statue – obBLOGato

Sculpture of the Artist

There’s more going on here than meets the eye. Below this statue on the plinth is found a plaque reading, “Non Plaudite, Modo Pecuniam Jacite,” which translates from Latin as, “Do not applaud, just throw money,” perhaps a comment on the assumption of the art world into that of commerce so nearby?

I discovered this piece changes in response to the viewer at Atlas Obscura (although I did not witness any change myself).

Margaret Enters the Picture

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The Art Lovers

How we view art today – we photograph it with our phones. Click any picture below to see them larger.

Paris Rain

Our first day and half in Paris were pretty damp, but lovely all the same. Click any of the pictures below to see them bigger.

Fountainbridge Branch

Fountainbridge and Lothian Road, Edinburgh

Where we went we say lots of the grand Edinburgh architecture (see below) – even the decrepit premises betrayed the elegance of their former occupants. Click any of the pictures below to see them bigger (if viewing in email or social media you may need to click the post title first to see on the web site).

Modern Art Redux

After a walk by the Water of Leith and the Dean Village we eventually made it back to the Scottish National Galleries of Modern Art. There are actually 2 buildings at opposite ends of a small park. In the morning we walked though Two. In the park there’s a construction of an open room with half-silvered glass inviting spectral self portraits.

We returned there in the afternoon for a coffee and then made our way to Gallery One. Click any of the images below to see them bigger (you may need to click on the post title to go to the web site if you’re seeing this in email or social media).

Edinburgh Old Town

To the side of St Giles Cathedral is Parliament Square and buildings that now serve as courts with a statue of King Charles II; also a view looking down from South Bridge. Click on any picture (and maybe the post title first) to see them enlarged.

Edinburgh was packed with tourists Our first popular stop was the Church of St Giles (the High Kirk of St Giles). Outside it you can also find the stature of Sir Walter Scott, or to give him his full honorific as the plaque beneath the statue does, “Walter Francis Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleugh and 7th Duke of Queensberry, KG.” Click any image (and maybe the post title first) to see all the pictures full-sized.

Last Views of Antwerp

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Grote Markt and the River

After the cathedral we walked to the Grote Markt (the central market square or “big market”) and on to the riverside, walking up to the Lange Wapper a statue of a character from local folklore who appears to be urinating on some of his supplicants. Click pictures to see them larger (click the post title, above, if you’re seeing this in email and clicking pictures doesn’t seem to work).

Cathedral of Our Lady

Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal

Some touristy postcard snaps of this magnificent cathedral, famous for its Pieter Paul Rubens paintings. You can see his Descent from the Cross in the 5th picture above and next to it an homage by Sam Dillemans. The accompanying brochure explains that the very realism of the Rubens fails to perturb the contemporary viewer as it ought, where the brutal impasto of the homage succeeds (it’s difficult to write sensibly about art). Click any of the pictures to see them all big (you may have to click the post title, above, first if you’re seeing this in an email).