Johannes Vermeer The Kitchen MaidDiane Romanello Sunset BeachGustav Klimt The Virgins (Le Vergini)
enough to try to live on a ball. It might have been a sort of model, except something about its glow told Esk that it was quite real and probably very big and not - in every sense - totally inside the sphere.
She put disc and peered carefully over his shoulder.
He was holding a small glass pyramid. There were stars in it, and occasionally he would give it a little shake so that the stars swirled up like snow in the wind, and then settled back in their places. Then he would giggle.
And beyond the stars ....
It was the Discworld. A Great A'Tuin no bigger than a small saucer toiled along under a world that looked like the work of an obsessive jeweller.it down very gently and sidled over to a ten-sided block in which floated a much more acceptable world. It was properly discshaped, but instead of the Rimfall there was a wall of ice and instead of the Hub there was a gigantic tree, so big that its roots merged into mountain ranges. A prism beside it held another slowly-turning disc, surrounded by little stars. But there were no ice walls around this one, just a red-gold thread that turned out on closer inspection to be a snake - a snake big enough to encircle a world. For reasons best known to itself it was biting its own tail. Esk turned the prism over and over curiously, noticing how the little disc inside stayed resolutely upright. Simon giggled softly. Esk replaced the snake-
Monday 9 March 2009
Edgar Degas The Rehearsal
Edgar Degas The RehearsalEdgar Degas The Bellelli FamilyEdgar Degas At the Races
a very strange fabric.
Esk was completely ignorant of all this, of course, but was quite satisfied when the staff dropped out of thin air into her hand.
It felt warm.
She looked at it for some time. She felt that she ought to do something about it; it was too big, too distinctive, too inconvenient. It attracted attention. "If I'm taking you to Ankh-Morpork," she said thoughtfully, "You've got to go in disguise." A few late flickers of magic played around the staff, and then it went dark. Eventually Esk solved the immediate problem by finding a stall in the main Zemphis marketplace that sold broomsticks, buying the largest, carrying it back to her doorway, removing the handle and ramming the staff deep into the birch twigs. It didn't seem right to treat a noble object in this way, and she silently apologised to it. It made a difference, anyway. No one looked twice at a small girl carrying a broom.
She bought a spice pasty to eat while exploring (the stallholder carelessly shortchanged her, and only realised later that he had inexplicably handed over two silver pieces; also, rats mysteriously got in and ate all his stock during the night, and his grandmother was struck by lightning).
a very strange fabric.
Esk was completely ignorant of all this, of course, but was quite satisfied when the staff dropped out of thin air into her hand.
It felt warm.
She looked at it for some time. She felt that she ought to do something about it; it was too big, too distinctive, too inconvenient. It attracted attention. "If I'm taking you to Ankh-Morpork," she said thoughtfully, "You've got to go in disguise." A few late flickers of magic played around the staff, and then it went dark. Eventually Esk solved the immediate problem by finding a stall in the main Zemphis marketplace that sold broomsticks, buying the largest, carrying it back to her doorway, removing the handle and ramming the staff deep into the birch twigs. It didn't seem right to treat a noble object in this way, and she silently apologised to it. It made a difference, anyway. No one looked twice at a small girl carrying a broom.
She bought a spice pasty to eat while exploring (the stallholder carelessly shortchanged her, and only realised later that he had inexplicably handed over two silver pieces; also, rats mysteriously got in and ate all his stock during the night, and his grandmother was struck by lightning).
Thursday 5 March 2009
Amedeo Modigliani the Reclining Nude
Amedeo Modigliani the Reclining NudeAlphonse Maria Mucha SummerAlphonse Maria Mucha Spring
don't think people can turn themselves into animals," said Esk, slowly.
"Oh yes, Miss Clever?"
"Granny is quite big. If she turned herself into a fox what would happen to all the bits that wouldn't fit?"
"She'd just magic them away," said Cern.
