Master Class: Lawrence Alma-Tadema

   There's no accounting for taste. The world has moved on to more modern forms of artistic expression but, when it comes to painting, I seem to favor realistic depictions and classical styles. The nineteenth Century produced  many fine painters like Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912).
   A classical-subject painter, he became famous for his depictions of the luxury and decadence of the Roman Empire, with languorous figures set in fabulous marbled interiors or against a backdrop of dazzling blue Mediterranean sea and sky. Although he was universally admired during his lifetime for his superb draftsmanship and depictions of Classical antiquity, he fell into disrepute after his death

Portrait of a Painter

The Education of the Children of Clovis 1861

Egyptian Chess Players 1865

After the Audience 1879

Women of Amphissa 1887

Roses of Heliogabalus 1888

Love's Votaries 1891

Vintage Festival

Sappho and Alcaeus

The Finding of Moses 1904

A Favourite Custom - 1909

Driving In Style

   The automobile has had many negative effects on American society but it has given us a mobility unmatched in the World. We love our automobiles but with today's fewer models and similar body styles it's harder to get excited by the silhouette of a sleek sedan. This was not the case in the 1930s and early 1940s. Cars from this period exhibit a unique design that are a pleasure to look at. The Ford Model Ts and Model As that preceded the autos shown here were rectangular, boxy shapes that pretty much mimicked the outline of a horse and buggy. In the 1930s, as air travel caught the public's attention, there was more consideration of aerodynamics and the automobile becamed more streamlined as a result.

The 1929 Mercedes began sporting streamlined wheel covers.

1930 Packard Ad

1933 Buick

1933 Pontiac 8

1934 Humber "Twelve" Sports Tourer

1935 Nash

1935 Oldsmobile

1936 Buick

1936 Chevrolet  I love the rumble seat.

1939 Plymouth Roadking

1941 DeSoto

Camping with a yellow Nash

1946 Cadillac

1946 Hudson

1948 Plymouth

Frankenstein Lives

   There have been many monsters in fiction but none has grabbed the public's attention like the character of Frankenstein. The classic tale of a creature brought to life by a mad scientist has chilled every generation since it was first put into print by Mary Shelley in 1818.

The classic Boris Karloff role.

Eventually every literarary classic makes it into the comic books.

Even monsters have a yearbook.

Would you let your daughter go out with this man?

As if one freak wasn't enough.

Frankie makes another cover.

Cool lighting.

Marvel's take on the Frankenstein franchise.

My skin is crawling...

Frankenstein marries a mummy.

Only Elsa Lanchester's hairdresser knows for sure.

The transformation is complete. The once fearful ceature is now a comic book superhero.

He's baaaack!

Halloween Hi-Jinks

   All right all you goblins and ghouls. The witching hour is upon us. Here's a fine selection of people ready to party!

Put on your party hats. This should be fun.

Ready For Blastoff

Scaredy Cat