Collection of controversial videos, movies, photos, news and articles that are also unusual,sexy and amazing in the Internet. This decorated bridge photo for a wedding ceremony was taken from the balcony of the Chateau Du Mer Beach House, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines. If you have any copyright issues, let me know and I will delete it. I have no intention of infringing your copyrights.
I
have been enjoying my favorite movies, TV shows, and Documentaries for
the last several months with streaming services besides my Comcast Cable
Subscription. I have Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video Subscriptions. With my cable subscription I have access to HBO Max, Disney+and Peacock. My favorites are of course Netflix and Hulu. Netflix is currently the most popular streaming service in the world, with around 207 million subscribers.
Bundling subscriptions can save you money.
Today, TV viewers in the US have more places to watch their favorite movie and shows. Choosing the right
streaming service for your home entertainment setup will depend on a
number of factors, including your budget, which exclusive programs you
like the most, how many screens you want to watch on, and other factors.
Here's
a summary to help you decide what to sign up for, rounding up the best
streaming services of 2021. These picks are primarily
focus on on-demand platforms like
Netflix and
Hulu, but also includes separate sections for live TV and specialty streaming channels.
I
finished watching this film on Netflix a few months ago. It made me cry
and I can fully identify with the story and sentiment in this film
being an octogenarian myself. I highly recommend this 2021 Oscar
nominated documentary to all and specially to Senior Citizens and their
relatives.
A
private investigator (Rómulo) hires an elderly man (Sergio) to go
undercover in a nursing home in Chile. The film had its world premiere
at the Sundance Film Festival on 25 January 2020. In August 2020, Gravitas Ventures acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film, and set it for a 1 September 2020, release. The film will be broadcast on PBS on 25 January 2021, as part of their POV program. It was released in the Netherlands on 10 December 2020, by Cinema Delicatessen.
Critical response
On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes,
the film has an approval rating of 94% based on 51 reviews, with an
average rating of 7.50/10. The critical consensus reads "Warm and funny,
The Mole Agent offers audiences a poignant reminder that it's never too
late to forge new connections and embark on new adventures." On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 69 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Glenn Kenny of The New York Times
gave the film a positive review commenting: "The film’s people are
moving, and the payoff is compassionate, humane and worth heeding.". Nick Allen of RogerEbert.com
rated the movie three stars out of four writing: "The documentary
succeeds with its tenderness, while vividly reminding us how easily
society can forget its elders.".
Awards and nominations
The Mole Agent has received several awards and nominations, the documentary was the Chilean entry for the Goya Award for Best Iberoamerican Film,
achieving the nomination being the eighteenth Chilean nomination in
that category since its creation and the second for Alberdi after La once was nominated in 2015. At the 93rd Academy Awards, the film made the shortlist for two categories, for Best International Feature Film becoming the third Chilean entry to make the shortlist after No and A Fantastic Woman made the shortlist and received a nomination with the latter winning, though The Mole Agent did not received a nomination for this category, it achieved one for Best Documentary Feature, the other category where it was shortlisted.
Philomena is a 2013 drama film directed by Stephen Frears, based on the 2009 book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by journalist Martin Sixsmith. Starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, it tells the true story of Philomena Lee's 50-year search for her adopted son and Sixsmith's efforts to help her find him.
I just rented this movie in Prime Video for $3.99. I enjoyed it very much.
Sauvage (English: Wild) is a 2018 Frenchdrama film, directed by Camille Vidal-Naquet and produced by Emmanuel Giraud and Marie Sonne-Jensen. It stars Félix Maritaud in the lead role, with Eric Bernard, Nicolas Dibla and Philippe Ohrel. Sauvage premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018, where it won the Rising Star Award and was nominated for 3 others.
