction of one's life.
It sounds simple enough. Perception of time is also distorted when we do out-of-the-ordinary activities. Some neurologists say, to make time seem longer, introduce novelty into our lives. Take a different route to do the shopping or shop at another place, use your other hand to move the mouse in your computer and if you are adventurous travel somewhere different, you could also try writing with the left hand or vise-versa. I hope you all had a really good turn of the year!
With each day and year that elapses, however, that day becomes a tiny fraction of one's life.
It sounds simple enough. Perception of time is also distorted when we do out-of-the-ordinary activities. Some neurologists say, to make time seem longer, introduce novelty into our lives. Take a different route to do the shopping or shop at another place, use your other hand to move the mouse in your computer and if you are adventurous travel somewhere different, you could also try writing with the left hand or vise-versa. I hope you all had a really good turn of the year!
Thursday, 24 December 2009
Christmas
Just how wise were those three wise men? If they had only been more discreet when they spoke to King Herod, he might never have ordered that terrible slaughter of the innocents. It can't have been comforting for Jesus to know that so many babies died just so that he could be the only child with a divine pedigree. Mind you, as all the others were killed, it ruled out any possibility that the magi had picked the wrong kid. As we know, Christmas has pagan roots. When Christianity became the official religion of the Roman empire, it incorporated several ancient festivals and pagan traditions.
* Saturnalia
The customs of gift-giving, indulgent feasting and having fun comes from this Roman festival Saturnalia - which was celebrated around 17th of December. Saturn, to whom the festival was dedicated, was the Roman God of agriculture and plenty. Presents symbolised the redistribuion of wealth from rich to poor during the season of greatest hardship and the rich would lay on big feasts to feed their poorer neighbours.
* Mithras
The ancient festival to mark the solstice on 25th of December was to celebrate Mithras, the Roman God of Light. Traditionally the festival marked the renewal of hope and is believed to have been taken up by Christians as the birthday of Jesus around the fourth century.
* New Year's Eve
Decorating the home with greenery is today seen as a Christmas tradition, but originated from the Roman celebration for New Year's Eve. Dedicated to the two-faced God Janus (who looked both forward and backward ) Romans would have torch-lit processions, sing songs, have their fortunes told, give presents and decorate their homes with greenery to symbolise new life. Other ways of celebrating Christmas were adopted more recently. and were once peculiar to northern Europe. Typical of these, is the Yule log, which is believed to have arrived in Britain only in the 17th century. One theory is that it originated in the Germanic paganism that was practiced across northern Europe before Christianity; others argue it came from Anglo-Saxon paganism,
practiced in England in early medieval times. The Yule Log was seen as a protective amulet and also a source of rivalry between neighbours.
* Saturnalia
The customs of gift-giving, indulgent feasting and having fun comes from this Roman festival Saturnalia - which was celebrated around 17th of December. Saturn, to whom the festival was dedicated, was the Roman God of agriculture and plenty. Presents symbolised the redistribuion of wealth from rich to poor during the season of greatest hardship and the rich would lay on big feasts to feed their poorer neighbours.
* Mithras
The ancient festival to mark the solstice on 25th of December was to celebrate Mithras, the Roman God of Light. Traditionally the festival marked the renewal of hope and is believed to have been taken up by Christians as the birthday of Jesus around the fourth century.
* New Year's Eve
Decorating the home with greenery is today seen as a Christmas tradition, but originated from the Roman celebration for New Year's Eve. Dedicated to the two-faced God Janus (who looked both forward and backward ) Romans would have torch-lit processions, sing songs, have their fortunes told, give presents and decorate their homes with greenery to symbolise new life. Other ways of celebrating Christmas were adopted more recently. and were once peculiar to northern Europe. Typical of these, is the Yule log, which is believed to have arrived in Britain only in the 17th century. One theory is that it originated in the Germanic paganism that was practiced across northern Europe before Christianity; others argue it came from Anglo-Saxon paganism,
practiced in England in early medieval times. The Yule Log was seen as a protective amulet and also a source of rivalry between neighbours.
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Leonardo's Codices
Leonardo da Vinci is one of the outstanding figures of the Rennaissance and of all time. An entirely self-taught intellectual giant, he was endlessly curious about the physical world.
His amazing notebooks reveal the breadth of his research into areas as diverse as anatomy, architecture, botany, geometry, engineering, mathematics physics, painting, including his extraordinarily understanding of what the future would bring like robots, airplanes in anticipation of modern technology.
During his life, Leonardo produced thousands of pages of notes, sketches and designs 'about anatomy and other interesting things ' (extract from a letter of an agent for the Duke of Ferrara) these pages are called codices, manuscript pages that are bound together in a book form. However, Leonardo's manuscripts were not always grouped together in this way.
