LadyKflo

La Basilica de la Sagrada Familia represents the culmination of Antoni Gaudi’s mastery. This glorious church lives and breathes. It’s a sacred place, even for a heathen like me. I hesitate to ever use the words masterpiece and genius. But Gaudi’s worth these exceptions. He devoted his entire life to this architectural art – his church. 

Gaudi was an acclaimed architect and artist with endless offers for work. He could have been the richest artist in Spain quite easily. But this was a man utterly devoted to a particular work of art - this basilica. To see it in person defines the word breathtaking. It's a once in a lifetime experience. Learn more with a listen here and see the glorious pictures click through to LadyKflo.com.

https://www.ladykflo.com/la-basilica-de-la-sagrada-familia/

War and death ruled Paul Klee’s life when he painted Death and Fire. Torn asunder by World War II and a seering case of scleroderma – Klee suffered while painting this. His pain shows. Even the skull’s sharp salute feels forced. The way Klee hems the gesture tight into the painting’s left corner creates a cold, robotic vibe. Speaking of subhuman, the hollow man on the far right also feels familiar. He’s like a scarecrow, but with less personality.

We know this stick figure symbolizes a person just as we know the line pointing to the skull represents a salute. But both are also empty. They are mere tokens in the face of death’s madness. After all, nothing can stand up to inevitable death and persevere. Death always wins in the end.

Learn about this and other masterpieces with a click to LadyKflo's site.

https://www.ladykflo.com/death-and-fire-by-paul-klee/

Imagine a hundred years kept in a townhouse time capsule. That’s what it’s like at the Merchant’s House Museum. It’s much more than Manhattan’s first landmark. This one’s personal. Thanks to the Tredwell family, we can explore this historic home as it was in the 1800s.

It’s packed with clothes, personal items, furniture, and everyday life. The bread box still has a lock and key to keep servants out. Their bells hang near the ceiling. But most of the museum contents belonged to Gertrude Tredwell – the lady of the house. These objects are what make Merchant’s House Museum so special today.

Checkout more on this and other historic people and places with a click to LadyKflo's site.

https://www.ladykflo.com/merchants-house-museum-gertrude-tredwell/

Pierre Bonnard painted four versions of Nude in the Bath. It wasn’t an obsession – just routine. In fact, the habit was not even his. Bonnard’s wife, Marthe de Méligny, loved bath time best. It was her favorite self care ritual. She relished hours in the tub. Marthe was not beloved among Bonnard’s friends. She’s characterized as “difficult” and even “neurotic” in writings from the time. It was well known that baths served as her sanctuary.

Get all the goods on this and more masterpieces with a click through to LadyKflo's website:

https://www.ladykflo.com/nude-in-the-bath-by-pierre-bonnard/

If the concept of Pompeii creeps you out, you should still go. We’ve all heard the tragic story. Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. In one day, an entire city drowned in hot ash. Today, many of us picture lava pouring into the lavish city. I know I did. But it was requisite ash, mud, and rocks that buried Pompeii. The remnants of Pompeii’s people are one of the reasons for this lava misconception. We see the Pompeii body casts and presume a layer of lava preserves their final moments.

Click through for more on LadyKflo's website:

https://www.ladykflo.com/pompeii-casts/

The Annunciation portrays a critical event for Christianity. Keeping that in mind, painter Fra Angelico uses a golden laser beam to direct viewers’ eyes. He wants us to see this scene in a super specific way. Angelico also uses rich colors, details, and lots of glorious gold. So, it’s evident something hardcore is going down. In fact, among Christians this is THE event. Italian painter, Fra Angelico remains one of very few canonized artists. That means in the eyes of the Catholic Church, he’s a saint. Nothing’s more Catholic than sainthood. So, this guy was the real deal. He didn’t consider The Annunciation a mere story. To him, it’s fact that the angel Gabriel told Mary she was pregnant with God’s baby. He believed in it 100%. The depth of Angelico’s faith shoots through this work. It works like the laser beam of light that strikes Mary in the painting.

The painting Paris Street; Rainy Day snapshots a beautiful moment on a typical, even dull, day. French painter, Gustave Caillebotte titled this Rue de Paris Wet Weather – a simple name. Its plainness points to the piece’s subject. He gives us a slice of life. It’s an unromantic, realistic painting during peak Impressionism. At the same time it captures 19th century Paris with a fresh allure.

Faces lack expression. Clothes belie the formal 1800s drab design. The weather stinks. Yet this portrait reminds us that Paris is magic. It’s a wonder of simplicity. Wet cobblestones shine under a jaunty green streetlight. Shadows play on their surfaces. Top hats and bow ties saunter in every direction. Each person carries an umbrella. Bodies relaxed, they take their time.

Learn more about this and other masterpieces with a click to LadyKflo's website:

https://www.ladykflo.com/paris-street-rainy-day-by-gustave-caillebotte/

Michael Malpass was most well known for his intricate and glorious spheres. He’s an orb master. Malpass works often intertwine mechanical parts or shiny shapes. He spotlights machinery, plumbing, and metalwork. His work’s got a hardy, masculine vibe. But thanks to the artistry of Michael Malpass, these aren’t just tough guy orbs. There are tender parts too.

Check out this great artist and more with a click to LadyKflo.com,

https://www.ladykflo.com/michael-malpass-screaming-medusa/

Philipsburg Manor nestles in historic Sleepy Hollow, New York. It lies about a half hour train ride outside upper Manhattan. This landmark estate tour isn’t like the others. That’s because it reveals the harsh reality of manor slaves. In fact, these tours shine light upon their daily lives. Most home tours for the richest early Americans focus on wealthy family members. But this one tells stories of the workers. These people kept the place profitable and vital. It was relentless work because they ran it night and day – 365 and 24/7. They were bound to the Philips family plantation as African captives. So, such workers were both powerful and powerless – all at once.

Check out this and many more cool historic New York sites with a click through to LadyKflo.com:

https://www.ladykflo.com/philipsburg-manor-living-history/

Antonio Pollaiuolo’s 15th century Italian masterpiece Apollo and Daphne explores this myth. It’s the classic tale of unrequited love, with a laurel-scented twist. Apollo was far too fond of dismissive Daphne. We can see him clinging to her here. It’s also clear that she’s changing under the weight of his embrace.

That’s because she asked her father, the river god, to turn her into a tree. This is her only escape from Apollo’s literal clutches. If you look just beyond Daphne to the right, you can see her father snaking his way to her. She will soon rest beside him, a lifelong contented spinster next to dear old Dad.

Dig into this and more masterpieces with a click through to LadyKflo's website:

https://www.ladykflo.com/antonio-pollaiuolo-apollo-and-daphne/