Sauvage was Vidal-Naquet's first feature film; his experience working with the Catholic charity Aux captifs la libération helped him to create the film. The film focuses on a young male sex worker, played by Félix Maritaud, with frequent explicit sex scenes; Vidal-Naquet "emphasizes [that] the sex we see in Sauvage is work". During pre-production, Vidal-Naquet and his director of photography
Jacques Girault spent months planning out the camera work, performances
and, particularly, the lighting and how it would work with other
elements; he explained that he "wanted to film the sex scenes to be no
different than the others" because "lighting is moral".
Vidal-Naquet describes that the theme of the film as being that
Léo, the protagonist, is "untamed. He's a wild animal. When you think
about it, the character of Léo reminds us that we live by rules of
society, those set by modern cities. We’ve all been tamed."
He quotes French film critic Jean Marc Lalanne's comments that "Léo
behaves like a stray dog—he drinks water from the streets, he willingly
sleeps in the streets, he eats garbage without disgust. For us, if we
were really lost in a big city, and we didn’t have a dollar to buy
water, it would be very difficult for us to imagine going to the gutter
for a drink of water." David Gerstner, interviewing for Cineaste, observed that the film evoked a stray dog:
"The basic instincts for survival not only require food and water, the
stray dog also often gives affection when it receives affection."
Initially, Vidal-Naquet was reluctant to cast Maritaud, as he was
looking for a younger, more "ill-looking" actor and "thought he would
be too strong for this role".
Once he met Maritaud, however, he saw that "the tenderness and
fragility I wanted, he had them in the way he walks, the way he moves,
the way he performs" and was convinced by the way the actor was talking
about how to communicate emotions without dialogue, as Léo "doesn't talk
much".
Critical reception
On the review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes,
the film holds an approval rating of 88% based on 26 reviews, and an
average rating of 7.66. The website's critical consensus reads, "Sauvage / Wild takes a clear-eyed look at the life of a sex worker, fueled by Felix Maritaud's performance and writer-director Camille Vidal-Naquet's non-judgmental approach." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 77 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian wrote, "It’s a contrived and slightly unsatisfying image. But Maritaud’s performance has power." Tara Brady of The Irish Times wrote, "Félix Maritaud is a heartbreaking revelation as a sex worker seeking intimacy in France". David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "Sauvage
has its longueurs, at times seeming stuck in a circuitous groove with
too little forward momentum. However, the movie is never banal."
I
have watched almost all of the recent Oscar nominated movies and
documentaries streaming on Netflix and Hulu. Nomadland is of course my
favorite. However, all the other nominated movies and documentaries are
also worth of your time.
I also like to watch controversial TV dramas and movies,
because I am curious what is the controversy is all about. Moreover, I
like to have my own opinion if the controversy is indeed real or just a
biased opinion of some viewers.
In the bottom of this page is the list of 11 controversial shows ( TV series/movies) streaming on Netflix. I have seen only two in the list( 13 Reasons Why and 365 Days), but I do not completely agree of the controversy listed on the article.
The other nine TV shows/movies in the list are in my watch list. Are you brave and adult enough to watch these movies/TV dramas? I dare you! Watch them and let me know what you think. Here's the list and the subject(s) of controversy:
"Mao's
Last Dancer" is the inspiring true story of Li Cunxin and his
extraordinary journey from a poor upbringing in rural China to
international stardom as a world-class ballet dancer. It compellingly
captures the struggles, sacrifices and triumphs, as well as the
intoxicating effects of first love and celebrity amid the pain of exile.
Here's the story from Wikipedia based from a true story.
In the era of Mao's Cultural Revolution
(in the 60s/70s), 11-year-old Chinese boy Li Cunxin resides in a rural
village commune in Shandong Province, destined to labour in the fields.
As often occurred in those times, government officials fanning out
across the nation seeking young candidates for centralized training
arrive at this school. At first bypassed but selected after a plea by
his teacher during the school visit, Li seems bewildered although piqued
by the gruff preliminary inspection screening at the provincial capital
city of Qingdao. Forwarded to a Beijing audition for a place in Madame
Mao's Dance Academy, he is admitted for ballet training based on a
series of physique and flexibility examinations.
