A vast torch-lit palace beside a river of fiery lava under a stormy sky, with a warrior holding a shield on a rock in the foreground.

Art · Moscow · Observations · Humour

John Martin’s 1841 painting “Pandemonium”, after Milton’s poem

When you learn that from tomorrow Moscow is once again at +30 and above. Well, here is a painting by John Martin, not the science-fiction writer, mind you, but the Romantic painter, dated 1841. It is called Pandemonium. Yes, yes, that very capital of hell in Milton's

Art · Moscow · Museums · Observations

The Darwin Museum is a most interesting place in its own right, but the way objects of contemporary art have been so carefully and organically integrated into its display, overturning epistemological foundations and focusing attention on…

The Darwin Museum is a most interesting place in its own right, but quite another story is the way objects of contemporary art have been so carefully and organically integrated into its display, overturning epistemological foundations and focusing attention on unnatural history, turning the space into a modern alchemical showcase

Art · Moscow · Museums · Observations · Science · Humour

Monster skeleton at the Darwin Museum is an artwork by Masha Bogoraz

Good Lord, What Are You? The Darwin Museum has acquired the skeleton of some unimaginable monster. According to the legend, the artefact was discovered by Darwin in the Galápagos Islands and then brought to the American Museum of Natural History, where it was unearthed by a Russian scholar, Vladimir Bogoraz,

Sculpted bust of a bearded man with curly hair and a bowed head, set against red fabric and an ochre wall.

NB! · Faith · Art · Observations

Sculpture of Saint Paul by François Marchand, Made Around 1540

A sculpture of Saint Paul of incredible beauty by François Marchand, c. 1540. What a strong, expressive scar on the face, and what a serene pose

NB! · Cinema · Observations · Humour

I hardly know which of these rare shots is the more impressive: Roman legionaries on the approaches to Hadrian's Wall, or French infantry at Waterloo?

Coming Up · Observations · Society

First presidential culture grant competition draws 4,000 prospective participants in two weeks

Remember the presidential grant competition for cultural projects? The first figures are in: within two weeks, 4,000 people had already expressed a wish to take part in the first grant competition in the sphere of culture, art and the creative industries. The submission of applications opened on 15 June

Observations · Pop Culture · Humour

I hope my analogies will not unduly trouble anyone, but judge for yourselves: the bird-catcher Papageno from "The Magic Flute", especially as played by Lucien Fugère, is the very image of Ernie the Giant Chicken from "Family Guy", locked in combat with…

I hope my analogies will not unduly trouble anyone, but judge for yourselves: the bird-catcher Papageno from "The Magic Flute", especially as played by Lucien Fugère, is the very image of Ernie the Giant Chicken from "Family Guy", locked in combat with Peter - well, let

Archive · Art · Observations · Humour

Baritone Fouger sang Papageno at 74 and kept performing after the age of 80

Expectation and reality: Jacques Drésa's costume design for Papageno the bird-catcher in Mozart's "The Magic Flute", and the same costume realised for Lucien Fugère in the 1922 production of the opera. To my mind, Papageno looks far more striking in the flesh. Do

Museums · Observations · Society

Well, today on his annual phone-in Putin announced a "Pushkin Card" for young people aged 14 to 22, due to come into operation as early as the autumn

Well, today on his annual phone-in Putin announced a "Pushkin Card" for young people aged 14 to 22, due to come into operation as early as the autumn. The card is promised a balance of 3,000 roubles. For some period, until next year or thereabouts, it

Faith · Observations · People · Rome

Pope Francis congratulated Benedict XVI on 70 years since his priestly ordination

Yesterday the 85-year-old Pope Francis I congratulated his predecessor and good friend, His Holiness Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus, on the 70th anniversary of his priestly ordination. Benedict is now 94; he lives in a monastery on the territory of the Vatican and prays unceasingly for the Holy Church.

NB! · Monarchies · Observations · Pop Culture

Yesterday was the birthday of Henry VIII of England, who, one suspects, may be the most frequently invoked ruler in popular culture, somewhere in the vicinity of Genghis Khan, King Arthur and Caesar

Monarchies · Museums · Observations · Science · Paris

Passemant astronomical clock stops at Versailles on 21 June 2021

An ominous sign? At Versailles, the Passemant perpetual clock has stopped. This famous astronomical clock, acquired by Louis XV on the recommendation of the French Academy of Sciences, is supposed to display dates up to the last day of the year 9999, but something has gone wrong.. The clockmakers of