The festival of Summer flowers has begun at the Red Cardinal Nest..
Hippeastrums are radiant on a hot day..
Close by, the indestructible Agapanthus raise their buds and burst forth in blue and white:
There will be dozens of them in a week or two..
Jacarandas are casting their purple spell across Brisbane...
Time for a glimpse of the Art Gallery's most popular work:
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| R. Godfrey Rivers 1859-1925, Under the Jacaranda, 1903. |
I took this photo last November to show you how person or persons unknown bring Jacaranda flowers in to place beneath the painting, imitating the purple carpet of fallen blooms which add to a Jacaranda's charm.
Here is an interesting painting which is back on display, one I enjoy:
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| Christopher Pease, Australia, 1969-, 'Minang Boodjar - Surveying King George Sound (after Louis de Sainson's 'Le Havre aux Huitres dans le Port du Roi Georges' 1833) 2007 |
Christopher Pease is a Western Australian Aboriginal painter whose work is informed by his own family history, and that of his W.A. State.
The painting is based on a lithograph, 'Le Havre aux Huitres dans le Port du Roi Georges (Oyster Bay in King George III Sound), 1833, by Louis de Sainson:
de Sainson was draughtsman aboard the Astrolabe, on one of the voyages of discovery of French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville, in the early 1800s.
On 7 October 1826, the Astrolabe anchored in King George Sound on the southern coast of Western Australia, where it remained for 18 days.
Dumont d'Urville thought it suitable for a port, and an excellent place to establish a colony. During this visit members of the crew including de Sainsons, met and spent time with the Minang (Pease's) people, the artist's ancestors.
Louis de Sainson created many images of their friendly encounters with the Aborigines.
And why did Christopher Pease add Alice in Wonderland's White Rabbit to his version of the story? Because the White Rabbit, clutching his watch, is always too late. The British claimed the land, the Australian continent became a British colony, and the French were 'too late'. If things had been a little different, perhaps I would be writing my blog in French!
Did you see Kate went to an exhibition at The Hague, and admires 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' (Johannes Vermeer, c.1665).
Wearing pearl earrings, naturally, and a very chic suit.
And while we are on the subject, Kate's eye for colour comes to the fore in the Goodbye to Canada pose. To salute the Canadian flag, the children wear the red, and Kate a classic white coat. Beautiful.
Have an excellent week.
XXXX
de Sainson was draughtsman aboard the Astrolabe, on one of the voyages of discovery of French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville, in the early 1800s.
On 7 October 1826, the Astrolabe anchored in King George Sound on the southern coast of Western Australia, where it remained for 18 days.
Dumont d'Urville thought it suitable for a port, and an excellent place to establish a colony. During this visit members of the crew including de Sainsons, met and spent time with the Minang (Pease's) people, the artist's ancestors.
Louis de Sainson created many images of their friendly encounters with the Aborigines.
And why did Christopher Pease add Alice in Wonderland's White Rabbit to his version of the story? Because the White Rabbit, clutching his watch, is always too late. The British claimed the land, the Australian continent became a British colony, and the French were 'too late'. If things had been a little different, perhaps I would be writing my blog in French!
Did you see Kate went to an exhibition at The Hague, and admires 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' (Johannes Vermeer, c.1665).
Wearing pearl earrings, naturally, and a very chic suit.
And while we are on the subject, Kate's eye for colour comes to the fore in the Goodbye to Canada pose. To salute the Canadian flag, the children wear the red, and Kate a classic white coat. Beautiful.
Have an excellent week.
XXXX