Years of arduous training follow, Li surpassing his initial
lukewarm interest and mediocre performance after inspiration from senior
teacher Chan (whose advocacy of classical Russian ballet as opposed to
the politically aimed, physically strident form required by Madame Mao
leads to the teacher's apparent banishment). Later during the course of a
groundbreaking cultural visit to China, American-based English ballet
director Ben Stevenson, impressed by Li's standout talent, seeks him as an exchange student at his the Houston Ballet.
Li's determined courage garners a formerly disparaging teacher to
influence the Academy to allow him the opportunity for a three-month
stay in the United States.
Li's encounters with US life cause questioning of the Chinese
Communist Party dictates upon which he has been raised, and he begins a
relationship with an aspiring American dancer, Elizabeth Mackey. Quickly
attracting the attention of the local ballet scene, Li together with
Stevenson requests a time extension in America, but the Chinese
government refuses. Overwhelmed by the opportunities offered in America
and in love with Mackey, Li is determined to stay. With legal advice
that the Chinese government would recognize certain residence rights
arising from an international marriage, Li and Mackey rush into a
marriage. To declare personal responsibility for his decision and
hopefully avoid consequences for his family and Stevenson, Li visits the
Chinese Consulate in Houston. The Chinese resident diplomat forcibly
detains Li in an attempt to coerce his return to China. Unknown to Li,
the situation quickly evolves when the media and high level government
agents both in the US and China become involved. When Li perseveres in
his refusal to repatriate, the Chinese Government agrees to release him
but revokes his citizenship and declares he can never return to the land
of his birth.
Li and Elizabeth are set to depart for Florida but Li is
persuaded to stay by Stevenson for his ballet company, dooming
Elizabeth's prospects of dancing success. Burdened by this, plus
concerned for and unable to communicate with his family, Cunxin
continues to excel as a dancer, but his relationship with Elizabeth
disintegrates and their marriage ends. Five years later, as a show of
goodwill the Chinese government allows Li's parents to visit him in the
US where they finally witness his performance of The Rite of Spring
and even reunite with him on stage. Li is eventually granted permission
to visit China. Together with his new wife Mary McKendry (Camilla
Vergotis), an Australian ballerina, and coming back to the village of
his youth, he rejoins his family and his former teacher Chan, who
expresses regret that he never got to see Li perform. Li and McKendry
give an impromptu outdoor ballet performance to the village's uproarious
cheer.
Closing credits announce that:
Li Cunxin danced in China with the Houston Ballet in 1995, a performance
broadcast to an audience of over 500 million people. He and Mary
McKendry now live in Australia with their three children.
Ben Stevenson left the Houston Ballet after 27 years as Artistic
Director. Acclaimed as one of the world's leading choreographers, he is
now Artistic Director of the Texas Ballet Theater.
Charles C. Foster
still practices law in Houston. He is recognized internationally as an
authority on Immigration Law.
Elizabeth Mackey (Liz) danced with the Oklahoma Ballet for some years.
She is now a speech therapist, working mainly with children.
I have been been writing a series on Art museums and historical
landmarks here in the US. This is #3 of 10 articles of the Series.
Enjoy!
The website at the bottom of this page lists the top ten most expensive paintings in the world. The Number #1 is Salvador Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci below.
1. Salvator Mundi by
Leonardo da Vinci (US$ 450.3 million)
Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci
This piece by Leonardo da Vinci painted in the 1500’s was often put
under the radar for its authenticity. The art world is still divided
whether it’s da Vinci’s real work or the work of one of his skilled
students. Regardless, it fetched a hefty $450 million at a Christie’s
auction in 2017. The piece was bought by the Crown Prince of Saudi
Arabia, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud through his
Minister of Culture. The painting was due to be displayed at the Louvre
Abu Dhabi, however, it was later cancelled. It’s rumoured to have been
held up on a Saudi prince’s yacht and reserved for display at Saudi’s
very own future cultural centre in Al Ula, according to the Wall Street
Journal.
