Sunday, January 31, 2021

Memories of Our Tour of the Alhambra Gardens and Castle, Granada, Spain


In 2000, Macrine (RIP), Ditas and I visited the Alhambra Gardens in Granada, Spain. This visit is a culmination of my childhood dreams to visit the Gardens and Castle of Alhambra. This is a continuation of my Series ( Part 6 of 10) on Art Museums and Historical Landmarks that Macrine (RIP) and I had visited.

 

Macrine and I enjoying the Tour and Visit and Ditas and I Posing for a souvenir of the visit

For Details visit:
 https://theintellectualmigrant.blogspot.com/2012/06/memories-of-our-one-week-vacation-in.html

 

 For Complete Details visit:

https://www.piccavey.com/alhambra-gardens/

Meanwhile enjoy this photo from my collection

My Lighted Virgin Mary Statue at Chateau Du Mer in Amoingon, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines   

 

Thursday, January 28, 2021

I Had Another Attack of BPPV Last Week

 


The Epley Maneuver Exercises

Several years ago, I had an attacked of BPPV (Benign Paraoxysmal Positional Vertigo). I went to see my Ear Doctor and had Epley maneuver exercises. Since then I had not experienced it until last week. The episode lasted for a few seconds. I did my Epley  exercises and today I feel better. So what is BPPV. 

Here's an article from the Cleveland Clinic.

"You’re rolling over to your right in bed, when suddenly the room starts rolling over, too. For a couple of days, the world spins each time you turn to the right — until the sensation fades away on its own.

The condition, called benign paraoxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), is downright scary because it takes you by surprise. And the dizziness, light headedness and nausea left in its wake will keep you from working and doing normal activities.

“Episodes of BPPV can last for a few seconds, a few days, a few weeks or a few months,” explains neurologist Neil Cherian, MD, a dizziness expert. “Because BPPV is so common and so fleeting, it’s hard to get good data on its incidence.”

What are ear crystals, anyway?

At the root of the problem are tiny calcium crystals that sense gravity, found within the chambers of the inner ear.

“Imagine a hill with blades of grass, and on top of each blade is a crystal,” explains Dr. Cherian. “Together, these crystals form an interconnected matrix. Whenever the blades of grass move, so do the crystals.”

The blades of grass represent cilia, hair-like processes that are attached to tiny nerves in your inner ear. When the crystals move, it stimulates the nerves to fire, which tells the brain your head is moving.

This crystal matrix serves as a reliable motion-sensing map — until crystals break free, drifting into one of the ear’s three semicircular “balance” canals, and create havoc.

Why do loose crystals make you dizzy?

Normally, the fluid in the semicircular canals and the small, direction-sensing cupula in your inner ear move only when your head moves.

“When the crystals are all connected, the fluid in the canals settles down as soon as your head stops moving,” says Dr. Cherian. “But when the crystals are disconnected, they keep moving in the fluid for up to a few seconds afterward.

“Then your brain has to figure out, ‘Why is there movement when I don’t see it?’ And that is what makes you dizzy.” The fact that your eyes continue to move in response to this false cue gives doctors another way to confirm that you have BPPV.

Three factors make it more likely that ear crystals may loosen:

  • Age over 65 years.
  • Head injury.
  • Viral inner ear infections.

You don’t need expensive tests to get a diagnosis of BPPV. Your doctor can diagnose it based on your pattern of symptoms and a medical evaluation.

 

How do you fix loose crystals?

A doctor or vestibular physical therapist (PT) can show you how to do self-repositioning exercises at home. Collectively called the Epley maneuver, they move the ear crystals back into place, and are easy to do on a bed or on the floor.

“When done in a medical setting, the success rate for these exercises is up to 90 percent,” says Dr. Cherian. “So doing them properly on your own can be quite effective for BPPV.” He adds that, once your BPPV clears, the exercises should stop.



 If the Epley maneuver isn’t helping you, it may be because:
  • You have too many loose crystals.
  • Crystals have drifted into more than one semicircular canal.
  • Both of your ears are affected.
  • You’ve got technical issues (e.g., the wrong ear or wrong method of treatment).
  • Your dizziness has a different cause.

In these cases, seek help from an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist — or go straight to a vestibular PT, who can diagnose and treat BPPV. They can put you through additional exercises to move the crystals back into place.

Do ear crystals always cause vertigo?

Having loose crystals in your ear doesn’t necessarily make the room spin.

