Sunday, November 30, 2014

London River Man

London River Man by John W. Mills, Admirals Way, South Quay, Canary Wharf, London

“London River Man” by John W. Mills, 1987
Admirals Way, South Quay, Canary Wharf
London, September 2014

This sculpture salutes all London river workers – tosshers
bargees – dockers – aletasters – coalheavers – ferrymen

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Es geschah im November

Es geschah im November, It Happened in November by Kani Alavi, East Side Gallery, Mühlenstraße, Berlin

“Es geschah im November” (It Happened in November) by Kani Alavi
East Side Gallery
Mühlenstraße, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Berlin, September 2011

“Nowadays about 800.000 visitors each year come by the East Side Gallery to take a look at the paintings. Kani’s ‘Es geschah im November,’ translated as ‘it happened in November,’ is one of the paintings. His painting shows a wave of people breaking through the Wall. The faces on the painting are not just happy faces – he also drew sad and scared faces. ‘People in the East had gone through a lot and were headed to many uncertainties.’ He is proud of all the work he has done, and still does, for the East Side Gallery: ‘It has really become my life. It belongs to my history, my personal history. It is my child.’” (A Wall to Remember, Faces of Berlin)

See also: Berlin Wall - Test the Rest - Bruderkuß - Stay Free - Without Title - Sonic Malade - Vergesst mir die Liebe nicht - Niemandsland - Many Small People - Curriculum Vitae

Friday, November 28, 2014

Georges Brassens

Bust of Georges Brassens by André Greck, Parc Georges-Brassens, Paris

Bust of Georges Brassens by André Greck, 1989
Parc Georges-Brassens
Rue des Morillons
Quartier Saint-Lambert, 15th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Cosimo I de' Medici

Equestrian statue of Cosimo I de' Medici by Giambologna, piazza della Signoria, Florence

Equestrian statue of Cosimo I de' Medici by Giambologna, 1594
Piazza della Signoria
Florence, April 2014

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Greylag Goose

Greylag goose, St. James's Park, City of Westminster, London

Greylag goose
St. James's Park
London, September 2014

“The ancestor of most domestic geese, the greylag is the largest and bulkiest of the wild geese native to the UK and Europe. In many parts of the UK it has been re-established by releasing birds in suitable areas, but the resulting flocks (often mixed with Canada geese) found around gravel pits, lakes and reservoirs all year round in southern Britain tend to be semi-tame and uninspiring. The native birds and wintering flocks found in Scotland retain the special appeal of truly wild geese.” (Greylag goose, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Piazza Benedetto Brin

Balcony with plants and flowers, piazza Benedetto Brin, Garbatella, Rome

Balcony with plants and flowers
Piazza Benedetto Brin, Garbatella
Rome, April 2013

Monday, November 24, 2014

Saint-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile

Église Saint-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile, rue du Conservatoire, Paris

Église Saint-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile (Church of St. Eugene St. Cecilia)
Rue du Conservatoire
Quartier du Faubourg-Montmartre, 9th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Campo Santa Marina

Livorno

Campo Santa Marina, Castello
Venice, September 2013

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Agriculture

Agriculture by Frederick William Pomeroy, upstream side of Vauxhall Bridge, London

“Agriculture” by F. W. Pomeroy, 1907
Upstream side of Vauxhall Bridge
London, September 2014

Friday, November 21, 2014

Gato

Gato, Cat, by Fernando Botero, 900 Park Avenue, New York

“Gato” (Cat) by Fernando Botero, 1984
Park Avenue at 79th Street
New York, September 2008

“At the northwest corner of Park Avenue and East 79th Street, the plaza follows the semicircular drop-off driveway model, but with a slight twist. In the half-circle area normally reserved for the ornamental fountain are artworks that render the space imageable to the public. The current sculpture, entitled Cat (1984), by Fernando Butero, is a bronze of a well-fed, polar-bear-sized cat with great whiskers. A previous sculpture. by Francisco Zunica, was a bronze of three grand women majestically strutting in different directions. Well-manicured shrubs and trees still surround the sculpture.” (Privately Owned Public Space: The New York City Experience, Jerold S. Kayden)

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Andranik

Equestrian statue of General Andranik, Armenian National Hero, Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris

Au Général Antranik (1866-1927), Héros National Arménien
(To General Andranik, Armenian National Hero)
Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, (Père Lachaise Cemetery)
Quartier du Père-Lachaise, 20th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

