Duplicate David

When asked how Michelangelo carved his statue of David, he is reported to have said, "It is easy.  You just chip away the stone that doesn't look like David."

Whether he said that or not, 

this work of art is amazing.  This is the photo I took when we visited this museum in Florence, Accademia Gallery.

This, however, is not that museum and this is not Michelangelo's David.

This is a replica of the original.

This gives you some idea of just how huge this thing is . . . and what a feat it must have been to chip away what didn't look like David.

In the event you are in London, not able to get to Florence, and can't see the real thing, beginning November 29, this duplicate of David will be on display at the V&A (Victoria and Albert) Museum.

No, it's not the de facto David, but it is a plaster cast of the original and no doubt also a work of art.

Fiddling Around

You may remember a post back in September when I told you about Jim's latest project - a violin.  Here's a link if you didn't see that post . . .

Luthier post

He's progressing nicely despite, according to him, being challenged by the scrollwork on the neck.

The violin is the highest-pitched instrument of the violin family in an orchestra.  The other two are viola and cello.  I'm not sure if he's going to make a viola or cello next :)

The violin was first known in Italy in the 16th century, but similar instruments date even earlier.  You've certainly heard of a Stradivari, but both Amati and Guarneri violins are also prized.  

It's not known who made the first violin, but it likely originated in northern Italy, the area near Milan.  A painting called "Madonna of the Orange Trees" by Guadenzio Ferrari is the first record of a violin.

This is it.

We got to see a real Stradivari violin when we visited Florence almost exactly 3 years ago.

Here's the photo I took that day.  We were in the Accademia Gallery museum which is also home to Michelangelo's David.

I think these "f" holes (or sound holes) have also been a challenge.

They look perfect!  

On our first visit to Venice, we went to a fantastic concert of stringed instruments.  

Here is a video of the same musicians we saw - Interpreti Veneziani - playing part of Vivaldi's Four Seasons.  

Until next time . . .

Door Open

For five years and counting, we've had the good fortune to call Belgium "home".  We've also traveled to places we'd only heard of or read about, learned to understand and speak a little of a foreign language, and grasped the diversity and culture of another continent.

Unless you're a seasoned world traveler, you'll likely never come to Belgium.  Like most, who are lucky enough to travel, you'll go to Paris or Venice or London or Rome . . . 

We have too.

It's a bit unfortunate.  It's a hidden gem.  Belgium.

Often called The Battlefield of Europe because of its central location, it's not an instigator of war, but has often been right in the middle of one.  It may be one of the grayest of places, but it's also one of the greenest. Despite it being sate with castles and cathedrals, breweries and museums, it's never been a tourist destination.  In fact, most who live here might call it boring.

The whole little country is just 1/3 the size of Louisiana, but with a LOT more people.  Belgium has 950 people per square mile to Louisiana's 100 people per square mile.  Dense.  Very dense.

Sooo . . . our door is always open, but if you never get to Belgium . . . you won't see the roads we take, the countryside we drive through, the castles, the rivers, the cities, or the sea in this tiny country.

I discovered a really good video online and if you have about a half hour of free time, I hope you'll watch.

Remember to make the screen big by clicking in the bottom right corner and turn the volume up so you can hear the narration in English (subtitles are in Dutch).