RenoVous

  The first known painting of Paris, from 1432, by Jean Fouquet. Today the city celebrates 2,075 years - having been founded around 250 BC. History can be traced back to the Gallic tribe known as the Parisii, who settled an island in the Seine River. By 52 BC, Julius Caesar had taken over, calling it Lutetia.  From the island, the city spread.  The name of the area gradually transitioned into being called Paris during the 4th century. The Arenas de Lutece are among the most important Roman remains in France. In the year 987, Paris became the official capital of France. The home of Nicolas Flamel, a French alchemist believed to have created the philosopher's stone, was built in 1407 and is recognized as the oldest surviving house in the city. It is now a restaurant. Auberge

 Sacred Celtic Knot Tree of Life, Yggdrasil. Celtic knots and spirals have been used in art and architecture for centuries.  Interlacing patterns spread out from Roman art, and have been found in Byzantine art, Ethiopian art, and Russian art. The knots are symbolic and carry different meanings.  The Celtic Cross was used long before Christianity came to the Celts, and it represented the four elements and four cardinal directions.  The circle represents the sun, moon, and the infinite cycles of nature.  It was then known as a Sun Cross, or Solar Wheel. The Book of Kells is a 9th century manuscript, containing the four gospels of the New Testament.  Almost all of the folios contain some decorative art, such as within letters. The Dara knot is a modern design based on lore and tradition.  Ancient oaks were considered a symbol of strength, wisdom, and endurance.  It represents the roots. The oldest is the Celtic spiral, also known as triskele, dating ...

 We went up into the mountains so the dogs could have a run. We could hear the thunder, and we made it back to the truck just as the clouds opened. Rain, snow melt, and tears. From the memorial for our Mama Deb. A patron of the arts, it was a most fitting venue. Love you forever.

 Last night turned out to be much more than fashion - attendees really took the theme to heart, and wore some truly art inspired pieces.  So instead of a Best Dressed, we're going to review. Fashion is Art Emma Chamberlain Garden at Arles,  Van Gogh Madonna The Temptation of St. Anthony, Leonora Carrington Amy Sherald Miss Everything, Amy Sherald Sabrina Carpenter Film strips from 1954's, Sabrina. Hunter Schafer Mada Primavesi, Gustav Klimt SZA Every piece of fabric was sourced through vintage dealers on eBay. From the Wiener Werkstatte, Kolomon Moser Ananya Birla Silverware mask by Indian artist, Subodh Gupta. Fill the comments with other looks and/or inspirations that you liked!  There is so much more.

 On this day in 1990, two thieves posing as policemen stole 13 works of art from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.  It is the biggest art heist in history, and remains unsolved. The most valuable missing is Vermeer's The Concert. Three Rembrandt paintings were taken, which included A Lady and a Gentleman in Black. Chez Tortoni by Manet. Landscape with Obelisk  by Govaert Flinck. A French Napoleonic eagle finial.   Additionally, five sketches by Degas were taken. The total haul was estimated to be worth $500 million.

  Out in the desert of Goldfield, junk cars are the canvas of The Last Church. "More akin to a druidic henge than any Christian chapel."

  Year 2!

This is from a portion of the Martin Luther King Jr. mural at the National Historic Park in Atlanta. Named "Dreams, Vision, and Change," it was painted by Louis Delsarte.  For Black History Month, we're focusing on African American Painters. Aaron Douglas, of the Harlem Renaissance, is known as the "father of Black American art." Let My People Go, 1935 Hilda Wilkinson Brown wanted to represent Black leisure in Young Man Studying, 1933. Her art inspired her niece, Lillian Thomas Burwell, to pursue her own. Jacob Lawrence documented the "Great Migration" of African Americans in 1941. Jean-Michael Basquiat's art focused on dichotomies, gaining international fame in the 1980's. Notary, 1983 One of the most famous American painters is Norman Rockwell, and in 1964 he decided it was important to paint an image of Ruby Bridges.  He received hate mail calling him a race traitor.  Ruby herself expressed admiration for him, having "enough courage to ...