The Magic of the Cities.

Zen promotes the rediscovery of the obvious, which is so often lost in its familiarity and simplicity. It sees the miraculous in the common and magic in our everyday surroundings. When we are not rushed, and our minds are unclouded by conceptualizations, a veil will sometimes drop, introducing the viewer to a world unseen since childhood. ~ John Greer

Thursday, August 12, 2010

The Dreamers

Musée du Louvre
The Winged Victory of Samothrace C. 190 BC Provenance: Island of Samothrace (northern Aegean)
Grey Lartos marble (boat); Parian marble (statue)
H. 3.28 m
The ancient Greeks had the delightful idea of representing Victory as a young woman with wings, an image given particularly awe-inspring form in the “Winged Victory of Samothrace”.
 

Aphrodite, known as the "Venus de Milo"This graceful statue of a goddess has intrigued and fascinated since its discovery on the island of Melos in 1820. Is it Aphrodite, who was often portrayed half-naked, or the sea goddess Amphitrite, who was venerated on Milo? The statue reflects sculptural research during the late Hellenistic Period: classical in essence, with innovatory features such as the spiral composition, the positioning in space, and the fall of the drapery over the hips.
Hermaphroditos Asleep
The ambivalence and voluptuous curves of this figure of Hermaphroditos, who lies asleep on a mattress sculpted by Bernini, are still a source of fascination today. His body merged with that of the nymph Salmacis, whose advances he had rejected, Hermaphroditos, son of Hermes and Aphrodite, is represented as a bisexed figure. The original that inspired this figure would have dated from the second century BC, reflecting the late Hellenistic taste for the theatrical.
Bacchus
Roman, Imperial.  2nd Century AD
Portrait d'Antinoüs en Osiris
130 ap. .J.-C.
Potrait of man from the time of Emperor Claude
40-44 ap. J.-C.

Sorry,  just a few more of the Louvre and I'll continue with posts from Mexico City, although I have more than 60 days not to touch a camera for lack of time. And thanks a lot for your kind visits.
Vienna, Eisenstadt, Venice, Firenze and Rome series try to continue in Sketches of Cities. 
 (At least one or two a week)
Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, please be sure that I read each and every one of your kind comments and I appreciate them all.

9 comments:

Boom Nisanart said...

OOO..I love this series !!

B SQUARED said...

You can show shots from the Louvre anytime. I certainly never tire of them.

Luis Gomez said...

Una maravilla. Hermosas!

Anonymous said...

Amazing pictures of beautiful sculptures

Carolyn Ford said...

Your captures of these amazing sculptures are extraordinary!

Bob Crowe said...

You can get lost in the Louvre. You can go mad in the Louvre. It's overwhelming. When I'm in Paris - never for long enough - I usually have about an afternoon to devote to it, which is folly.

Really like the composition in the top picture, contrasting the geometry of the old and new. I'm almost certain I've taken a very similar shot of the bust in the last photo.

Jack said...

Beautiful. Nicely done.

Luuuuuua said...

f interesant blog,felicitari

Anonymous said...

I like your photos and word showing us around museums!
I hope there soon will be time to use the camera - 60 days ohhh ;-)