Italian Renaissance That Comes Out Only Once a Generation
The British Museum has announced a major new exhbition of Italian Renaissance drawings featuring 15th century artworks so delicate they only go on view once in a generation. Among the 100 or so works will be sketches by Titian, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci. The exhibition doesn’t open until next summer, but here’s a sneak preview.
Warrior (c1480) by a young Leonardo da Vinci
Head of a Woman (1470s) by Andrea del Verrocchio. The artist was a Florentine goldsmith, sculptor and painter whose busy and productive workshop attracted students such as Leonardo and Lorenzo di Credi
Head of a Woman (1470s) by Leonardo da Vinci, drawn during his time in Verrocchio's studio
Head of a Woman (c1490) by Lorenzo di Credi. The artist drew this long after his apprenticeship with Verrocchio, but it still carries some of the dreamy, introspective style of his master
Virgin and Child With Angels (c1490) by Andrea Mantegna
Two cheetahs (1400-10) by an anonymous artist in Lombardy, Italy. Drawings of animals would be collected together in a book and used as models for embellishing paintings and manuscripts
Study of a Young Woman (c1510) by Titian
Link: Guardian.co.uk– Italian Renaissance drawings at the British Museum
Dreaming Weddings
Insanity it may seem, but Gilding has had a niggling desire to do another wedding.
Right?!? Do we remember the insanity that insued when Gilding made the floral arrangements and then some for her brother-in-laws wedding — actually, there really wasn’t a thing in that wedding that Gilding didn’t make. The above Bride’s bouquet alone made Gilding’s fingers bleed, but damn the end product was worth it. Just look at that beauty.
Then, of course, there was my sister-in-laws wedding where, thankfully, she hired out many of her needs, but I made the special moments things such as the ring bearer’s pillow, the family corsages and boutenniers given to the immediate family members, and Gilding also had the pleasure of playing their photographer for the important family events that happen before the wedding ceremony, but that aren’t included in a traditional photographer’s packages.
And though Gilding swore she was pretty well done with weddings, the fruitcake has found herself missing them. It didn’t help that upon deciding to peruse Etsy for whatever, they happen to have a news article on all things wedding beautiful today. And, of course, Gilding’s fingers clicked the link faster than her brain could tell her to “AVOID!”
Oh well…she did find some beautiful things though. Perhaps even a few inspiring ones.
Though this original gown is inspired by a peaceful afternoon, the triple layerd, floor length silk dress features a demur and playful ruffled train made of the three layers of overlaying silk of the gown. The gathered swoop of the cowl that wraps around the waist is flirty and flattering and is delicately topped of with an antique lace belt. Both this dress and the one below are from the same deisigner, sarahseven, and can be purchased in her Etsy shop.
This gown is from sarahseven’s Spring 09 Bridal Collection, and is the original design to her peaceful afternoon gown. Made from a creamy ivory silk, the gown is pleated at the bust with ruffles down to the waist. Antique lace also decorates the waist, and those same beautful ruffling cowls go from waist to bottom of the gown.
Hapitat’s white vintage lace and feather fascinator is delicate and dramatic, and it’s probably a good thing Gilding doesn’t own one — yet — because she would wear it with everything. The flower has been made using vintage fabric and very old vintage lace, and this one in particular, features light blue feathers that Hapitat rescued from a 1940′s era hat. This fascinator and more can be found in hapitat’s Etsy shop.
But really, what could be more elegant than a birdcage veil. Part of 5eizen’s Flo series, the birdcage veils are modern take on the traditional and are made using premium felt in dramatic and simple accent designs. This particular one uses a simple loop in a dramatic bright wide and bold size. The loop can be detached from the veil so it may be worn alone or so the veil can be worn to either the front of the back. May be purchased in 5eizen’s Etsy shop.
This bandeau style veil isn’t very popular with many of the traditional brides, but its just so unique and minimalist and this one in particular is so modern its just had to make this list. The Milan Feather Flower and Veil consists of a white star feather flower of ten dyed feathers. The “flower” is attached to a white spotted bandeau veil which pulls across the face and is attached to the other side of the head. Avaiable in Tie and Feathered’s Etsy shop.
Gilding is all about unique jewelry for special events, but more importantly, she’s all about unique jewelry that she can wear after that special event. These beautiful pieces have that regal air of baroque patterns with the charm of the organic design of flowers. These pieces from A Thousand Joys are cut from sterling silver, soldered, and then polished by hand. Then, a sulfur patina is used to bring out the details and give the piece an antique feel. Available in A Thousand Joy’s Etsy shop.