"I don't think magic works like that," said Esk. "You can't just make things happen, there's a sort of - like a seesaw thingout of nothing? I mean it just happened, he just said these words and waved his hands, and it just happened. There weren't any seesaws."
"There was a swing," said Cern. "And a thing where you had to throw things at things to win things."
"And you didn't hit anything, Gul."
"Nor did you, you said the things were stuck to the things so you couldn't knock them off, you said . . . ."
Their conversation wandered away like a couple of puppies. Esk listened , if you push one end down, the other end goes up . . . ." Her voice trailed off. They gave her a look. "I can't see Granny on a seesaw," said Gulta. Cern giggled. "No, I mean every time something happens, something else has to happen too - I think," said Esk uncertainly, picking her way around a deeper than usual snowdrift. "Only in the . . . opposite direction." "That's silly," said Gulta, "because, look, you remember when that fair came last summer and there was a wizard with it and he made all those birds and things appear
don't think people can turn themselves into animals," said Esk, slowly.
"Oh yes, Miss Clever?"
"Granny is quite big. If she turned herself into a fox what would happen to all the bits that wouldn't fit?"
"She'd just magic them away," said Cern.
"I don't think magic works like that," said Esk. "You can't just make things happen, there's a sort of - like a seesaw thingout of nothing? I mean it just happened, he just said these words and waved his hands, and it just happened. There weren't any seesaws."
"There was a swing," said Cern. "And a thing where you had to throw things at things to win things."
"And you didn't hit anything, Gul."
"Nor did you, you said the things were stuck to the things so you couldn't knock them off, you said . . . ."
Their conversation wandered away like a couple of puppies. Esk listened , if you push one end down, the other end goes up . . . ." Her voice trailed off. They gave her a look. "I can't see Granny on a seesaw," said Gulta. Cern giggled. "No, I mean every time something happens, something else has to happen too - I think," said Esk uncertainly, picking her way around a deeper than usual snowdrift. "Only in the . . . opposite direction." "That's silly," said Gulta, "because, look, you remember when that fair came last summer and there was a wizard with it and he made all those birds and things appear
Wednesday 4 March 2009
Alexandre Cabanel Cleopatra Testing Poisons on Condemned Prisoners
Alexandre Cabanel Cleopatra Testing Poisons on Condemned PrisonersJulien Dupre Shepherdess With Her FlockJulien Dupre Returning From the FieldsCamille Pissarro The Hermitage at Pontoise
then Herrena was forced to back away as a cunning upward sweep from Cohen nearly disarmed her.
Rincewind staggered towards Twoflower and tugged at him ineffectually.
'Time to be going,' he muttered.
'This is great!' said Twoflower. 'Did you see the way he —'
'Yes, yes, come on.'
'But I want – I say, well done!'
Herrena's sword spun out of her hand and stood quivering in the dirt. With a snort of satisfaction Cohen brought his own sword back, went momentarily crosseyed, gave a little yelp of pain, and stood absolutely and the dull thud of a heavy piece of wood hitting a head. Herrena looked bewildered for a moment, and then fell forward.
Bethan dropped the branch she had been holding and looked at Cohen. Then she grabbed him by the shoulders, stuck her knee in the small of his twist and let him go.
An expression of bliss passed across his face. He gave an experimental bendmotionless.Herrena looked at him, puzzled. She made an experimental move in the direction of her own sword and when nothing happened she grasped it, tested its balance, and stared at Cohen. Only his agonised eyes moved to follow her as she circled him cautiously.'His back's gone again!' whispered Twoflower. 'What can we do?''We can see if we can catch the horses?''Well,' said Herrena, 'I don't know who you are or why you're here, and there's nothing personal about this, you understand.'She raised her sword in both hands.There was a sudden movement in the mists
then Herrena was forced to back away as a cunning upward sweep from Cohen nearly disarmed her.
Rincewind staggered towards Twoflower and tugged at him ineffectually.
'Time to be going,' he muttered.
'This is great!' said Twoflower. 'Did you see the way he —'
'Yes, yes, come on.'
