Trojan

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Trojan Horse by Giuseppe Arcimboldo. He didn't just paint still lifes of fruits and vegetables.

Feliks Topolski

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The newly crowned Queen from the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth by Feliks Topolski (2nd part, 5th panel). This is the image I had been looking for to illustrate this post.

Topolski's mural at Buckingham Palace is in 2 parts. The first shows the street procession. The second part, on the wall facing the first part, is the ceremony at Westminster Abbey divided into 6 sections placed between windows. The height of the mural is given as 4 feet. I don't know if the mural was hung high or at eye level.



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second part (in black and white)


second panel (in black and white)


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a closer detail of the second panel of the second part. To the right, I think unmistakably, is Winston Churchill amongst what the caption says are some of the Commonwealth's prime ministers.


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detail of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth by Feliks Topolski (2nd part, 4th panel).

Pics scanned from an old Horizon Magazine (November 1960). The writer assures the reader that the "elegance, wit, désinvolture, and almost reckless impressionism of Topolski's style has produced something far more dashing than the usual stodgy commemorative painting." So true.

Especially the désinvolture. Topolski probably carried a backpack full of désinvolture where ever he went. Hopefully, a waterproof backpack so none of it would leak out. Of course, some people might object to his désinvolture. I imagine some are even outraged he would take his désinvolture out in public. Perhaps I too would object if I had to sit on a bus next to Topolski and his désinvolture on a hot day. (The writer surely wouldn't use a French word simply to be pretentious when a word in English would suffice, so I'm assuming "désinvolture" is french for "disemboweled vulture".)


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first part (in black and white)

Note the almost complete lack of architecture or scenery — it is limited to the important things : the people.

It is fun and exuberant stuff. At least I think so. A few years ago I saw a Topolski book "Fourteen Letters" on sale at the book store. I bought 2 extra copies and proceeded to present it to people I thought would appreciate his work. The people I had in mind refused it. Eventually I found other people I thought would like it and each time it's been refused. Apparently, I am a terrible evangelist.

I'll have to put this book on my list. But just one copy.

This article says Topolski was commissioned because the Duke of Edinburgh knew Topolski socially — not necessarily because of the art.

This bit is amusing (from the article above) :

He did not comment on Topolski’s excellent likeness of Queen Mary, nor on the less easily identifiable one of his uncle Lord Mountbatten, but paused before that of Jomo Kenyatta and recalled the day he and the Queen presented Kenya with its independence. “It took place in a football stadium,” he said. “The Kenyan flag went up, and there was a hiatus. There was silence for about two minutes. And I said to him, ‘Are you sure you want to go through with this?’ — which failed to be seen as a joke by some of the Kenyan listeners.”

LOL

ouch

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engraving by Theodore De Bry after a painting by Jacques le Moyne (who accompanied a French expedition to Florida in 1564) showing how the Timucua treated the enemy dead. Ouch.

Note the time lapse quality of the figure(s) running in the background.

The Facebook Queen

Above is part of The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II by Feliks Topolski. c. 1960. I have yet to find someone who likes his work as much as I do. The Duke of Edinburgh commissioned it so he might.

I hear that the Queen of England is on Facebook. I assume she gets on facebook, looks up people from school and messages them asking :

"Remember me from algebra class? I was the girl who wore a crown everyday..."

or

"I was the girl who hit you with a scepter when you were flirting with the boy I had a crush on. I think it was a ruby that came off and had fastened itself to your forehead."

(I can't find the magazine to scan the image I wanted so this one will have to do.)

It is so big...

It seems like all nature shows that deal with any sort of geography at some point say "blah blah blah it is so big that it can be seen from space." Of course it can be seen from space. Basically everything can be seen from space unless it is underground.

Russian Rocket Powered Horse

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The rocket powered horse was developed by Paco Industries for the Russian Imperial Army circa 1904. The exhaust force from the vertical nozzle pushed the rear of the cart down and raised the horse off the ground to prevent injury at high speeds. Steering was accomplished through a handle next to the driver controlling a differential mechanism affecting the comparative speed of the wheels. Pulling back turned left and pushing the lever forward turned right. The rear exhaust nozzle's thrust enabled unprecedented speeds which any army could appreciate.

The main problem with the Rocket Horse was inattentive conscripts being told to pour the volatile rocket fuel into the opening at the rear. This lack of clarity did not lead to good results for either the horse nor the conscript. Other minor problems included its tendency to flip, its poor steering capabilities, its lack of passenger or driver restraints and its occasionally becoming unintentional airborne.

or

A Russian Soup Wagon
The Czar takes good care of his soldiers. A notable feature of the equipment of the Russians in the traveling field kitchen, consisting of a boiler mounted in a special wagon, so arranged that it keeps the army soup hot while being served.