“Andranik's remains were originally planned to be buried in Armenia; however, the Soviet authorities refused entry. He was first buried at Ararat Cemetery in Fresno, and his remains were moved to France and buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris on 29 January 1928. In early 2000, the Armenian and French governments arranged the transfer of Andranik's body from Paris to Yerevan. Asbarez wrote that the transfer was initiated by Armenia's Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, who was killed in the parliament shooting on 27 October 1999. Andranik's body was moved to Armenia on 17 February 2000. It was placed in the Sport & Concert Complex in Yerevan for two days and was then taken to Etchmiadzin Cathedral, where Karekin II officiated the funeral service. Andranik was re-interred at Yerablur military cemetery in Yerevan on 20 February 2000, next to Vazgen Sargsyan.” (Andranik, Wikipedia)

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Paolo Uccello's Clock

Clock by Angelo Niccolai, fresco by Paolo Uccello, Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

Clock by Angelo Niccolai, fresco by Paolo Uccello, 1443
Santa Maria del Fiore (Saint Mary of the Flower)
Piazza del Duomo
Florence, April 2014

“The first public clock in the city of Florence was installed on the tower of Palazzo Vecchio on March 25, 1353, the work of Niccolò di Bernardo. A little less than a century later, a grandson of his, Angelo Niccolai degli Orologi, was commissioned to construct the mechanical clock of Santa Maria del Fiore, installed on the cathedral's inner façade in 1443. The dial was painted in fresco by Paolo Uccello (1397-1475), inscribing in a square a circle divided into 24 hours running counter-clockwise, according to a conventional representation of the time, emulating the movement of the gnomon's shadow on a vertical sundial. The hours are given in the so-called ‘Italian style’, which marked the duration of the day starting from sunset. They are indicated by an elliptical star with one ray longer than the others, an element recurrently used by the artist in his paintings to depict the comet of the Nativity. This is probably an allusion to Christ, ‘light of the world’, as is further confirmed by the presence of the four Evangelists portrayed in the false oculi at the corners of the great square.” (Ancient mechanical ‘oriuoli’, Museo Galileo)

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Canary Wharf Crossrail Station

Canary Wharf Crossrail Station, North Dock, West India Quay, Canary Wharf, London

Canary Wharf railway station, North Dock
West India Quay, Canary Wharf
London, September 2014

“The oversite development includes plans for 100,000 square feet of retail space and a roof-top park and community facility, semi-covered by an elegant timber lattice roof. The proposed roof will be made of translucent materials, letting the local community see, and encouraging them to visit, the new green space, shops, restaurants and facilities within. The combined station and oversite development has been likened to a ship moored in the dock, reflecting Canary Wharf’s past as the centre for global maritime commerce and its future, better integrated with the local community and the rest of London.” (Canary Wharf Station, Crossrail)

Monday, November 17, 2014

Basilica of San Vitale

Basilica of San Vitale, via Nazionale, Rome

Basilica dei Santi Vitale e Compagni Martiri in Fovea
(Basilica of Sts. Vitalis, Valeris, Gervase and Protase)
Via Nazionale
Rome, April 2013

“The new road was actually the result of a proposal by Pope Pius IX in response to the obvious need for proper access to the city centre from the train station, but the Italian government after 1870 mutated this into a typical straight and level 19th century civic boulevard. As a result the church in its valley was left well below the new road level, and is now accessed by a rather alarming flight of steps.” (San Vitale, Churches of Rome Wiki)

Sunday, November 16, 2014

La Boutique d’Amérique Latine

La Boutique d’Amérique Latine, boulevard Pasteur, Livorno

La Boutique d’Amérique Latine
Boulevard Pasteur
Quartier Necker, 15th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Rio de San Mauro

Fondamenta di Cavanella, fondamenta di Cao Moleca, Rio de San Mauro, Burano, Venetian Lagoon

Fondamenta di Cavanella / Fondamenta di Cao Moleca
Burano, Venetian Lagoon
Venice, September 2012

See also: Fondamenta della Pescheria - Color Like Music - Fritto Misto

Friday, November 14, 2014

Physical Energy

Physical Energy by George Frederic Watts, Lancaster Walk, Kensington Gardens, London

“Physical Energy” by George Frederic Watts, 1907
Lancaster Walk, Kensington Gardens
London, September 2014

“In his final years, George Frederic Watts turned his hand to creating sculptures. His most famous sculpture is the large-sized bronze statue named Physical Energy that was created in 1902. The statue depicts a naked horseman shading his eyes as he looked into the sun. Watts' intention was to dedicate the piece to Genghis Khan, Muhammad, Attila and Tamerlane – figures that Watts thought epitomized raw willpower.” (George Frederic Watts, Totally History)