'But I want – I say, well done!'
Herrena's sword spun out of her hand and stood quivering in the dirt. With a snort of satisfaction Cohen brought his own sword back, went momentarily crosseyed, gave a little yelp of pain, and stood absolutely and the dull thud of a heavy piece of wood hitting a head. Herrena looked bewildered for a moment, and then fell forward.
Bethan dropped the branch she had been holding and looked at Cohen. Then she grabbed him by the shoulders, stuck her knee in the small of his twist and let him go.
An expression of bliss passed across his face. He gave an experimental bendmotionless.Herrena looked at him, puzzled. She made an experimental move in the direction of her own sword and when nothing happened she grasped it, tested its balance, and stared at Cohen. Only his agonised eyes moved to follow her as she circled him cautiously.'His back's gone again!' whispered Twoflower. 'What can we do?''We can see if we can catch the horses?''Well,' said Herrena, 'I don't know who you are or why you're here, and there's nothing personal about this, you understand.'She raised her sword in both hands.There was a sudden movement in the mists
Tuesday 3 March 2009
George Inness The Delaware Water Gap
George Inness The Delaware Water GapGeorge Inness SpringGeorge Inness Spring Blossoms New JerseyGeorge Inness Rome
Trymon paced the broad mosaic floor of the observatory, which was inlaid with the signs of the Disc zodiac. There were sixty-four of them, from Wezen the Double-headed Kangaroo to Gahoolie, the Vase of Tulips (a constellation of great religious significance whose meaning, alas, was now lost).
He 'Eventually. Of course, before that there would be discquakes, tidal waves, gravitational disruption and probably the atmosphere would be stripped away.'
'Ah. In a word, lack of decent organisation.'
The astrologer hesitated, and gave in. You could say so, sir.'
'People would panic?' 'Fairly briefly, I'm afraid.'
Hmm,' said Trymon, who was just passing over The Perhaps Gate and orbiting smoothly towards the Cow of Heaven. He squinted up again at the red gleam on the horizon. He appeared to reach a decision.
'We can't find Rincewind,' he said, 'and if we can't find Rincewind we can't find the eighth spell of the Octavo. But we believe that the Octavo must be read to avert catastrophe – otherwise why did the Creator leave it behind?'
'Perhaps He was just forgetful,' suggested the astrologerpaused on the blue and gold tilework of Mubbo the Hyaena, and turned suddenly.'We're going to hit it?' he asked.'I am afraid so, sir,' said the astrologer.'Hmm.' Trymon walked a few paces forward, stroking his beard thoughtfully. He paused on the cusp of Okjock the The Celestial Parsnip.'I'm not an expert in these matters,' he said, 'but I imagine this would not be a good thing?''No, sir.''Very hot, stars?'The astrologer swallowed. 'Yes, sir.''We'd be burned up?'
Trymon paced the broad mosaic floor of the observatory, which was inlaid with the signs of the Disc zodiac. There were sixty-four of them, from Wezen the Double-headed Kangaroo to Gahoolie, the Vase of Tulips (a constellation of great religious significance whose meaning, alas, was now lost).
He 'Eventually. Of course, before that there would be discquakes, tidal waves, gravitational disruption and probably the atmosphere would be stripped away.'
'Ah. In a word, lack of decent organisation.'
The astrologer hesitated, and gave in. You could say so, sir.'
'People would panic?' 'Fairly briefly, I'm afraid.'
Hmm,' said Trymon, who was just passing over The Perhaps Gate and orbiting smoothly towards the Cow of Heaven. He squinted up again at the red gleam on the horizon. He appeared to reach a decision.
'We can't find Rincewind,' he said, 'and if we can't find Rincewind we can't find the eighth spell of the Octavo. But we believe that the Octavo must be read to avert catastrophe – otherwise why did the Creator leave it behind?'
