Art · Observations · Humour
The Sculptor, 1964. By the American realist painter John Koch (1909-1978). When the model quite literally gives off fire: having taken the measurements of his nude sitter, the master has nothing left to do but light a cigarette with shaking hands, never letting go of the callipers. I simply
London · Monarchies · Observations · Mores · Humour
On the well-worn anecdote about how at Queen Elizabeth II's reception in 1961 Yury Gagarin, having drunk a cup of tea with lemon, fished out the slice of lemon and ate it, there is one clarification. Such an incident did indeed occur, but the man in question
Books · Moscow · Museums · Mores · Humour
When you hear of a ‘new’ format of portable smoking systems, remember this German smoking pipe of the mid-19th century, made of porcelain, wood, metal and textile. The piece is from the collection of the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve. Something of the kind may well have been puffed by the
NB! · Cinema · Observations · Pop Culture · Humour
Why the ring straight away? Better we destroy Pendalf's gizmos
NB! · Archaeology · Museums · Observations · New York · Humour
It seems the Metropolitan Museum's holdings have yielded the answer to how a centaur wears trousers after all, courtesy of a bronze statuette of a centaur and a man from 750 BC. Or is this the wrong sort of centaur?
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NB! · Art · Observations · Humour
Portrait of a three-year-old boy in a ruffled gorget, with a large hat, a parrot and a little dog. 1644. So small, and already weary of the conventions of this mortal world
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Cinema · Monarchies · Observations · Mores · Humour
On Josephine's birthday, let us recall the hilariously funny American melodrama "Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story", with a young Armand Assante as the Emperor. It is a miniseries, so it will see you through several evenings. Do take note of the costumes, hairstyles and make-