2. Interchange by Willem de Kooning (US$300 million)
de Kooning Interchange
Painted by Dutch American abstract painter, Willem de Kooning,
‘Interchange’ was one of his first abstract landscape works. In
September 2015, it was sold to Kenneth Griffin, CEO of hedge fund
Citadel for US$300 million. It currently is on loan at the Art Institute
of Chicago. Griffin is also reported to have bought a Jackson Pollock
art piece in addition to this one.
3. The Card Players by Paul Cezanne (estimated between US$250 and $300
million)
The Card Players by Paul Cezanne
Paul Cezanne painted the Card Players during the point where he was the
most acclaimed. The buyers of the piece were the Royal Family of Qatar
in 2011. There are 4 other pieces titled the same, but they are placed
at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Musée d’Orsay, the Courtauld, and
the Barnes Foundation.
4. Nafea Faa Ipoipo by Paul Gaugain (Almost US$300 million)
Nafea Faa Ipoipo
Translating to ‘when will you marry’, this interesting painting was
completed by Paul Gaugain in post-impressionist 1892. It features two
women from Tahiti, where Gaugain spent some time. It was reportedly sold
to Qatar's royal family in 2014.
5. 'Number 17a' by Jackson Pollock (US$200 million)
'Number 17a' by Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock is one of the most famous abstract expressionist
painters of all time. His painting ‘Number 17a’ was bought as part of a
deal with the David Geffen Foundation and Kenneth Griffin, who also
bought Interchange. The total deal cost him US$500 million.
6. 'No 6 - Violet Green and Red' by Mark Rothko (US$186 million)
NO 6 - VIOLET GREEN AND RED' BY MARK ROTHKO
You don’t really need a picture to envision this painting as the title
is self-explanatory. However, it was painted in 1951 by famous
Russian-American abstract expressionist Mark Rothko. It was bought by
Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev from Yves Bouvier, who later
reportedly fell into trouble in a string of international lawsuits due
to misrepresenting the works and subsequently overcharging them. This
painting sold to Rybolev was originally bought for roughly half the
price, with Bouvier pocketing the difference.
7. 'Wasserschlangen II' by Gustav Klimt (US$170 million)
Wasserschlangen translates to ‘water serpents’. Painted by Gustav Klimt,
a popular Austrian painter, it features some gold leaf elements. This
painting was also sold to Dmitry Rybolovlev by Yves Bouvier. Rybolev
also reportedly owned the most expensive painting in the world – the
Salvator Mundi. This painting originally belonged to a Viennese silk
factory owner, but was later seized by the Nazis and then finally to
Gustav’s alleged illegitimate child, Gustav Ucicky before it was sold.
8. Pendant portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit - Rembrandt
van Rijn (US$180 million)
Rembrandt
The couple portrait of Soolmans & Coppit were painted by Rembrandt
in 1634 during their wedding. These paintings were his first full length
portraiture works. The painting is currently hung at the Rijksmuseum
and is co-owned by it and the Louvre. It used to belong to the
Rothschild family. They are always displayed together and have never
been separated, even though they shuttle between both museums.
9. Les femmes d'Alger (Version O) by Pablo Picasso (US$179.4 million)
This unique painting by Pablo Picasso was bought by the Qatari royal
family in 2015. This version is one in a 15-piece collection owned by
the Ganz family. The picture is representative of Algerian concubines in
their harem with a hookah used to smoke hashish or opium. This
particular painting is considered the masterpiece in the series.
Christie’s calls this painting a phenomenon, with its references to
Cubism, a response to the artist Delacroix’s work as well as an echo of
Matisse’s work. It’s almost considered a new style of painting.
