orlando replaced by gorgeous bloodthirst

[lobelia321]

It's finally happened: I have replaced melancholy!Orlando (who had been a steady staple on my desktop homepage since, hm, May 2002) with the scene of a bloodthirsty but strangely gorgeous beheading.



This was my picture. I thrilled to this picture. Even once I'd gone off Orli. Even once I'd gone off lotrips. I adored this melancholy, curly Orli:



But somehow, two weeks ago, I stared at Orli and thought, no. And replaced him with this picture which had already served as my AppleMac desktop picture. It is called Execution without Trial during the Reign of the Moorish Kings and was painted by Henri Regnault in 1870.



Oh, and lest I forget: I have another picture on my homepage, too. But this one's been there for a few months (it replaced Karl). It is, of course, the swoonsome Salman Khan from the title credits of Hum Aapke Hain Kaun.

Comments

[thamiris.livejournal.com]

I love the Regnault! The architecture alone is swoon-worthy--such gorgeous rich colors. The violence is just an added bonus. *g*

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

I thought you might like this! The gorgeousness plus the gore plus (not to be neglected) the hunk-value of the slaying moor! I want to go to the Alhambra now; I've never been.

[thamiris.livejournal.com]

It's luscious in all possible senses. The backdrop has such a Renaissance lushness to it; I keep thinking of Gentile da Fabriano's fabrics.

Let's just ditch our responsibilities and head off to the Alhambra together, okay?

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Oh, Gentile-- yes, I see what you mean! Although there's no naïveté about Regnault, faux or otherwise. Looking at the Gentile reminded me of another, slightly later Italian Renaissance painter whom I love: Andrea del Sarto. Will rummage round for jpeg.

I'm reading a book on Islamic art and architecture because I'm going to devise a new module on it (partly in response to quickie -LJ survey -- that is the first time I have shamelessly used the LJ vox pop for career advancement purposes) and there are pictures of the Alhambra -- I haven't got to the chapter yet but I anticipate great longings and urges to travel there immediately!

[yellow-oranges.livejournal.com]

Wow! I thought you might have meant "Judith Beheading Holofernes" by Caravaggio. Always a good one.

my favourite judith

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Here's my own favourite Judith beheading Holofernes (with scrumptious maid). It's by Artemisia Gentileschi, also Neapolitan and 17th C. (like Caravaggio, only a bit later).

[lazulus]

Lordy, no wonder the bloody mood is depressed!

Hiya hon! And I will once again say how much I am looking forward to seeing you. Just so as you know. :)

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

:-)

I'm not sure if this picture caused the mood, though...