Titian, Ranuccio Farnese. Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art.

Been on Sicily for a few days and already I’m seeing parenting, Italian-style. So might flow an average day for an under-two bambino Italiano: get up, get dressed and get hoisted on a hydraulic car-lift by the mechanic fixing Mama’s car. Stop for a cornetto (croissant) and a succo d’arancia (orange juice) and help the barman make afore-mentioned Mama a caffe. Next it’s post-prandial perching on the vespas parked outside (perhaps a spin, if an owner is near) and later it’s stopping at the alimentari (deli) to choose cheese, meat and bread for lunch (plus a proffered slice of something to nibble on). All the while the tot’s being kissed and coddled by a complement of complete strangers exclaiming “bellissimo/ bellissima!”

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I’m stumped as to how to introduce Michelangelo: where does one start with a titan like this, whose career lasted three-quarters of a century, for which time he was unchallenged as the biggest and best artist in Europe? He’s now known the world over (pop star style) by his first name and his Adam, David and other icons are etched on the eyes of so many minds. Michelangelo (1475 – 1564) thought of himself as a sculptor first, but painting, drawing and architecture, he had it all covered. There’s a sprinkling of his scintillating brilliance sitting in the NGA, in the form or a few small drawings. And that’s cause for a serious sit-up-and-listen, since even the didiest of doodles by this man can and do fetch millions on the art market. We’ll look at two Male Nude sketches today.
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My heart and soul

And body too

Keep missing you

What am I to do?

The day’s so long

And the night’s so rough

Cause it seems like I

Can’t forget your love!

It feels just like

I’m gonna fall apart

And I don’t know how

I can make it now… so:

Come back!

You’ve been gone too long

You’re on my mind

And it’s hard to carry on

Come back!

You’ve been away too long

My heart is weak

from being strong.

That’s Luther Vandross, beseeching a beloved to return to his side (I think actually in this song it’s after the couple has hit a bit of a bump in the road). But in any case, what his crooning is chronicling in Come Back is the thing that happens as soon as you’re a couple: whether you’re dating, mating, co-habituating, or stating things before a priest and people-gathered, it’s singles turned double, two become one.

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Get set for a history hit today: it’s the 4th of July and I’ve been finding out all about it. Independence Day (or the Fourth of July) has got to be the most gleaming, full-of-meaning of federal holidays (and there are lots to choose from) in the States. It’s the country’s national day, harking to the hallowed issue of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This set out plans for the American colonies then still living under British rule to sever from foreign governance, on behalf of the new nation: it ushered in the War of Independence, but also formed a firm foothold in the trek towards freedom.

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The wedding’s in the bag, so brother and bride are soon-to-be off on their honeymoon. They did something quite common for couples these days, and made the trip the feature on their list, in a honeymoon registry. So as a gift-giving guest you logged into their site to select from a host of honeymoon experiences. There were bigger bits (plush hotels, champagne dinners), interesting ones (spa days, boat trips, cultural tours) and mini presents to pick too (coffees, cocktails, ice creams, picnics). So clever and such a wonderful way to ‘send off’ the couple (rather than with a crock pot, however useful that may be).

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Today’s video is dedicated to M and N on their wedding day! Stevens’s wonderful Woman in White, clutching her bouquet of bright-colored blooms, brings to mind a bridal scene. And the ways she’s standing, on the threshold of that frame, speaks of the start of a new life, awaiting. Congratulations M and N! All love, from Art 2010. Read the rest of this entry »

My oldest brother is getting married on-the-morrow, so we’re set and super-excited for the big day. Weddings of course are primetime for lots of love-themed conversation, and top of the small-talk topics must surely be “how did the happy couple meet?” So I wanted to go with that theme today and wander into the wonderful world of dating. Yes, dating. Because like it or loathe it, it’s the thing that pre-dates love, marriage and even so much as a sniff at a horse-drawn carriage. I recently read about a new on-line dating coach who’s sharing secrets he claims can help anyone get their heart’s desire. Here are the boiled-down, bite-sized best bits of Matthew Hussey’s advice:

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