Stumbling on art

Dear Diary,

An out of the ordinary day today as it hasn't rained! I have spent a whole morning in the garden catching up with the weeds which have run away like mad all over the place. It actually feels like early summer, well perhaps I exaggerate, it feels like a not too cold spring day and I did actually take my coat and hat off. It is now four o'clock and still no rain, I can't believe it and even the sun is shining occasionally albeit in a feeble manner.

I seem to have writer's block lately and long for inspiration - I have been spending hours on genealogy which is usually a winter or bad weather pursuit but the weather of late has reduced me to returning to it; something I never mind as it is a passion of mine, one which I share with my daughter.  First thing this morning I hopped on to the computer and stumbled upon a good website which features pictures by forgotten or not very well known artists. What led me to it was the fact that I was doing a random image search on Google because M and I had been discussing a little print that we have, - we had been talking about Ireland and the plight of unmarried mothers (not that many years ago) which is a subject very close to my heart.  This led me to seek out the very picture online which we have on the wall in our snug, just a small print given to me by dear relatives who had been visiting the National Art gallery in Dublin.

The Wash House

 Frederick Orpen

Then as I Googled around, delighting in the visual, I found this site Art Inconnu which features works of art by under-appreciated artists from many countries. I whiled away a multitude of minutes selecting countries from a list and choosing my favourites. Those below are by an Irish artist and are in fact embroidered art which I found quite amazing.

Phoebe Anna Traquair (1852 - 1936)

"The Victory" (1899-1902.) Panel 4 of "The Progress of a Soul" (1893-1901.) Silk, gold and silver thread embroidery on linen. National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh. Detail below.

"The Salvation of Mankind" Silk and gold thread on linen, 1885-93. City art Centre, Edinburgh.

Panels 1, 3 and a detail of 3.

Anyway, that is all for today, I hope to return soon with more of interest,

Go mbeannai Dia duit,

Cait

The Banking Crisis

Young Paddy bought a donkey from a farmer for £100.

The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day.

However, the next day he drove up and said, ‘Sorry son, but I have some bad news. The donkey’s died.’

Paddy replied, ‘Well then just give me my money back.’

The farmer said, ‘Can’t do that. I’ve already spent it.’ 

Paddy said, ‘OK, then, just bring me the dead donkey.’

The farmer asked, ‘What are you going to do with him?’ 

Paddy said, ‘I’m going to raffle him off.’

The farmer said, ‘You can’t raffle a dead donkey!’ 

Paddy said, ‘Sure I can. Watch me.. I just won’t tell anybody he’s dead.’

A month later, the farmer met up with Paddy and asked, ‘What happened with that dead donkey?’ 

Paddy said, ‘I raffled him off.

I sold 500 tickets at two pounds a piece and made a profit of £898′ 

The farmer said, ‘Didn’t anyone complain?’

Paddy said, ‘Just the guy who won. So I gave him his two pounds back.’

Paddy now works for the Royal Bank of Scotland.