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae by Susanne Kunjappu-Jellinek, East Side Gallery, Mühlenstraße, Berlin

“Curriculum Vitae” by Susanne Kunjappu-Jellinek
East Side Gallery
Mühlenstraße, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Berlin, September 2011

“It soon became clear that no one among the East German authorities would take personal responsibility for issuing orders to use lethal force, so the vastly outnumbered soldiers had no way to hold back the huge crowd of East German citizens. Finally, at 10:45 pm, Harald Jäger, the commander of the Bornholmer Straße border crossing yielded, allowing for the guards to open the checkpoints and allowing people through with little or no identity checking. As the Ossis swarmed through, they were greeted by Wessis waiting with flowers and champagne amid wild rejoicing. Soon afterward, a crowd of West Berliners jumped on top of the wall, and were soon joined by East German youngsters. They danced together to celebrate their new freedom.” (Berlin Wall - The Fall, Wikipedia)

See also: Berlin Wall - Test the Rest - Bruderkuß - Stay Free - Without Title - Sonic Malade - Vergesst mir die Liebe nicht - Niemandsland - Many Small People

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Colosse

Colosse, Colossus by Igor Mitoraj, Faubourg de l'Arche, Courbevoie, La Défense, Paris

“Colosse” (Colossus) by Igor Mitoraj, 2001
Faubourg de l'Arche
Courbevoie, La Défense
Paris, July 2011

See also: Testa Addormentata - Tindaro - Centauro - Tindaro Screpolato - Colosse - Ikaria - Bronze Doors - Le Grand Toscano

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Santo Stefano

Copy of Santo Stefano, Saint Stephen by Lorenzo Ghiberti, Orsanmichele, Via dell'Arte della Lana side, Florence

“Santo Stefano” (Saint Stephen) by Lorenzo Ghiberti, 1428 (copy)
Orsanmichele, Via dell'Arte della Lana side
Florence, April 2014

“Lamberti's marble St. Luke, which was once in the spot now occupied by Giambologna's St. Luke, is now in the Bargello. Likewise a marble St. John The Evangelist by the school of Orcagna was replaced with a bronze by Anrea Pisano (the guilds showed their importance and wealth by using bronze instead of gold, which was much more expensive) and is now in the Spedale Innocenti. And lastly, the original marble St. Stephen, again by Pisano, was replaced with a bronze version by Ghiberti. Pisano's St. Stephen can be seen at the Opera Duomo. ” (Sculptures of Orsanmichele, Orsanmichele)

See also: Christ and St. Thomas - San Luca - Madonna delle Grazie Altar - San Matteo

Monday, November 10, 2014

Cleopatra's Needle

London

Cleopatra's Needle
Victoria Embankment
London, September 2014

“On erection of the obelisk in 1878 a time capsule was concealed in the front part of the pedestal, it contained : A set of 12 photographs of the best looking English women of the day, a box of hairpins, a box of cigars, several tobacco pipes, a set of imperial weights, a baby's bottle, some children's toys, a shilling razor, a hydraulic jack and some samples of the cable used in erection, a 3' bronze model of the monument, a complete set of British coins, a rupee, a portrait of Queen Victoria, a written history of the strange tale of the transport of the monument, plans on vellum, a translation of the inscriptions, copies of the bible in several languages, a copy of John 3:16 in 215 languages, a copy of Whitaker's Almanack, a Bradshaw Railway Guide, a map of London and copies of 10 daily newspapers.” (The London needle, Wikipedia)

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Khachkar

A khachkar or Armenian cross-stone in memory of the Medz Yeghern, Armenian Genocide, salita di San Nicola da Tolentino, Rome

A khachkar, also known as Armenian cross-stone, 2007
In memory of the Medz Yeghern (Armenian Genocide)
Salita di San Nicola da Tolentino
Rome, April 2013

“The most common khachkar feature is a cross surmounting a rosette or a solar disc. The remainder of the stone face is typically filled with elaborate patterns of leaves, grapes, pomegranates, and bands of interlace. Occasionally a khachkar is surmounted by a cornice sometimes containing biblical or saintly figures.” (Khachkar, Wikipedia)

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Paris-Plages 2014

Temporary artificial beaches for Paris-Plages between Pont au Change and Pont Notre-Dame, Paris

Temporary artificial beaches for Paris-Plages
Between Pont au Change and Pont Notre-Dame
4th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