“Many patients with BPPV don’t even feel dizzy — just lightheaded, unsteady or a bit ‘off’ — but when we test for crystals in the office, there they are,” says Dr. Cherian.

He notes that it’s possible to have leftover crystals without knowing it if you consistently avoid turning your head in the direction that triggered your symptoms. But the goal of the exercises is to get you back to fully normal function.

Is there a cure for BPPV?

Dr. Cherian tells patients that BPPV is like the common cold. “We can identify it, and we can get you out of it sooner, but we can’t prevent it,” he says.

The outlook for BPPV is hard to predict from one person to the next.

If symptoms are related to head trauma, and diminish as you heal, you may have fewer problems over time, he notes. If not, mastering the Epley maneuver will allow you to quickly stop the spinning sensations and light headedness when crystals get loose.

However, if you get so nauseous that you can’t hold down liquids, or if weakness, numbness, tingling or changes in vision occur, “seek help sooner rather than later,” stresses Dr. Cherian. “These could signal a more serious problem, such as stroke.”

Source:  https://health.clevelandclinic.org/bppv-why-loose-ear-crystals-make-you-dizzy-and-how-to-fix-them/

Meanwhile, enjoy this video of Pleasant Memories During Macrine's(RIP) 80th Birthday.




 

Monday, January 25, 2021

Memories of Our Trip to Rome, Assisi, and the Vatican Museum, Italy

Macrine (RIP) and I at the Vatican Museum Tour Matching Our Head Profiles with the Exhibits (December, 1990)

This is Part 5 of 10 on my series on Art Museums and Historical Landmarks that Macrine(RIP) and I had visited in our younger years. 


 

In December 10 to 16, 1990, Macrine (RIP) and I had a one week tour in Rome, Italy, Assisi and in the Vatican. Besides an an audience with Pope, one of the highlights of this tour was our four hours visiting the Vatican museum and the Sistine Chapel.  

Audience with the Pope and The Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

 


Tour of the Vatican Videos: Short and Long Tours


 

For details of our trip visit:

https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2015/09/7-places-outside-united-states-that.html

Meanwhile enjoy this photo of my Biden-Harris Inauguration souvenirs




 

Friday, January 22, 2021

I Have My First Dose Of Moderna's Vaccine This Morning


Thanks to Ditas and her friend and Macrine's relative Cecilia Sandoval, I was able to make an appointment for my first dose of Moderna's vaccine in our neighborhood hospital, San Juan Mercy's Hospital. I hope there will be supply of the vaccine for my second dose in 4 weeks.

The process was so streamlined and smooth via appointment on line and confirmation by e-mail. Ditas and I drove to the Vaccination site 30 minutes early. There was a line outside the door of the vaccination auditorium but was moving fast. There were a couple of steps of documentation, verification, checking of paper work and then the actual vaccination. All these steps took only about 30 minutes.  There was a 15 minute wait after vaccination to see if there are major side effects. 


So far I feel good and very happy, grateful and thankful to all the workers in the Vaccination Center. Special thanks to Ditas and Cecilia. I am looking forward to meet Cecilia in person in the near future.   

Meanwhile, Enjoy this article on Fire Rainbows.

Have You Seen a Fire Rainbow? I have not seen an actual one only on photos and video posted in this blog.


Watch this 8 minute video. The fire rainbows is beautiful as it dances in the sky!

“Fire rainbows” are a rare phenomenon that only occur when the sun is higher than 58° above the horizon and its light passes through cirrus clouds made of ice crystals. At the right alignment, the crystals act as a prism, and refracts the light to look like a rainbow.



Photos from Soul Alchemy-Another video of a Fire Rainbow
 
Meanwhile enjoy Somewhere over the Rainbow and I'm always Chasing Rainbows -two favorite music of Macrine (RIP)



Broken Rainbow by Bark Vines

 

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Today is Inauguration Day-Proud to be an American Belonging to the Silent Generation

My Inauguration Day Souvenirs- Happy for the Biden-Harris Team

Today is one of the happiest moments of my life here in the US. Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States today, taking office at a moment of profound economic, health and political crises with a promise to seek unity after a tumultuous four years that tore at the fabric of American society. Good Bye 4 years of Lies and Poor Leadership!!

This is also the day that Kamala Devi Harris was sworn in as vice president by Justice Sonia Sotomayor.. Ms. Harris’s ascension made her the highest-ranking woman in the history of the United States and the first Black American and first person of South Asian descent to hold the nation’s second highest office.

