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Mark Twain and Cats
Art · Museums · Observations · Paris
Exhibition “Degas in Black and White” at the National Library of France: 160 rarely shown works
Two in a box. My favourite drawing from the exhibition "Degas in Black and White", drawn from the collection of the Department of Prints and Photography of the National Library of France. In all, the exhibition presents 160 rarely shown works by Edgar Degas: etchings, lithographs, drawings in
NB! · Art · Pop Culture · Humour
A Meissen candelabrum of 1790 on seeing grocery prices in 2023
Books · London · Monarchies · Observations · Humour
Queen Camilla's book blog grows into a festival at Hampton Court near London
Queen Camilla's modest, not especially talented book blog has grown into a book festival of its own at Hampton Court, the English kings' country palace on the outskirts of London. It stands on the left bank of the River Thames. The festival bears the name of the
Faith · Art · Observations · Humour
Della Robbia relief of Adam and Eve, made in Florence in 1515
On first seeing Giovanni della Robbia's Adam and Eve, I was much amused to find that the serpent-tempter has, quite literally, Eve's face. This polychrome relief in glazed terracotta, illustrating the biblical parable of Adam and Eve, was made in Florence in 1515. Its details
The East · Books · Observations · Humour
Erika Fatland writes that in Uzbekistan the very first English-speaking person she met told her that Alexander the Great was an Uzbek
Erika Fatland writes that in Uzbekistan the very first English-speaking person she met told her that Alexander the Great was an Uzbek. I am immediately reminded of the tale that the Ark came to rest somewhere in the environs of the Kazakh city of Taraz, and, of course, of
NB! · Archive · Art · People
Valentin Serov at the Age of 8
Art · Monarchies · Museums · Nature
A Plant-Made Replica of Elizabeth II’s Coronation Robe Is on Show at Sandringham House
Sandringham House is displaying a replica of Elizabeth II's coronation robe made from plants. Twenty-four florists selected a variety of leaves and blooms so that they could be arranged into a robe and patterns closely resembling the royal originals. Pampas grass, a great many cereal grasses, ferns,
Coming Up · Museums · Society · Paris · Society Pages
Macron and Mattarella at the opening of the exhibition “Naples in Paris” at the Louvre
Little Macron with the President of Italy, 81-year-old Sergio Mattarella, before the Mona Lisa. They pledge allegiance to great art on the occasion of the opening of the exhibition from the Capodimonte Museum at the Louvre, "Naples in Paris". Not long ago, relations between France and
Aristocracy · Monarchies · Observations
Descendants of Montezuma II became Spanish grandees and Dukes of Tultengo
You may marvel along with me, if you too had no idea that the descendants of Montezuma Xocoyotzin, the last Aztec emperor, exist today as a European aristocratic family. They bear the title of Dukes of Montezuma de Tultengo. In all, Montezuma II had between 19 and 150 children by
Art · Museums · People
Repin's last self-portrait of 1920 and the artist's hard life in Kuokkala
Repin painted his last self-portrait in 1920, at the age of 76. Those years proved a very hard time in his life. His wife had been dead for some years, and for some years he had been cut off from family and friends by borders: after the revolution the