Metropolitan Museum of Art continued...

Georges de la Tor, The Penitent Magdalen. For a better picture, go to the Met's site: http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/110001283

"She is shown with a mirror, symbol of vanity; a skull, emblem of mortality; and a candle, that may stand for spiritual enlightenment. The style of La Tour, a native of the duchy of Lorraine in eastern France, is much indebted to Caravaggesque painting. The contrast of candlelight and shadow, the pure geometry of form, and the meditative mood characterize the pictures for which he is chiefly famous."

These photos were taken before the camera battery went. Click on one of the images to scroll through them all at full size.


David's The Death of Socrates. I didn't take this one. Socrates talks of the immortality of the soul, but his companions are too distraught to listen. "Crito, we owe a cock to Asclepius. Pay it. Do not forget."

What does the lamp burning on the tall table signify? Also, note the manacles discarded on the floor. Is the pale light we see cast upon the scene that light cast by the observer, we who witness the event?


Pieter Bruegel the Elder, The Harvesters.


El Greco, The Adoration of the Shepherds. The donkey is said to undercut the beautiful abstraction of the scene.






Huge frieze of the Buddha and his disciples.


Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara of the Lion's Roar


Buddha, probably Amitabha.


Avalokiteshvara in Water Moon Form.





Standing Bodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future.


The Great Departure and the Temptation of the Buddha.



Detail showing Mara's daughters arriving to tempt the Buddha.

Gupta, Gandharvan and Nepalese sculptures in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC

Dancing Celestial, early 12th Century. For a clearer photo and to find out more, go here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/1655170459/ - (L.1993.88.2)

I had the astounding good luck to be in New York visiting my friend Dan. Many cool bars, cafés and eateries were visited and we spent a lot of time beating the sidewalks as well as improving my ropey Call of Duty skills.

MOMA was great but, for me, the best museum visit was a day spent in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Here are some of the many highlights. Unfortunately, the camera ran out of power so I had to take these with my phone. But, luckily, I have managed to track some of the items down and provide external links. It's worth clicking through to them - they're incredibly beautiful.


Krishna Killing the Horse Demon, Keshi. Vishnu, as Krishna, forces his elbow into the demon's throat. For a better image, please go here: http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/60005466?rpp=20&pg=1&ft=krishna%2c+keshi&pos=1



Nagaraja and Nagini, The Serpent King and his consort.


Vishnu as Para Vasudeva-Narayana. This form of Vishnu has four faces, representing different aspects of the god as the creator of the universe. A grinning demon with a vertical third eye appears on the back of the mandala behind his head.


To see the listing on the Met's website, go here: http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/60005470


Yoga Narasimha, Vishnu's Man-Lion Incarnation. For a clearer image and explanation, visit the Met's website: http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/60006237


Shiva embracing his consort, Uma. For a clearer image, go here: http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/60006235


Standing Parvati, Shiva's consort. For a clearer image, go here: http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/60006316



Shiva seated with Uma. From the Met's website:

"Shiva (Maheshvara) is shown together with his wife Uma (Parvati) in an image of great tenderness and grace, seated in royal ease on an elliptical lotus platform. The pairing of the divine lovers is understood as a metaphor for the dissolution of the illusion of duality that veils the true nature of the universe. This is one of the most finely executed large-scale Umamaheshvara images known from Nepal."

Go here for a higher quality image: http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/60006348

Living the Highline

Screwdriver-drinking solidarity.

Poker madness '11

Maurice's 60th

I'm catching up on uploading some photos. Back in October, we had a great time visiting Fermanagh with Maurice in celebration of his 60th birthday.


An intricate Beleek mirror.


Two-headed Janus stone in a cemetery.