10. Nu Couche by Amedeo Modigliani (US$170 million)
Sold in 2015, this particular nude painting was first shown to the
public in 1917. After a few hours of its debut, the French police had to
intervene as it was termed as obscene by many visitors. It is just one
of a collection of popular nude paintings by Modigliani. It was sold to
the Chinese billionaire Liu Yiqian for $170.4 million in 2015.
Editor's Note: Some of the images of paintings have been excluded as
they do not align with the UAE's National Media Council rules &
regulations.
1. Salvator Mundi by
Leonardo da Vinci (US$ 450.3 million)
Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci
This piece by Leonardo da Vinci painted in the 1500’s was often put
under the radar for its authenticity. The art world is still divided
whether it’s da Vinci’s real work or the work of one of his skilled
students. Regardless, it fetched a hefty $450 million at a Christie’s
auction in 2017. The piece was bought by the Crown Prince of Saudi
Arabia, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud through his
Minister of Culture. The painting was due to be displayed at the Louvre
Abu Dhabi, however, it was later cancelled. It’s rumoured to have been
held up on a Saudi prince’s yacht and reserved for display at Saudi’s
very own future cultural centre in Al Ula, according to the Wall Street
Journal.
2. Interchange by Willem de Kooning (US$300 million)
de Kooning Interchange
Painted by Dutch American abstract painter, Willem de Kooning,
‘Interchange’ was one of his first abstract landscape works. In
September 2015, it was sold to Kenneth Griffin, CEO of hedge fund
Citadel for US$300 million. It currently is on loan at the Art Institute
of Chicago. Griffin is also reported to have bought a Jackson Pollock
art piece in addition to this one.
3. The Card Players by Paul Cezanne (estimated between US$250 and $300
million)
The Card Players by Paul Cezanne
Paul Cezanne painted the Card Players during the point where he was the
most acclaimed. The buyers of the piece were the Royal Family of Qatar
in 2011. There are 4 other pieces titled the same, but they are placed
at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Musée d’Orsay, the Courtauld, and
the Barnes Foundation.
4. Nafea Faa Ipoipo by Paul Gaugain (Almost US$300 million)
Nafea Faa Ipoipo
Translating to ‘when will you marry’, this interesting painting was
completed by Paul Gaugain in post-impressionist 1892. It features two
women from Tahiti, where Gaugain spent some time. It was reportedly sold
to Qatar's royal family in 2014.
5. 'Number 17a' by Jackson Pollock (US$200 million)
'Number 17a' by Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock is one of the most famous abstract expressionist
painters of all time. His painting ‘Number 17a’ was bought as part of a
deal with the David Geffen Foundation and Kenneth Griffin, who also
bought Interchange. The total deal cost him US$500 million.
6. 'No 6 - Violet Green and Red' by Mark Rothko (US$186 million)
NO 6 - VIOLET GREEN AND RED' BY MARK ROTHKO
You don’t really need a picture to envision this painting as the title
is self-explanatory. However, it was painted in 1951 by famous
Russian-American abstract expressionist Mark Rothko. It was bought by
Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev from Yves Bouvier, who later
reportedly fell into trouble in a string of international lawsuits due
to misrepresenting the works and subsequently overcharging them. This
painting sold to Rybolev was originally bought for roughly half the
price, with Bouvier pocketing the difference.
7. 'Wasserschlangen II' by Gustav Klimt (US$170 million)
Wasserschlangen translates to ‘water serpents’. Painted by Gustav Klimt,
a popular Austrian painter, it features some gold leaf elements. This
painting was also sold to Dmitry Rybolovlev by Yves Bouvier. Rybolev
also reportedly owned the most expensive painting in the world – the
Salvator Mundi. This painting originally belonged to a Viennese silk
factory owner, but was later seized by the Nazis and then finally to
Gustav’s alleged illegitimate child, Gustav Ucicky before it was sold.
