Everyday one learns something

    Everybody loves lists. “Worst 5 movies of the year”, “Best first date puddings”, “10 reasons to drink tequila”, etc... Quick, funny, and they last as long as your microwave noodles take to be cooked.

    On behalf of this so post-modern invention I made this superb list of art stuff. Among dozens of possibilities I will choose true facts and curiosities known by connoisseurs and fascinating for sympathizers. I hope it was delightful for everyone and the first of many.

    1. Egyptians didn't only depict profile portraits.

Tomb of Nebamun Paintings, 1350 b.C.

Ostracon of the flute player.

    Pretending the Egyptian? Funny faces and strange poses, arms in right angle, feet onwards,  silliness. Due to their reality perception the majority of Egyptian figures possessed a profile-like stand. The real issue is more complicated though. If necessary, craftsmen were able to form a front view portrait. A little bit of freedom and less tight commands could lead to this beautiful creations.

2.      Bikini is 2000 years old.

Casale Villae Mosaic, Sicily. 400 a.C.

    Neither French, nor American. It is not a twentieth century symptom of feminist freedom. Bikini might be a Roman Sicily invention as these ladies bear out. They are part of Casale Villae decoration (Piazza Armerina), taking a bath more than 1600 years ago.

3.      Balthazar was white skinned.

Three Wise Men. Saint Apollinaire, Ravena, Italy. 566 a.C.

    This Saint Apollinaire’s mosaic contains the Three Wise Men. During Early Middle Ages the Church decided Balthazar to be a black skinned man. Christianity ought to be universal so new Christian territories should have their emissary too. After this moment Three Wise Men's depictions would begin to be as we normally know.

4.      Nashville Parthenon.

Nashville Parthenon, 1897.

    In Tennessee a replica of the Parthenon was built for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in 1897. The resemblance is such that the temple is home to the pseudo-chryselephantine sculpture of Athena. First building was ephemeral architecture but its success led the building to be built by permanent materials as concrete. This replica must be treated respectfully owing to the original temple conservation.

5.      Picasso, the Realistic

Pablo Picasso, The Holy Comunion. 1896.

Pablo Picasso, Science and Charity, 1897

    Before becoming Cubism master and referent for twentieth century art, Picasso was taught in classical drawing and realistic style. These two gems dated from 1896 and 1897. Picasso was a teenager when he made these paintings (15 and 16 years old). His forthcoming works are not result of lack of technique but a conscious election of style and procedure. My 5 years old niece could make this, couldn’t she?