Glimpses of Amsterdam, Part II - The Rijkmuseum

Thinking back to just a few weeks ago when we were there, I really miss Amsterdam. Were I there today, I would probably be at the Sunday art market. I will post some photos of the markets in a future post.

I love cities for what they offer but unlike my daughter Ursula, who lives in and loves everything about Boston, I don't think I could live in most of them, even if I could afford to. Of those I've visited, there are only two cities I could see myself living in and being happy -  San Francisco and now Amsterdam.

Here are a few more Amsterdam highlights from the Rijkmuseum.

Photo by Gina Duarte

Rijksmuseum

There is restoration work going on in the main building and we almost didn't go on the day we'd decided upon, since it was pouring off and on all day. I'm so glad we braved the rain and went anyway. Because of the renovations, all of the masterpieces of the Golden Age were set up in one room. It was breathtaking. Here are some of my favorites. Photography was strictly forbidden so of course, these images are borrowed from various sources on the internet. They've been credited wherever possible.

 

Johannes Vermeer

The Love Letter

Rembrandt

Self-Portrait as a Young Man

c. 1628-29

Cornelis Cornelisz. van Haarlem

(1562-1638)

Bathseba

Bumper Sticker Sighting

This is for Linda at Vulture Peak Muse, with love and affection...

and because she is thinking about dragons.

Happy Hour Friday

Time to begin making dessert - peach crumble with this year's first local peaches.  Have a great weekend. :-)

Love and all Groovy Stuff,
Gina

Pagan Sphinx Entertainment Highlight

This is a film to savor. It stars Christopher Plummer, James McAvoy...ummm...now I've lost my train of thought ;-)...where was I...oh, and Helen Mirren.  Directed by Michael Hoffman.

Highly recommended. *****

The Last Station is a love story set during the last year of the life of the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. As his health deteriorates, Tolstoy (Plummer) is tended to by his wife Sofya (Mirren), daughter Sasha (Duff) and devoted disciple Valentin Bulgakov (McAvoy)

However, having rejected his title and embraced an ascetic lifestyle, Tolstoy finds himself increasingly at odds with Sofya. As he considers signing a new will leaving the rights to his work to the Russian people rather than his family, the conflict between husband and wife grows to breaking point.

C is for Chihuly

I spent the weekend in Boston visiting my daughter. On Sunday, we attended the Chihuly exhibition at The Museum of Fine Arts. 

Living three hours west of Boston, I've been to the MFA many times, both on weekdays and weekends. Never have I seen a line spilling out of the main entrance, down the steps and out onto the sidewalk.  It was body to body inside, with the temperatures in the low 90s F (33 C) outside. The works themselves were truly awe inspiring, hence its popularly with so many people of all ages.

Photography was allowed so all of the following photos were taken by me.

"I’ve often wondered what the lack of depth perception does for me, but somehow I think it’s probably made me see things differently.”

–Dale Chihuly

 Dale Chihuly

Dale Chihuly biography

Boston Globe article

“Glass is the most magical of all materials. It transmits light in a special way ..."

 

"I never met a color I didn't like."  ~ Dale Chihuly

 

“I want my work to appear like it came from nature”

Linking to ABC Wednesday