8. Pendant portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit - Rembrandt
van Rijn (US$180 million)
Rembrandt
The couple portrait of Soolmans & Coppit were painted by Rembrandt
in 1634 during their wedding. These paintings were his first full length
portraiture works. The painting is currently hung at the Rijksmuseum
and is co-owned by it and the Louvre. It used to belong to the
Rothschild family. They are always displayed together and have never
been separated, even though they shuttle between both museums.
9. Les femmes d'Alger (Version O) by Pablo Picasso (US$179.4 million)
This unique painting by Pablo Picasso was bought by the Qatari royal
family in 2015. This version is one in a 15-piece collection owned by
the Ganz family. The picture is representative of Algerian concubines in
their harem with a hookah used to smoke hashish or opium. This
particular painting is considered the masterpiece in the series.
Christie’s calls this painting a phenomenon, with its references to
Cubism, a response to the artist Delacroix’s work as well as an echo of
Matisse’s work. It’s almost considered a new style of painting.
10. Nu Couche by Amedeo Modigliani (US$170 million)
Sold in 2015, this particular nude painting was first shown to the
public in 1917. After a few hours of its debut, the French police had to
intervene as it was termed as obscene by many visitors. It is just one
of a collection of popular nude paintings by Modigliani. It was sold to
the Chinese billionaire Liu Yiqian for $170.4 million in 2015.
Editor's Note: Some of the images of paintings have been excluded as
they do not align with the UAE's National Media Council rules &
regulations.
This piece by Leonardo
da Vinci painted in the 1500’s was often put under the radar for its
authenticity. The art world is still divided whether it’s da Vinci’s
real work or the work of one of his skilled students. Regardless, it
fetched a hefty $450 million at a Christie’s auction in 2017. The piece
was bought by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud through his Minister of Culture. The
painting was due to be displayed at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, however, it
was later cancelled. It’s rumoured to have been held up on a Saudi
prince’s yacht and reserved for display at Saudi’s very own future
cultural centre in Al Ula, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Photo Credit: Luxhabitat: Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci (US$ 450.3M)
The three videos are worth your time if you want more details.
This piece by Leonardo
da Vinci painted in the 1500’s was often put under the radar for its
authenticity. The art world is still divided whether it’s da Vinci’s
real work or the work of one of his skilled students. Regardless, it
fetched a hefty $450 million at a Christie’s auction in 2017. The piece
was bought by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud through his Minister of Culture. The
painting was due to be displayed at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, however, it
was later cancelled. It’s rumoured to have been held up on a Saudi
prince’s yacht and reserved for display at Saudi’s very own future
cultural centre in Al Ula, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The other day, I posted the top ten most popular or visited art
museums in the world. Today I am posting the top 100 and top ten most
famous and known paintings. How many of these paintings have you seen
or are you aware of ?
Photo Credit: Pinterest Original Mona Lisa at the Lourve- #1 most Famous Painting
I
was looking at a video listing 100 famous paintings in the world. I was
surprised that none of Gaugin's painting was listed, but happy that one
of Juan Luna's painting(#67) titled Las Damas Romanas was in the
list (see description at bottom of this article). Juan Luna is one of
Filipino most famous painter during the Spanish occupation of the
Philippines.
The "Mona Lisa" was exhibited on January 8, 1963 at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, was exhibited for the first time in America on January 8, 1963. Over 2,000 dignitaries, including President John F. Kennedy,
came out that evening to view the famous painting. The next day, the
exhibit opened to the public, and during the next three weeks an
estimated 500,000 people came to see it. The painting then traveled to New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it was seen by another million people.
Leonardo da Vinci, one of the great Italian Renaissance painters, completed the Mona Lisa, a portrait of the wife of wealthy Florentine citizen Francesco del Gioconda, in 1504. The painting, also known as La Gioconda,
depicts the figure of a woman with an enigmatic facial expression that
is both aloof and alluring, seated before a visionary landscape. First
Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and Andre Malraux, the French minister of
culture, arranged the loan of the painting from the Louvre Museum in
Paris to the United States.
