Six Wardens of the Drapers' Guild

This painting caught my attention for several reasons: first, my interest in fabric, but also because of the perspective. 

The wardens of the Drapers' Guild were responsible for inspecting and grading fabrics.  Several hold fine black fabric in their hands along with some tools of their trade.  Fine cloth exports were a very important trading commodity.

The perspective of this painting is unique. You can tell it was intended to be hung high because the perspective allows the viewer to see underneath the large brimmed hats and seemingly underneath the Turkish carpeted table.

This style is in keeping with traditional militia style paintings of the time, although not a military painting.  There is a bit more movement than what is seen typically in military works although the scale is equally grand as you can see from its scale compared to the public.

Painted by Pieter Pietersc in 1589.

Rijksmuseum Walls of Stained Glass

The grand hall and stairwells have floor to ceiling brilliantly colored stained glass window walls featuring important artists, musicians, architects, artisans, clergy, politicians and saints.

Dutch Florals

The Dutch pride themselves on growing the most exquisite flowers. Artists used the subject matter not only to portray beauty, but also to teach a lesson that everything is transitory, just as petals begin to wilt the moment the stems are cut. The florals also were used to emphasize the interdependence of all creatures, which is why insects are often included.

These works are from 1600.

Cognoscite lilia agri

This series of a dozen botanical engravings from 1600-1604 are botanically technically correct. Typically a common plant is rendered opposite something more exotic or cultivated. 

The title comes from a statement attributed to Jesus which means, consider the lilies in the field, how they grow.

The detail is exquisite.

In the Garden

Today we spent 7 hours at the Rijksmusem and I enjoyed every minute.

I will be posting details of important paintings, but for now, here are some outdoor shots of this lovely structure that opened in 1800.  The tunnel you see between the two towers is actually a bicycle street that bisects the lower level of the museum.  When the museum was built, the city required it to tie the "old" to the "new" and with this tunnel, you can continue to access the old part of town.  And there are more bikes per capita here than anywhere in the world.

There are courtyards with life size chess, knot gardens, ponds, flowerbulb gardens, statues, mazes, fountains and places for musicians to perform all around the museum which makes it possible for everyone to enjoy.

Yesterday this was a lawn.  We watched men cut & roll the sod.  Today it is being turned into a bulb garden for Spring.  I watched them unload thousands of different bulbs.  They would take handfuls of bulbs from the different bags and toss them around.  I guess that is the technique to naturalize complementary colors.

Saw giant bumble bees still out enjoying the flowers.

Getting started on the day, bright and early.

The museum entrance is through the bike tunnel.

Here is a pond with a green house/conservatory in the background.  The brickwork on the building gives it interest, depth and it looks different with the changing light.

No, these kids are not getting wet in October!  This interactive fountain is open in the middle and every few minutes one side stops to allow people to run in.