Although Leonardo had organized his papers prior to his bequest to his student, Francesco Melzi, the manuscripts have unfortunately not been maintained in that manner. Melzi's heirs were terrible curators. Individual pages were sold chaply to collectors. Folios were re-arranged and separated. The individual that did the most damage was a sculptor from the court of King Phillip IV of Spain. His name was Pompeo Leoni. In an attempt to sort artistic drawings from technical drawings, he disassembled, re-organized, rebound and in some cases completely lost many of Leonardo's papers.
Amazingly, some of the documents were so completely lost, that they weren't found again until 1966 ! What a year that was for the National Library of Madrid ! They found two bound manuscripts, which are now referred to as 'Madrid I and Madrid II ' At present, approximately 5,000 pages are accounted for, in various museums and libraries. I will mention a brief resume of a few of the 20 Leonardo's Codices. For me, the most startling is the CODEX ATLANTICUS. This is the largest collection of Leonardo's manuscripts that has ever been assembled in a series of 12 leather bound books. Within this collection, you can find some of his designs for automatons or robots. Of particular interest, are the pages on gliders and flying machines. Most of Leonardo's aereal machines were designed after he studied birds. In his notes he recorded, " The bird is an instrument functioning according to mathematical laws, and man has the power to reproduce an instrument like this, with all its movements". There is written evidence in this codice, that Leonardo may have flown one of his gliders when he wrote:
" When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there, you will always long to return '
Leonardo built a working model of one of his flying machines and on January 2, 1496, he recorded in his notes that he was going to attempt to fly it the next day. It is unknown whether he did try it or not, but judging by what he later wrote on a note to himself to try any more flying experiments over a lake where he would be less likely to be injured in a landing. Suggests that maybe he came down with a painful thump on the ground as later on this same Codice Atlanticus he has drawn a design for a parachute which might have been conceived to allow for the safe escape of ny pilot from a flying device.
This Atlanticus Codice also includes studies for some of his paintings like The Battle of Anghiari of which we talked about earlier and where recently, an Italian professor has claimed that this painting is behind Vasari's other battle painting.
THE CODEX FORSTER
One fascinating element of this Codex is information that lead Prof. Alessandro Vezzosi, director of the Museo ideale of Vinci, to discover that Leonardo had developed one of the original synthethic plastics. The material was organic, non-toxic and unbreakable. Prof. Vezzosi has recreated the materials based on notes from this Forster Codex. The Forster manuscripts were lost for a number of years. When they resurfaced at the end of the 19th Century, they were purchased by Earl Edward George Lytton, and subsequently inherited by John Forster and it was finally bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1876 and it remains there to this day.
THE MADRID CODICES
There are two. One and Two, which are bound in red Moroccan leather and these codices are an engineer's delight, full of widgets, gadgets, gears, and inventions, dated between 1490 - 1496. Madrid II, is primarily a treatise on Geometry, and was written by Leonardo between 1503- 1505. Although these manuscripts thought to be lost, they resurfaced in 1966. The manuscript now resides at the National Library in Madrid.
CODEX ARUNDEL
This codex aludes to the properties of water and it even has a description and a drawing of a pre-historic sea-monster. This codex is only rivaled in size and scope only by the Codex Atlanticus, since it covers Art, science, and technology in addition to studies in geometry, weights and architectural projects for the Royal residence of the King of France. It currently resides in the British Museum.
CODEX LEICESTER
It was purchased by Bill Gates for $30.8 million. This manuscript dates from 1506-1510, it covers a wide varity of topics. It only has 72 pages and this is the only manuscript that's in private hands. So we cannot see it.
His amazing notebooks reveal the breadth of his research into areas as diverse as anatomy, architecture, botany, geometry, engineering, mathematics physics, painting, including his extraordinarily understanding of what the future would bring like robots, airplanes in anticipation of modern technology.
During his life, Leonardo produced thousands of pages of notes, sketches and designs 'about anatomy and other interesting things ' (extract from a letter of an agent for the Duke of Ferrara) these pages are called codices, manuscript pages that are bound together in a book form. However, Leonardo's manuscripts were not always grouped together in this way.
Although Leonardo had organized his papers prior to his bequest to his student, Francesco Melzi, the manuscripts have unfortunately not been maintained in that manner. Melzi's heirs were terrible curators. Individual pages were sold chaply to collectors. Folios were re-arranged and separated. The individual that did the most damage was a sculptor from the court of King Phillip IV of Spain. His name was Pompeo Leoni. In an attempt to sort artistic drawings from technical drawings, he disassembled, re-organized, rebound and in some cases completely lost many of Leonardo's papers.
