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Auberge de Castille, Valletta, Malta

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:28:10 Z

by KMRBJL "The Auberge de Castille is located within the city of Valletta and houses the office of the Prime Minister of Malta. The Auberge de Castille was the official seat of the knights of the Langue of Castille, Léon and Portugal – one of the most powerful of the Order, its Head being the Grand Chancellor. The Knights of this Langue were responsible for the defence of part of the fortifications of Valletta, known as the St Barbara Bastion. The Auberge is situated at the highest point of Valletta and originally looked out on the rolling countryside beyond, giving it a unique vantage-point unsurpassed by any other building in the city. The original Auberge was built by the renowned Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar in 1574. It was extensively re-modelled and virtually rebuilt in 1741, the present plan of the imposing structure attributed to Andrea Belli. The building was damaged during the siege of the French forces (1799–1800) as well as during the Second World War (1939–1945). Following the departure of the Knights, the Auberge de Castille served as the headquarters of the French occupation forces between 1798 and 1800 and as the British army headquarters after 1800. It became the Office of the Prime Minister in 1972."

Chapel of St. Catherine, Valletta, Malta

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:54:39 Z

by KMRBJL "In September 1572 chaplain Fra Ludovico Folchi, requested that he would be given responsibility of the chapel of St Catherine and that he would have built it on the assigned site at his own expense. However Folchi was transferred for a period to Messina in Sicily and the construction of the church was therefore delayed. On the 1st of September 1580 during a commissioner’s meeting it was asked whether Fra Ludovico Folchi had indeed contributed the money towards the building of the chapel as he had pledged and it was reported that he had donated 350 scudi. On the 10th of November 1659 the Italian Knights request the decoration of the Chapel according to the artistic suggestions given by Mattia Preti; On the 12th of April 1660, the Knights paid 20 scudi to the artist Leonardo Romei for his decorative work. Therefore, it is probable that during his brief stay in Malta in 1659, Mattia Preti must have started work on these decorations at St Catherine’s which were subsequently completed by Leonardo Romei based on Preti’s designs. The church of St Catherine of Italy has an octagonal structure with a cupola characterized by ribs that run down from the lantern and frame the medallions that characterize the mural designs, very much similar to the style found in the Roman church of The Assumption by G. L. Bernini. The decorations in the eight medallions feature eight episodes from the life of St Catherine. The church falls into a bad condition following the earthquake of 1693 followed by a decision to enlarge the overall structure with the involvement of the architect Romano Carapecchia who modified the main facade to its present state. The interior of the church also saw minor alterations namely the addition of a balcony for the choir. The church underwent exterior restoration works during 1965-66 and in 2000-01."

Sallie Wolf Moon Project, USAFA

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:38:26 Z

by bnewmiller "Installation of the Sallie Wolf Moon Project at the Permanent Professors' Art Gallery at the United States Air Force Academy."

Fort Manoel

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:33:49 Z

by KMRBJL "Fort Manoel is a fortification on the island of Malta. It stands on Manoel Island in Marsamxett Harbour to the north west of Valletta and commands the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour and the anchorage of Sliema Creek. Fort Manoel is a star fort, with much of its ditches and walls formed from the native rock of Manoel Island. It was built by the Knights of Malta between 1723 and 1735, under the patronage of Portuguese Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena. The final design also incorporated the work of Charles François de Mondion, at that time the Knights of Malts's resident military engineer in charge of works of fortification and defence. Mondion also supervised the construction, and was buried in the fort's chapel, St. Anthony’s Chapel."

Utrecht, HDR, Maliesingel, Herenbrug

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:11:08 Z

by M5 "See also : http://photosynth.net/userprofilepage.aspx?user=M5 Info : http://www.verhoeff.com/ou/grolman0705.php"

skeleton of a whale (ballena boreal)

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:10:16 Z

by renedepaula "the Museo del Mar in Punta del Este, Uruguay, has a surprisingly rich collection of specimens, skeletons, memorabilia and exhibitions. I highly recommend it"

Bentley Continental SuperSports

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:42:14 Z

by perrys "This is the fastest production car Bentley has ever built. It has 630 horsepower, 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, top speed of 204. And it sounds incredible."

Brunwalla. / Brunwalla.

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:21:55 Z

by Orpheusdeusexmachina "* Oh Brunwalla, ich spüre etwas Knie. („Bitte nicht links blinken, wenn Sie rechts abbiegen möchten. Danke, schön.“) „Deutschland, Dein apathisches Lächeln hat mich verzaubert; aber das Schwert Deiner Kindheit war schon immer stumpf! Hast Du es nicht bemerkt bei den Spielen im sandvollen Kasten mit des Nachbarn Katzentöchtern – Scharregurzli - Die Taube – die Weiße – die einst über D’land flog – hat keine Nachkommen gezeugt; wirklich noch nicht der Krieg war er vorbei zog eine Caravane aus Schildpattbrillen und Zigarrentauchern und Dein barolorotes Lachen ist der tapfer gestorbenen Blüte näher als alles andere zuvor; historischer Moment.“ Brunwalla hat keine Lust mehr zu kämpfen [der Kaffee in D’land ist müde] und sie spricht: „An meiner Seite hängen Fetzen, noch von der letzten Schlacht, aus meiner Seite ragt mein Herz verblutet, nicht nur Blut ist leer, oh Schmerzen Schmerzen nach Scherzen ist mir sehr – befreit mich Blicke von der Last der Welt, befreit das Zaubern in meinen Augen vom Glanz der Ruhelosen Macht... Da/Du mächtiger tanzschwan heilige meine wunden / liebe mich / mesho is a god. There is no... es ist noch nicht zu spät für die ewigkeit / das schlimmste ist, wenn man die vergangenheit nicht tot kriegt...; tausend tote götter lecken gleichwarmen abfall / Die naie Sonne wollen / Das Beschissene Brot der Aufopferungsvollen Hingabe. Ich bin die Projektion aller Ängste. Wenn Du mich liebst, dann liebe ich mich.“ * Oh Brunwalla, I feel a little knee. („Please do not indicate left side, if you want to turn right. Thank you, fine.”) Hergestellt aus Holz, Textilien, Kunststoffen, Metallen, Fell, Glas. Made of wood, fabrics, synthetic materials, metals, fur, glass. Abmessungen: Höhe x Breite x Tiefe: ca. 207 cm x 187 cm x 87 cm. Dimensions: height x width x depth: approx. 81.5 in x 73.6 in x 34.3. Entstehungszeit: 2009 – 2010. Date of origin: 2009 – 2010. © 2009 - 2010. Norbert Hildebrand. www.norberthildebrand.com www.das-beste-an-der-kunst.de"

The Temple of Dendur @ The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, US)

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:56:55 Z

by MET360 "Relocation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Dendur#Relocation Architectural copies http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Dendur#Architectural_copies Read more http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/egyptian_art/the_temple_of_dendur/objectview.aspx?collID=10&OID=100004628 Visit the Met 1000 5th Avenue New York, NY 10028 (212) 535-7710 ---"

The "Croppies" Statue

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:49:22 Z

by The.Rev "The following monument rises above the site of an old sand pit, where in the aftermath of the disastrous rising of the United Irishmen in 1798, the bodies of 640 slaughtered Carlow insurgents were thrown and covered in quicklime in a mass grave. The Croppies was the name given to the United Irishmen after the habit of cropping their hair to mark their allegiance. The monument stands as testimony to those who gave their lives to further the cause of freedom from a harsh regime."