So as a member of the Silent Generation, I am very proud indeed to be an American with Filipino roots and ancestry. Coming to the US for Graduate School in the 1960's is also one of the happiest and most important decision I made during my 8 Decades and Six years of my life here in Planet Earth. 

In my last blog, I discussed the Five generations. Today's blog will focused on the Silent Generation to Group that I am proud to belong.

 

In my last posting I discussed briefly about baby boomers, Generation Y and Z and  the Millennials. In this article, it will be about the Silent Generation where I belong.    

The Silent Generation is the demographic cohort following the Greatest Generation and preceding the baby boomers. The generation is generally defined as people born from 1928 to 1945. By this definition and U.S. Census data, there were 23 million Silents in the United States as of 2019. According to Wikipedia, the common characteristics of this generation are as follows:

The Silent Generation were children of the Great Depression whose parents, having revelled in the highs of the Roaring Twenties, now faced great economic hardship and struggled to provide for their families. Before reaching their teens they shared with their parents the horrors of World War II but through children's eyes. Many lost their fathers or older siblings who were killed in the war. They saw the fall of Nazism and the catastrophic devastation made capable by the nuclear bomb. When the Silent Generation began coming of age after World War II, they were faced with a devastated social order within which they would spend their early adulthood and a new enemy in Communism via the betrayal of post-war agreements and rise of the Soviet Union. Unlike the previous generation who had fought for “changing the system,” the Silent Generation were about “working within the system.” They did this by keeping their heads down and working hard, thus earning themselves the "silent" label. Their attitudes leaned toward not being risk-takers and playing it safe. Fortune magazine's story on the “College Class of ‘49” was subtitled “Taking No Chances."

From their childhood experiences during the Depression and the insistence from their parents to be frugal, they tend to be thrifty and even miserly. They prefer to maximize the property's lifespan, i.e. "get their money's worth." This can lead to hoarding in the guise of "not being wasteful.” In summary:

 Some of the Common Characteristics of this Generation are as follows:

1. They are hardworking-Consider work as a privilege and the wealthiest generation so far

2. They have willpower-Adversity does not daunt them. They have survived the Great Depression

3. They are loyal Employees-Unlike Gen Y and Gen X workers,  most of them stayed in the same employers throughout their working lives

4. They respect authority- Conformity and conservatism are prized and they tend to be good team players

5. They practice Waste Not, Want Not-Tend to be Thrifty- for example not trading their cars every few years and do not mind eating food left-overs

6. They can be Technically Challenged-Dont expect them to be whiz in operating smartphones and I-pads; may be slow to change work habits and last to adapt new technology in the work place or at home

7. They are Traditional- they value old-time morals, safety, security and consistency

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/workplace-characteristics-silent-generation-2164692 

Personal Note: As a member of the Silent Generation I strongly agree with Numbers 1,5 and 7 in the List of Common Characteristics above.  If you belong to this Age Group do you agree with all the seven Characteristics listed above? Let me hear from you!

Meanwhile enjoy this photo of my recent Xmas gifts.




 

Monday, January 18, 2021

The Five Generations: Are You Proud of Your Generation?

 The Five Generations

I have heard often times of the terms Millennials, Baby Boomers, and Generation X, Y and Z in the news.

I am sometimes confused of the above terms so I did some Google search and here's a summary of what I learned.

The terms are based on the breakdown of age differences as follows:

  • Baby Boomers: Baby boomers were born between 1946 and 1964. They're currently between 56-74 years old (71.6 million in U.S.)

  • Gen X: Gen X was born between 1965 and 1979/80 and are currently between 40-55 years old (65.2 million people in U.S.)

  • Gen Y: Gen Y, or Millennials, were born between 1981 and 1994/6. They are currently between 24-39 years old (72.1 million in the U.S.)

    • Gen Y.1 = 25-29 years old (around 31 million people in U.S.)

    • Gen Y.2 = 29-39 (around 42 million people in U.S.)

  • Gen Z: Gen Z is the newest generation to be named and were born between 1997 and 2012/15. They are currently between 8-23 years old (nearly 68 million in U.S.)

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

  • Boomer Birth Years: 1946 to 1964

  • Current Age: 56 to 74

  • Generation Size: 71.6 million

  • Media Consumption: Baby boomers are the biggest consumers of traditional media like television, radio, magazines, and newspaper. Despite being so traditional 90% of baby boomers have a Facebook account. This generation has begun to adopt more technology in order to stay in touch with family members and reconnect with old friends.