Amazingly, some of the documents were so completely lost, that they weren't found again until 1966 ! What a year that was for the National Library of Madrid ! They found two bound manuscripts, which are now referred to as 'Madrid I and Madrid II ' At present, approximately 5,000 pages are accounted for, in various museums and libraries. I will mention a brief resume of a few of the 20 Leonardo's Codices. For me, the most startling is the CODEX ATLANTICUS. This is the largest collection of Leonardo's manuscripts that has ever been assembled in a series of 12 leather bound books. Within this collection, you can find some of his designs for automatons or robots. Of particular interest, are the pages on gliders and flying machines. Most of Leonardo's aereal machines were designed after he studied birds. In his notes he recorded, " The bird is an instrument functioning according to mathematical laws, and man has the power to reproduce an instrument like this, with all its movements". There is written evidence in this codice, that Leonardo may have flown one of his gliders when he wrote:
" When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there, you will always long to return '
Leonardo built a working model of one of his flying machines and on January 2, 1496, he recorded in his notes that he was going to attempt to fly it the next day. It is unknown whether he did try it or not, but judging by what he later wrote on a note to himself to try any more flying experiments over a lake where he would be less likely to be injured in a landing. Suggests that maybe he came down with a painful thump on the ground as later on this same Codice Atlanticus he has drawn a design for a parachute which might have been conceived to allow for the safe escape of ny pilot from a flying device.
This Atlanticus Codice also includes studies for some of his paintings like The Battle of Anghiari of which we talked about earlier and where recently, an Italian professor has claimed that this painting is behind Vasari's other battle painting.
THE CODEX FORSTER
One fascinating element of this Codex is information that lead Prof. Alessandro Vezzosi, director of the Museo ideale of Vinci, to discover that Leonardo had developed one of the original synthethic plastics. The material was organic, non-toxic and unbreakable. Prof. Vezzosi has recreated the materials based on notes from this Forster Codex. The Forster manuscripts were lost for a number of years. When they resurfaced at the end of the 19th Century, they were purchased by Earl Edward George Lytton, and subsequently inherited by John Forster and it was finally bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1876 and it remains there to this day.
THE MADRID CODICES
There are two. One and Two, which are bound in red Moroccan leather and these codices are an engineer's delight, full of widgets, gadgets, gears, and inventions, dated between 1490 - 1496. Madrid II, is primarily a treatise on Geometry, and was written by Leonardo between 1503- 1505. Although these manuscripts thought to be lost, they resurfaced in 1966. The manuscript now resides at the National Library in Madrid.
CODEX ARUNDEL
This codex aludes to the properties of water and it even has a description and a drawing of a pre-historic sea-monster. This codex is only rivaled in size and scope only by the Codex Atlanticus, since it covers Art, science, and technology in addition to studies in geometry, weights and architectural projects for the Royal residence of the King of France. It currently resides in the British Museum.
CODEX LEICESTER
It was purchased by Bill Gates for $30.8 million. This manuscript dates from 1506-1510, it covers a wide varity of topics. It only has 72 pages and this is the only manuscript that's in private hands. So we cannot see it.
Friday, 20 November 2009
Leonardo da Vinci and the church
In the year 1492, Italy faced troublesome years ahead as the death of Lorenzo de Medici threw the nation's political system off balance and paved the way for an invasion by the French. That August in Rome, Rodrigo Borgia became Pope and Christopher Columbus put out to sea to set foot in the New World just over two months later. In April 1492, Lorenzo de Medici, the powerful and highly respected ruler of Leonardo's native Florence, lay dying. When lightening struck the cathedral dome, the extraordinary Dominican preacher, Girolamo Savonarola took it for an omen, thundering at his congregation ' Behold the sword of the Lord, swift and sure over the peoples of the earth ! ' and he warned the Florentines that terrible times lay ahead for the church and the state.
By 1527 Rome was ransacked by German troops, while Michelangelo worked for the Medici in Florence. Pope Clement VII was held prisoner and was soon to face another crisis - Henry VIII, desperate for a male heir, wanted to divorce his wife, and if the Pope refused his permission the dominion of the Catholic Church in England was at risk.
Against all this historical background, here we are in the year 2009. Now the Vatican is openly ackowledging extra-terrestrials beings associated with Jesus Christ ! The same church which squashed other religions in the New World as heathen.
By 1527 Rome was ransacked by German troops, while Michelangelo worked for the Medici in Florence. Pope Clement VII was held prisoner and was soon to face another crisis - Henry VIII, desperate for a male heir, wanted to divorce his wife, and if the Pope refused his permission the dominion of the Catholic Church in England was at risk.
Against all this historical background, here we are in the year 2009. Now the Vatican is openly ackowledging extra-terrestrials beings associated with Jesus Christ ! The same church which squashed other religions in the New World as heathen.
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