“For one month every summer, the Georges Pompidou Expressway along Paris’s Right Bank transforms into a pedestrian refuge replete with a sandy beach. A dazzling array of attractions vie for your attention, from activities like dance lessons, climbing walls, games, and swimming (in floating pools, not the Seine, thankfully), to amenities like beach chairs, cafes, misting fountains, and shady palm trees. Its enormous popularity can be traced to strong management and innovative programming, which keep the place humming well into the night with shows and performances.” (Paris Plage, Project for Public Spaces)

Friday, November 7, 2014

Church of Saint Sebastian

Church of Saint Sebastian

Chiesa di San Sebastiano (Church of Saint Sebastian)
Campo San Sebastian, Dorsoduro
Venice, October 2012

“Its contents make the Church of San Sebastiano one of the very centres of Venetian art, conserving as it does, an extraordinary body of works by Paolo Caliari, better known as Veronese. The confraternity of Gerolimine fathers founded the church in the 15th century, and then in 1506 a series of alterations gave the building its present appearance: a single-nave interior preceded by an atrium and raised choir and culminating in an apsidal presbytery under a cupola.” (Church of San Sebastiano, Chorus)

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Approach Split

Approach Split by Gary Webb, Lend Lease's EMEA Headquarters, 20 Triton Street, Regent's Place, London

“Approach Split” by Gary Webb, 2010
Lend Lease's EMEA Headquarters
20 Triton Street, Regent's Place
London, September 2014

“Webb was born in Dorset but now lives and works in London. He developed his work whilst studying at Goldsmiths for a BA in fine art. He is an abstract sculptor who unites both traditional and modern materials in unexpected combinations and configurations. Initially spontaneous drawings, they are then developed into three dimensional objects, which frequently bear only a tangential relationship to their starting point.” (About the Artists, Regent’s Place Art Guide)

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Cathedral of St. Sava

Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, West 25th Street, New York

Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava
West 25th Street
New York, September 2008

“Trinity Chapel was offered to the Serbs as well as to the Russian and Greek Orthodox communities. It was decided to sell the property to the Serbs for several reasons: 1) the Serbian people had no church on the east coast of America; 2) the project had the support of Yugoslav King Peter II; 3) the long-standing relationship of St. Bishop Nikolai with the Anglican Church in England and his particularly close connections with Bishop Manning and Canon Edward West.” (History of the Cathedral of St. Sava in New York, Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sava)

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Saint Michel terrassant le démon


“Saint Michel terrassant le démon” (Saint Michael Vanquishing Satan)
By Francisque Joseph Duret, 1860
Fontaine Saint-Michel by Gabriel Davioud, 1860
Place Saint-Michel
Quartier de la Monnaie, 6th arrondissement
Paris, July 2002

See also: Cirque d'hiver - La Justice Consulaire

Monday, November 3, 2014

Pellegrino Artusi

Bust on the grave of Pellegrino Artusi by Italo Vagnetti, Porte Sante Cemetery, San Miniato al Monte, Florence,

Bust on the grave of Pellegrino Artusi by Italo Vagnetti
Porte Sante Cemetery, San Miniato al Monte
Florence, April 2014

“The whole complex is surrounded by defensive walls, originally built hastily by Michelangelo during the siege and in 1553 expanded into a true fortress (fortezza) by Cosimo I de' Medici. The walls now enclose a large cemetery, the Porte Sante, laid out in 1854.” (San Miniato al Monte, Wikipedia)

Sunday, November 2, 2014

The Four Horses of Helios

The Four Horses of Helios by Rudy Waller, Coventry Street, Haymarket, London

“The Four Horses of Helios” by Rudy Waller, 1992
Coventry Street / Haymarket
London, September 2014

“The legend they relate to is that of Helios, the young and beautiful Greek god of the sun, who rises our of the eastern sea at dawn and crosses the sky in a blazing chariot before disappearing into the western waters as night comes. His son Phaeton, the shining one, hounds Helios into letting him drive the horses, to prove that he is the son of a god., but they are too wilful, too strong for him and Phaeton falls from the chariot to his death. It’s a story charged with boundless, blinding solar energy, but the artist Rudy Weller made these the blackest, wildest horses you will ever see in bronze. They are mean. See them snort behind the smiling faces of boys and girls from Tokyo, Texas and Telford, as the camera flashes go.” (Cole Moreton, The Four Horses of Helios, ThirdWay, November 2008)

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Via della Dataria

Via della Dataria, Rome

School trip
Palazzo della Panetteria
Via della Dataria
Rome, April 2013