  • Banking Habits: Boomers prefer to go into a branch to perform transactions. This generational cohort still prefers to use cash, especially for purchases under $5.

  • Shaping Events: Post-WWII optimism, the cold war, and the hippie movement.

  • What's next on their financial horizon: This generation is experiencing the highest growth in student loan debt. While this might seem counter intuitive, it can be explained by the fact that this generation has the most wealth and is looking to help their children with their student debt. They have a belief that you should take care of your children enough to set them on the right course and don't plan on leaving any inheritance. With more Americans outliving their retirement fund, declining pensions, and social security in jeopardy, ensuring you can successfully fund retirement is a major concern for Boomers.

Generation X

  • Gen X Birth Years: 1965 to 1979/80

  • Current Age: 40 to 55

  • Other Nicknames: "Latchkey" generation, MTV generation

  • Generation Size: 65.2 million

  • Media Consumption: Gen X still reads newspapers, magazines, listens to the radio, and watches TV (about 165 hours' worth of TV a month). However, they are also digitally savvy and spend roughly 7 hours a week on Facebook (the highest of any generational cohort).

  • Banking Habits: Since they are digitally savvy, Gen X will do some research and financial management online, but still prefer to do transactions in person. They believe banking is a person-to-person business and demonstrate brand loyalty.

  • Shaping Events: End of the cold war, the rise of personal computing, and feeling lost between the two huge generations.

  • What's next on Gen X's financial horizon: Gen X is trying to raise a family, pay off student debt, and take care of aging parents. These demands put a high strain on their resources. The average Gen Xer carries $142,000 in debt, though most of this is in their mortgage. They are looking to reduce their debt while building a stable saving plan for the future.

Millennials (Gen Y)

  • Millennial Birth Years: 1980 to 1994/6

  • Current Age: 24 to 39

  • Other Nicknames: Gen Y, Gen Me, Gen We, Echo Boomers

  • Generation Size: 72.1 million

  • Media Consumption: 95% still watch TV, but Netflix edges out traditional cable as the preferred provider. Cord-cutting in favor of streaming services is the popular choice. This generation is extremely comfortable with mobile devices but 32% will still use a computer for purchases. They typically have multiple social media accounts.

  • Banking Habits: Millennials have less brand loyalty than previous generations. They prefer to shop product and features first and have little patience for inefficient or poor service. Because of this, Millennials place their trust in brands with superior product history such as Apple and Google. They seek digital tools to help manage their debt and see their banks as transactional as opposed to relational.

  • Shaping Events: The Great Recession, the technological explosion of the internet and social media, and 9/11

  • What's next on their financial horizon: Millennials are entering the workforce with high amounts of student debt. This is delaying major purchases like weddings and homes. Because of this financial instability, Millennials prefer access over ownership which can be seen through their preference for on-demand services. They want partners that will help guide them to their big purchases.

 Generation Z

  • Gen Z Birth Years: 1996/7 to 2012/15

  • Currently Aged: 8 to 23

  • Other Nicknames: iGeneration, Post-millennials, Homeland Generation

  • Generation Size: 68 million

  • Media Consumption: The average Gen Zer received their first mobile phone at age 10.3 years. Many of them grew up playing with their parents' mobile phones or tablets. They have grown up in a hyper-connected world and the smartphone is their preferred method of communication. On average, they spend 3 hours a day on their mobile device.

  • Banking Habits: This generation has seen the struggle of Millennials and has adopted a more fiscally conservative approach. They want to avoid debt and appreciate accounts or services that aid in that endeavor. Debit cards top their priority list followed by mobile banking. Over 50% have not entered a bank branch in at least 3 months.

  • Shaping Events: Smartphones, social media, never knowing a country not at war, and seeing the financial struggles of their parents (Gen X).

  • What's next on Gen Z's financial horizon: Learning about personal finance. They have a strong appetite for financial education and are opening savings accounts at younger ages than prior generations.