Meanwhile,
here's my painting by an unknown artist titled Morion. I purchased this
for $5 in 2010 during our stay at our second home in Boac, Marinduque,
Philippines.
The following video list 100 popular paintings and 30 honorable mentions. I am pretty sure you recognize the top ten most popular art work as shown in the 2 videos below.
Here are the videos for your viewing pleasure: I have seen four of the top twelve in the museums where they are exhibited. Enjoy!!
This is #10 on the List- Creation of Adam- Macrine(RIP) and I saw this at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel during our tour at the Vatican Museum in 1990
Artist: Michelangelo Date: 1508 to 1512 Where to see it:Sistine Chapel (Vatican City)
The
most famous work by renowned artist Michelangelo covers a section of
the Sistine Chapel's ceiling -- you have to look up to view it. The
scene depicts God and Adam with outstretched arms, their fingers nearly
touching. It is one of the most replicated images in history. Adam's
muscular form hints at Michelangelo's other talent -- his "David" is
possibly the world's most famous sculpture. You can see the towering
marble statue at the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Juan Luna Las Damas Romanas #67 in the List of 100
Las Damas Romanas (literally, "The Roman Dames"), also known as The Roman Maidens, The Roman Women, or The Roman Ladies, is an oil on canvas painting by Juan Luna, one of the most important Filipino painters of the Spanish period in the Philippines.It was painted by Luna when he was a student of the school of painting in the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando) in Madrid, Spain in 1877. Alejo Valera, a Spanish painting teacher, took Luna as an apprentice and brought him to Rome where Luna created Las Damas Romanas in 1882. Luna spent six years in Rome from 1878 to 1884.
Description: The concept for the 100 cm x 170 cm size painting was based by Luna on ancient Romanhistory. It depicted a domestic scene in ancient Roman life, portraying two women lying on the steps of a house. The hand of one woman was holding the reins of two pet dogs or hunting dogs, in order to prevent them from scaring away some doves.The doves symbolized divinity. The background of the painting presented a shelf of artifacts. To the left of the shelf was a shrine with a pediment shaped like a triangle. In front of the pediment was a burner with a smoking incense.
There are three major elements of Las Damas Romanas,
namely the women, the dogs, and the doves. Roman life involved having
dogs because they were employed by the ancient Romans for hunting
activities, guardians of the home and their property, and as pets. In
Luna's painting, the leashed pet dogs were acting as companions of
women. Doves, on the other hand, were animals that connote eroticism.
In relation to one of the women, there was a suggestion that the woman
on the right with dark hair could be Maria de la Paz Pardo de Tavera.
The notion was discarded because Luna was unmarried when he painted Las Damas Romanas.
Luna finished Las Damas Romanas after winning a silver medal for The Death of Cleopatra painting in 1881 and before obtaining a gold medal for the masterpiece Spoliarium
in 1884 (both were presented during the Madrid Exposition during the
years mentioned). In 1886, Luna was awarded a Diploma of Honor at the
Munich Art Exposition (also known as the Munich Salon) for painting Las Damas Romanas.
The masterpiece was a classic work painted in the highest conventions
of the academic style, and it was a representative of the "abundant
richness of life, with humankind", represented by women in the painting,
being "in harmony with Nature"
Valuation: Long
thought lost or missing, the painting emerged in an estate sale outside
Paris, France, before 2008. During this art auction, the painting was
originally priced between 10,000 and 20,000 euros (₱623,000
and ₱1.3 million), a range that rose to greater than 200,000 euros
(₱12.4 million) when the painting was bought by a French art dealer.
The painting was auctioned once again on November 30, 2008, at Christie's in Hong Kong with an estimated value ranging from $1 million to $1.2 million, the equivalent of HK$8,000,000 to HK$10,000,000. The work sold for far less than the estimate, however, achieving $609,193, or HK$4,700,000, including buyer's premium.
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