Art · Books · Observations
"In the novel What's Bred in the Bone by the celebrated Canadian writer Robertson Davies, there is a scene in which international experts meet in The Hague in the second half of the 1930s. Art-historian connoisseurs who have come from the USA, France, Belgium and Germany,
London · Monarchies · Observations
Incidentally, on the subject of Camilla, the potential Queen Consort, it is curious that it was originally supposed that, should Prince Charles be crowned, she would receive the title of Princess Consort, and this was connected with the special position of the late Princess Diana, chiefly in the hearts of
NB! · Books · Monarchies · Observations · Pop Culture · Humour
Can it be that the Duchess of Cornwall photographs books for her blog against a box of Matchesfashion? I do the same when I don't want my house to be the backdrop
Art · Museums · New York
Paris chooses which of three goddesses, Minerva, Venus or Juno, is to receive the golden apple. The work of the brilliant Italian sculptor of the early Renaissance Pier Jacopo Alari Bonacolsi, known by the pseudonym Antico, c. 1460–1528. Bronze, silvered and gilded. Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Architecture · Moscow · Observations · Humour
The famous bas-relief on the façade of the Nikitskaya electrical substation of the metro, designed by Fridman in 1934-35, was popular with several generations of Muscovites for its daring and its symbolism. It strikes me as an excellent opportunity to paraphrase "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of
Architecture · Geography · Moscow · Heritage
Books · Observations
My year has begun with some very pleasant news, and I hope it will please you too. The Parnassian Mockingbird has come out as an audiobook, already available on all the specialist platforms, for example on Litres, Ozon, Google Play and LiveLib. Nine hours of captivating narration from one of
Archaeology · Faith · The East · Art
Created in 2500 BC, already within the first millennium of his long life the Sphinx had sunk into the sand up to his shoulders. Time and again attempts were made to dig him out: the majestic sentinel of the pharaohs buried nearby was cleared both by Thutmose IV in the
NB! · Cinema · Observations · People · Pop Culture
Renata Litvinova is a person whom everyone adores, and not only on her birthday. Understandably so: Renata strikes straight to the heart, even when she is firing at the ceiling. The main thing is that the bullets never run out
NB! · Art · Monarchies · Observations · Paris · Humour
A most inspiring relief on a panel from the bathroom of Louis XV. The mood is Versailles. What these nude athletes are up to, I think you have guessed for yourselves: they are staging a highly original scene of a swimming lesson. The child, as is only proper, strives to
NB! · London · Monarchies · Society
Buckingham Palace announces that today Elizabeth II, aged 94, and Prince Philip, aged 99, received the coronavirus vaccine. This photograph is the official portrait of the royal couple, released in 2020
NB! · Madrid · Museums · Nature · Humour
The National Archaeological Museum of Spain has been given a dusting. For the first time in 10 years, snow has fallen in Madrid. The official announcement: the museum is closed on account of a climatic cataclysm. We would put it differently: what a stroke of luck!