 
An excellent video an Inter Generational Mutual Mentorship

From the Page of a FB friend:  I am Generation X. Anyone who was BORN between 1965 & 1979, we are the last generation that played outside until dark. We are the FIRST to play video games & the LAST to record songs off the radio onto a cassette tape, we loved roller skating on Friday and Saturday nights. We survived the 80’s with big hair and the era of extravagant everything. We took walks with friends without worry of being taken, we watched cartoons on Saturday mornings while eating a bowl of cereal... we programmed the VCR before anyone else... we remember learning how to use a computer for the first time, we played Atari & Nintendo. We are the generation of Soul Train, Gilligan’s Island, Dukes of Hazard, Scooby-Doo, Charlie’s Angels, Wonder Woman, Little House on the Prairie, Happy Days, & Good Times... We traveled in cars w/o seat belts or airbags, rode in the backs of pick ups & lived without cell phones. We did not have flat screens, surround sound, I-Pads, Facebook and Twitter...But we had a GREAT time All the time with each other!  For more details visit:

https://www.kasasa.com/articles/generations/gen-x-gen-y-gen-z 

* Can anyone give me a reason why Ages 74 to 91 are called the Silent Generation -the age group where I belong ? Do you identify with Generation X comments above? Will be glad to hear from you.

Meanwhile, enjoy this photo from my collection

My Pineapple Plants still growing in the Winter Chills of Northern California

Personal Note: It is good to know that I belong to the Silent Generation*

 

Friday, January 15, 2021

Memories of Our Several Visits to the Art Institute of Chicago

This is Part 4 of 10 on my series on Art Museums and Historical Landmarks in the US that Macrine (RIP)and I had visited. Enjoy!!

Macrine (RIP) and I had been residents of Chicago, Illinois during my graduate school years at the University of Illinois from 1960 to 1964. One of our favorite recreation on weekends is to visit the Art Institute of Chicago. We have visited the Art Institute four times during our four years residence in the Windy City. 

The Art Institute of Chicago is a world-renowned art museum housing one of the largest permanent collections in the United States. An encyclopedic museum, the Art Institute collects, preserves, and displays works in every medium from all cultures and historical periods as well as hosts special exhibitions. 

With a collection of more than 260,000 artworks and artifacts, the museum has particularly strong holdings in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting, early twentieth-century European painting and sculpture, contemporary art, Japanese prints, and photography. In 2009, the museum completed the largest expansion in its 130-year history, the internationally acclaimed Modern Wing designed by Renzo Piano.

Incorporating the latest in green museum technology, the 264,000- square-foot Modern Wing is dedicated to modern and contemporary art, photography, architecture and design, and new museum education facilities. In addition to displaying its permanent collection, the Art Institute mounts approximately forty special exhibitions per year and features daily lectures, gallery tours, and special performances.


 

 

Meanwhile enjoy this painting at the Art Institute:

 

ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PAINTINGS in the Art Institute

 Seurats a Sunday Afternoon on La-Grande Jatte

 Here's a short video about the Painting


https://www.artic.edu/videos/19/georges-seurats-a-sunday-on-la-grande-jatte-art-institute-essentials-tour

 

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

The Top Ten Most Expensive Paintings in the World

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.

Read more at: https://www.luxhabitat.ae/the-journal/top-10-most-expensive-paintings-in-the-world/
LUXHABITAT © 2021
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.

Read more at: https://www.luxhabitat.ae/the-journal/top-10-most-expensive-paintings-in-the-world/
LUXHABITAT © 2021

 

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.

Read more at: https://www.luxhabitat.ae/the-journal/top-10-most-expensive-paintings-in-the-world/
LUXHABITAT © 2021

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.

Read more at: https://www.luxhabitat.ae/the-journal/top-10-most-expensive-paintings-in-the-world/
LUXHABITAT © 2021



 For Details visit:

https://www.luxhabitat.ae/the-journal/top-10-most-expensive-paintings-in-the-world/

Meanwhile enjoy Jesse Santos Nude owned by the Katagues, 1974 ( Priceless)



 

 

Monday, January 11, 2021

Museums in the National Mall in Washington DC-The Hope Diamond


Visiting museums are some of the highlights of our 12 years residency in the Washington DC area. We resided in Colesville, MD -( a suburb of Washington DC-only 30 minutes to the National Mall) from 1990 to 2002.   One of our favorite recreation is to visit the museums in the Mall and nearby areas. There are 15 most popular museums in the Mall. Several of the museums we have visited more than 3 times.

One of Macrine(RIP) favorite is the Museum Of Natural History that had a collection of Gems and Jewelry including the Hope Diamond.  In one of our visits she purchased a simulated Hope Diamond in the Museum gift shop that she treasured during her lifetime. 

 

This is the simulated Hope Diamond(cubic zirconia) that Macrine purchased in the Museum Gift shop that she treasured very much. In 1992 she paid $100 for it. She had worn it several times during our Filipino- American Ball and Parties in the several cities that we had resided here in the US.

