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Costume design by Jean Berain for a guitarist riding a snail, 17th century
One would like to see costumes like this at the Met Gala. In the second half of the 17th century a whole series of such characters was created for Italian comic operas. Mostly this was how lutenists might appear, sometimes in the guise of mermaids and nereids, enthroned upon fantastical
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Portrait of a man in a red cap and an epauletted uniform
NB! · Observations
A Portrait, Incidentally Dreadful
NB! · Coming Up · Art · London
So, on 30 November Sotheby's in London will put up works by Konchalovsky, Goncharova, Roerich, Petrov-Vodkin and a dozen or so other significant names of Russian art
So, on 30 November Sotheby's in London will put up works by Konchalovsky, Goncharova, Roerich, Petrov-Vodkin and a dozen or so other significant names of Russian art. Last year the Russian Sale brought in 40 million dollars. This year, still greater takings are expected.
Architecture · Art · London · People · Society Pages
MUAR director Likhacheva recalls Shchusev's Stalin Prizes and imperial orders
At the opening of the pre-auction exhibition for Sotheby's Russian Sale, MUAR director Elizaveta Likhacheva reminded guests that Alexey Shchusev was a four-time winner of the Stalin Prize and a holder of an order of the Holy Synod. What is meant is the Order of Saint
Society · Paris · People
Marshal Pétain, who was preparing to retire in 1914 and unexpectedly saw his career take off with the outbreak of the First World War, was given power over France at the age of 84
Marshal Pétain, who was preparing to retire in 1914 and unexpectedly saw his career take off with the outbreak of the First World War, was given power over France at the age of 84. Already prime minister at that moment, after the fall of France Pétain became a dictator. A
NB! · Art · Palaeontology · Nature
Steppe mammoth skull measuring about a metre sold for 269,000 euros
A couple of days ago this steppe mammoth skull was sold for €269,000. The price is impressive, but so are the dimensions: one metre ten by one metre twenty by one metre thirty
NB! · Archive · Art
Carel Fabritius's celebrated Goldfinch was sold on 27 February 1896 for 6,200 francs
NB! · Art · Monarchies · Nature · Humour
Louis XV's cat, General, is apparently unaware that the hare will not be getting up again
Louis XV's cat, General, is apparently unaware that the hare will not be getting up again. Painting by Jean-Baptiste Oudry
NB! · Archaeology · Museums
Skull of a young athlete crowned with a golden Olympic wreath, 1st century AD. Archaeological Museum of Agios Nikolaos
Skull of a young athlete crowned with a golden Olympic wreath, 1st century AD. Archaeological Museum of Agios Nikolaos. In the athlete's mouth lay a silver coin for Charon, so that he might ferry the soul of the deceased across the Styx
NB! · Archaeology · Museums · Observations · Humour
How do you like these conventionally attractive Neanderthals from the Moesgaard Museum of History in Denmark?
How do you like these conventionally attractive Neanderthals from the Moesgaard Museum of History in Denmark? Do you fancy a look at their tools? I think that against such a backdrop, the hand axes from Drenthe, fifty thousand years old, look considerably more interesting than a mere heap of sharpened