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Love part 4 - Most Romantic Artwork

So, today is Valentine's Day and the last instalment of my love posts (read post 1, post 2, post 3). Apparently, this painting of Romeo and Juliet on their wedding night has been voted the most romantic artwork in Britain. It was painted by Frank Bernard Dicksee in 1884. I couldn't categorically agree that it is the most romantic artwork in Britain as I haven't done any thorough research into the matter myself, but I would say yes, it's on the romantic side. What are your thoughts? Second runner up in the romantic artwork stakes was Rodin's The kiss.

Image from here.

P.S. Happy Valentine's Day!

Centennial Park Shadows

For my Shadow Shot this week I have a photo I took on a blindingly hot day last summer in Centennial Park. I think you can sort of tell it was hot just by looking at the sky. Anyway, this statue stands on a very tall plinth in the garden next to the rose garden. I've never been able to find out what the statue is but I've always admired it. The cheeky magpie casting a shadow over the face of the statue makes me laugh. I don't know why I think it's funny when a bird stands on the head of a statue, but I do!

Shadow shot Sunday is brought to you by Tracy of Hey Harriet! You too can join in the Shadow Shot fun - all you have to do is read the instructions here.

Happy Sunday folks!

Aspeci - Milano

Italian luxury sportswear brand Aspeci has a rather lovely, recently launched (September '11), online store. These photos of the Milan Aspeci store are from their new online website. Filled with colourful installations of creatures and flowers, the space looks like a feast for the senses and would be fun to explore. It's not something I would expect from a traditional sportswear clothes store!

It is now officially on my "to visit" list next time I'm in Milan (along with the cathedral)!

I hope everyone is having a fine, fine week!

All photos from here.

Happy Friday Links!

Happy Friday! It is most definitely getting warmer in Sydney - which is pretty lovely actually.

Here are my Friday links for your viewing pleasure:

a) A fab compilation of short animations curated by Julia Pott. 

b) A superb collection of Flickr finds.

c) An amazing artist called Jennifer Collier.

d) A mouth watering blog called The Stone Soup that has recipes for healthy, delicious food.

e) Absolutely hilarious and highbrow Halloween costumes for your pet.

 

...and I'll leave you with my new favourite quote by Mark Twain:

"Why not go out on a limb? That's where the fruit is."

Fitzroy Gardens Sculpture Shadows

Hello from Sydney this fine Sunday! These two shadowy Art Deco sandstone sculptures are from Fitzroy Gardens,  Melbourne. The top one is a mermaid with a fish/ dolphin (?) and the bottom one is a boy with a pelican. Apparently the sculptor William Leslie Bowles won first prize with these figures in the Fitzroy Gardens Sculpture Competition which was held in 1935. My intrepid boyfriend took these two shots for me in Melbourne. I rather like Art Deco sculpture for its pared down aesthetic.

Did you know...that shadow shot Sunday is a meme set up by Tracy of Hey Harriet? Did you also know that you are more than welcome to join in - all you need to do is read the instructions here.

Happy Sunday!

Halloween bear

Well, unfortunately we don't really celebrate Halloween here in Sydney but by golly I wish we did! This little masked black bear has totally put me in the mood! He can be found in Etsy shop Le Animale.

I hope everyone is having a super week! :0)

Shadow Shot Sunday Griffins

I thought it was time to do a Shadow Shot Sunday post. This magnificent creature is something I've been meaning to blog about for absolutely ages but have been saving for a rainy day. Well, it is very rainy today so I thought why not?

It is a large and lovely griffin that is part of a pair that sit either side of Sir Henry Parkes Drive very close to the Paddington entrance of the Centennial Parklands. Originally these Villeroy and Boch beasties were installed in the 1890s but over the years they deteriorated and were eventually removed in 1971 and stored for safe keeping in the parks storehouse. Then later in the early 2000s a fund was started to raise money to restore them and they were returned to the gardens in 2005.

Apparently, they are not technically griffins at all but something called a ‘gryphonic’. A proper griffin apparently has the face, beak, talons and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. As you can see, these beauties have mainly lionesque features.

In the Centennial Parkland's website they explain:

"The eagle parts of the griffin represented the saints with their thoughts, aspirations and souls lifted towards God. Its lion half stood for their courage in the arena and in the continuing struggle against sin, evil, and the Devil. Because of the griffin’s strength and powers of sight, it was believed to guard hidden treasures."

I think they are gorgeous and I always admire them when I walk through the gardens on my Sunday constitutional walk.

By the way, Shadow Shot Sunday is a fabulous meme that is hosted by the lovely Tracey of Hey Harriet! If you'd like to join in, all you have to do is go here and read the instructions!

Easter / ANZAC Day

Happy Easter! I know it's possibly not the right day to say that but I've been having a mini blog break and I think I missed the correct day to wish everyone that. This photo incidentally is one I took in the National Gallery of Victoria when I was down in Melbourne in December last year. Unfortunately, I don't know the name of the artist or much about the work but I thought he was kind of cute all the same! 

It's Easter Monday but also ANZAC day here in Australia. ANZAC Day (25th April) is a day when we remember the soldiers that have fought for Australia. We actually have a few memorials to the ANZACS (the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps). There's a handsome suspension bridge which was built about 15 years ago called the ANZAC bridge:

 
There's also the El Alamein Fountain which is just up the road from where I live:

I have blogged about this gorgeous fountain before here if you'd like to read up some more about it.

I hope everyone is having a good time relaxing this long weekend and that nobody has OD-ed on chocolate Easter eggs! :0)

ANZAC Bridge photos from here. El Alamein photo from here.

Songbird sculptures...

I found these sweeties online the other day. They are made by illustrator and all round creative talent Emily Sutton. I think they are so pretty! She also makes things out of wood, illustrates books and has her prints for sale on her website here: emillustrates.

I hope everyone is having a lovely week so far!

Fitzroy Garden Cherub...

Happy (Shadow Shot) Sunday folks! It's a duckling talking to a cherub on a turtle! This cherub is sitting in the middle of a pond in the beautiful Fitzroy Gardens in Melbourne. Ah! Melbourne! That joyous holiday I had there three weeks ago seems like a distant dream now! *sigh* 

Shadow Shot Sunday is brought to you by Tracy of Hey Harriet! It's a super fun meme that has followers from every corner of the globe! If you'd like to join in all you have to do is read the instructions here!