 For the history and mystery of the real Hope Diamond visit this site: 

https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/video/show/mystery-of-the-hope-diamond/13041

The Hope Diamond is renowned for its rare color and rich history. It was formed more than a billion years ago at a depth of about 150 kilometers. The diamond was brought to the Earth's surface by a volcanic eruption. The rare blue color of the jewel is attributed to light interaction with an impurity in the diamond's atomic structure. As the diamond grew, a few atoms of boron entered the crystal structure and substituted for some of the carbon atoms.


For a list of 15 most popular museums in the mall visit the following site. 

https://washington.org/dc-focus-on/museums-national-mall


 

Note: I found that a cheap imitation of the Hope Diamond is advertised in FB today as Heart of the Titanic. It sells for 0nly $27.95 plus shipping. However, this could be a scam. I have been scammed in FB ads once and I am suspicious of buying on FB again.


 

 

Saturday, January 9, 2021

One Hundred and the Top Ten Famous Paintings in the World

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 Roman history. 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.

 

Friday, January 8, 2021

The Top Ten Art Museums in the World-How Many in this List Have You Visited?

Macrine(RIP) and I visited four of the museums listed here, #2, #4, #7 and #10. This is #2 of 10 on the Series, I am writing on Art Museums and Historical Landmarks in the US.

The following list was compiled based on traffic to the attractions by Tripadvisor.com and is not endorsed by Reuters:

The Art Institute of Chicago- We Have visited this museum several times during my Graduate School years at the University of Illinois, Chicago from 1960 to 1964
 




1. Musee du Louvre, Paris, France

Once a fortified palace that was the home to kings of France, the Louvre is now the world’s most famous museum, renowned for some of the finest pieces of art in the world, including the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa.

 

Macrine (RIP) and I during our tour of the Vatican Museum in 1990

2. Vatican Museums, Vatican City, Rome, Italy

Spanning nearly nine miles, the Roman Catholic Church’s Vatican collection is one of the largest and most stunning in the world. Estimated to have more than four million visitors annually, the Vatican museums feature the art of Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and, of course, Michelangelo’s ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.

3. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York

From Picasso to Pollock, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on New York City’s Museum Mile, is one of the world’s largest museums with over two million pieces of artwork and enough variety for any enthusiast. Peruse the Greek sculptures, admire the armory or browse the 2,000 European paintings, all contained in a magnificent Beaux-Art facade building.

 

Photo Credit: Wikipedia  Aerial View of Paul Getty Museum/Center

4. J. Paul Getty Center, Los Angeles, California

The Getty features a remarkable collection, including the works of Van Gogh, Monet and Cezanne. The museum’s structure is a piece of art in itself, and the grounds also feature beautiful gardens, and views of Los Angeles.

5. Musee d’Orsay, Paris, France

Enjoy Van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” inside the Musee D’Orsay, a former train station built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, with a dramatic glass roof. Specializing in 19th and 20th century artwork, the museum displays a striking collection of Impressionism, including famous works by Monet, Manet, Renoir, Van Gogh and Degas.

 

Photo Credit: Facebook

 



6. Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy

Experience (or at least admire) Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus,” in the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest museums in the world featuring works from Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci in the heart of Florence.

7. Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Located on Chicago’s Loop, The Art Institute of Chicago boasts extensive Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collections, including more than 30 pieces by Monet. Visit France from afar through Monet’s “Haystacks” and spending time “At the Moulin Rouge,” one of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec’s famous paintings.

8. Tate Modern, London, England

Enjoy the electric art at the Tate Modern, displayed in a former Bankside Power Station, with views of the Thames River and Millennium Bridge. Remember the “Forgotten Horizon,” one of Dali’s many masterpieces and part of one of the largest collections of Surrealism in the World.

 

9. Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain

One of the largest and most impressive collections in the world, not surprisingly, the Prado Museum is most famous for its assortment of works from Spanish artists such as Goya, Velasquez, Murillo, and El Greco.

 

10. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the National Gallery of Art is comprised of an east and west building, and features a sculpture garden surrounding a large fountain. Modern art fans should head to the east building, where works by Jackson Pollock, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol are displayed.

For Complete Details visit:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-travel-picks-museums-idUSSP17187820080229 

Personal Note: Other popular museums that Macrine and I had visited and not in this list are: De Young Museum of Fine Arts in San Francisco and the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum in Kansas City, Missouri