'Perhaps He was just forgetful,' suggested the astrologerpaused on the blue and gold tilework of Mubbo the Hyaena, and turned suddenly.'We're going to hit it?' he asked.'I am afraid so, sir,' said the astrologer.'Hmm.' Trymon walked a few paces forward, stroking his beard thoughtfully. He paused on the cusp of Okjock the The Celestial Parsnip.'I'm not an expert in these matters,' he said, 'but I imagine this would not be a good thing?''No, sir.''Very hot, stars?'The astrologer swallowed. 'Yes, sir.''We'd be burned up?'
Monday 2 March 2009
Zhang Xiaogang A Big Family
Zhang Xiaogang A Big FamilyBernhard Gutmann Study of a Woman in BlackBernhard Gutmann Nude with DraperyPaul Klee The Rose Garden
as it neared the Edge. It got narrower too, so that the lens was able to remain over water until it was very near the city. The parapet along the edgewise cliff was dotted with gantries projecting into nothingness. The lens glided smoothly towards one of them and docked with it as smoothly as a boat might glide up to a quay. Four guards, to the distant sky. A few elderly men, their robes covered in mysterious occult symbols, stood aside and watched with interest as the sextet passed. Several times Rincewind noticed hydrophobes - their ingrained expressions of self-revulsion at their own body-fluids was distinctive- and here and there trudging men who could only be slaves. He didn't have much time to reflect on all this before a door was opened ahead of them and they were pushed, gently but
as it neared the Edge. It got narrower too, so that the lens was able to remain over water until it was very near the city. The parapet along the edgewise cliff was dotted with gantries projecting into nothingness. The lens glided smoothly towards one of them and docked with it as smoothly as a boat might glide up to a quay. Four guards, to the distant sky. A few elderly men, their robes covered in mysterious occult symbols, stood aside and watched with interest as the sextet passed. Several times Rincewind noticed hydrophobes - their ingrained expressions of self-revulsion at their own body-fluids was distinctive- and here and there trudging men who could only be slaves. He didn't have much time to reflect on all this before a door was opened ahead of them and they were pushed, gently but
Sunday 1 March 2009
Fabian Perez For a Better Life III
Fabian Perez For a Better Life IIIFabian Perez Untitled IIThomas Kinkade The Aspen ChapelFabian Perez Rojo Sillion III Second State
world by now, if I know anything about it. But I can see I mustn't keep you. I expect you'll be wanting to rescue your friend."
Twoflower gaped. "Hrun?" he said.
"Not him. The . I seem to recall I said that. Will say it now, I mean."
The rambling voice got lost in a maze of tenses as Twoflower ran along the dead tunnels, with the dragon loping along easily behind him. But soon he was leaning against a pillar, completely out of breath. It seemed ages since he'd had anything to eat.skinny wizard. My son Lio!rt is trying to hack him to pieces. I admired the way you rescued him. Will, I mean."Twoflower drew himself up to his full height, an easy task. "Where is he?" he said, heading towards the door with what he hoped was an heroic stride."Just follow the pathway in the dust," said the voice. "Liessa comes to see me sometimes. She still comes to see her old dad, my little girl. She was the only one with the strength of character to murder me. A chip off the old block. Good luck, by the way
world by now, if I know anything about it. But I can see I mustn't keep you. I expect you'll be wanting to rescue your friend."
Twoflower gaped. "Hrun?" he said.
"Not him. The . I seem to recall I said that. Will say it now, I mean."
The rambling voice got lost in a maze of tenses as Twoflower ran along the dead tunnels, with the dragon loping along easily behind him. But soon he was leaning against a pillar, completely out of breath. It seemed ages since he'd had anything to eat.skinny wizard. My son Lio!rt is trying to hack him to pieces. I admired the way you rescued him. Will, I mean."Twoflower drew himself up to his full height, an easy task. "Where is he?" he said, heading towards the door with what he hoped was an heroic stride."Just follow the pathway in the dust," said the voice. "Liessa comes to see me sometimes. She still comes to see her old dad, my little girl. She was the only one with the strength of character to murder me. A chip off the old block. Good luck, by the way
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