And let’s not forget the panties. Seriously, did you think you could get through a gilded lily post without a spot on panties if one were afforded. This pretty from Anastasiajamin is her thong for brides-to-be. A comfortable pair of cotton thongs made even more flexible with an adjustable ribbon tie on the side, and frilled flowers made in super soft beige and white cotton tulle and lace. Its cute, and its virginal when you most likely aren’t, so its like dress-up only naughtier.
And finally, this one’s here because its precious. A print of this one, Le Marriage, or one of Sibylle D’s precious others, can be purchased at her Etsy shop.
One Quick Burn
So, the deed is finally done.Gilding began this readers’ journey into the mind’s writings of Clive Barker with his short novel Mister B. Gone some 6 months ago and only now has she just finished. For the avid reader that she is, well known for finishing novels in one day’s sitting (two to three days at the most), this is quite surprising, but it was only through sheer diligence and hard won discipline that the novel was completed. The oddity to it is that Gilding didn’t hate the book, its just…well…there seems to be a loss for words to put into writing her feelings on this short. Perhaps it is because the feelings are rather middle of the road or perhaps it is because she had such high hopes and expectations of the book — none of which were met — that makes this detailing so difficult. Maybe, and with good probability, it is both. But as this blog is dedicated, almost with fervor, to gilding the lily, the task of telling you, her dear Gilded Lilies, her thoughts of Mister B. Gone shall be undertaken.
Gilding has long been a fan of horror, though she hates cinema’s necessity to associate gore with horror. Gore is just that–gore–and never has before scared Gilding. That’s not to say that gore doesn’t have its place or a deserving fan base, for even in Gilding’s library you shall find the many slasher films, scream fests, and the-bloodier-the-better movies of every cult following movie goer. But gore and horror do not have to go hand-in-hand, contrary to popular culture of today. And though no one could ever say that Clive Barker skimmed on the gore fest, his quality was in that he knew what true horror is. The bloodshed was secondary, or shall we say even the strawberry syrup coating to his licorice flavored ice cream horror. Mister B. Gone is not this.
But its not that Mister B. Gone was a failure of some sorts. As Gilding said, she didn’t hate the book. Barker’s mastery for writing, decadent word play, and at times succulent description is all there. Even his knack for gut-clenching gore is there. But scared, Gilding was not. In fact, a good many points the character Mister B. Gone’s threats to disembowel the selfish reader that I am brought a smile to Gilding’s face. Sometimes even a chuckle would escape. But never truly a shudder. Whether Gilding rues this fact, she’s not quite sure. Certainly she wanted to be scared witless and that didn’t happen, but to begrudge it would be to begrudge the “friendship” that she developed with Mister B. throughout the course of reading, and that she does not. Rather, for all his throat slashing, intestine rending, bathing in baby’s blood ways, he’s rather a loveable character. One Gilding would even take home to Mom. The fact that Mister B. himself is a wordsmith only endears him more to Gilding’s heart. Sorry, Mr. Barker, but you made Gilding love him not fear him. Perhaps that was the intent all along, but in any case its the truth. Which makes it hard to be scared of the journalling of a character whom you like. Maybe that too was the intent after all, but with such care and devotion to making the reader fall in love (or at the very least empathize) with the demon that is being read between their very hands, its hard to believe that inspiring fear was the intent.
So why did it take Gilding so long to finish the book. Was it the promise of dark horror that brought tragically crashing the built up expectations with its denial. That would certainly be a good reason, and to some degree may be the truth, only brought some redemption by the “friendship” Mister B. and Gilding formed. But in the end, Gilding thinks the reason is far more simple even than that. There is a reason Gilding has so few friends. She can only handle their life’s ramblings and complaints for so long. Emersing herself in Mister B.’s diary was frankly as tiring as listening to a friend bitch. Sorry, little to no patience for that.
Thankfully, Gilding’s new “friend” wasn’t brought to life with one quick burn.
Oh, as for a recommendation, Gilding would pass this book on to a friend, that is if she had any…and if she knew how to share. But she would recommend reading it. Barker’s words are a feast to be devoured and that alone beckons reading by the lovers of words. And there is quite depth to the short novel that’s impressive given that the book is, well, a short. Not so much space to put all that impact. There is, of course, a whole deeper devulgence into the meaning of religiosity and the constant wages of battle between heaven and hell and our insignificant place in it. So, read it. What you do with it afterwords, its your own throat. (You’ll understand once you’ve read it .^_~.)
Beholden the Dawn to the Passing Dusk
Then sing, young hearts that are full of cheer,
With never a thought of sorrow;
The old goes out, but the glad young year
Comes merrily in tomorrow.
~ Emily Miller
