'October' by Tissot!

Following on from this morning's 'Two Fer' post - this is to me, is one of the most captivating of Autumnal artworks...
The oil painting, fittingly entitled 'October', of a Victorian Belle dressed in her black finery, against the golden leaves of my all time favourite tree, the Horsechestnut, captured my heart many years ago.

I've never ever forgotten seeing 'her' in person & would love to own a 'quality' print!

In 1984, London's Barbican Art Gallery, had an exhibition of French born painter James Jacques Joseph Tissot [1836-1902] paintings.

Not @ all familiar with his works, I went along out of 'arty curiosity', after having seen 'October' show-cased, on the exhibition's pre-publicity posters.

Painted by Tissot in 1877, 'she' was on loan from the Montreal Museum of Arts, Canada.

Nothing in my eyes, in what was an interesting array of paintings, many set in London, glowed as bright as her.

Todays Flowers & Two Fer Tuesday - Hollyhocks!

Early last year, via ABC Wednesday, I found a fellow blue lover Nonizamboni.
We have subsequently became good blog friends, so I know Noni's favourite flowers are Hollyhocks!
They're also rather special to me too!
After moving to my present Victorian house, back in the late 1980's, I scattered some 'collected' seeds, hoping to create a country style cottage garden, as I much prefer old fashioned flowers growing freely to formal borders!
Within a couple of years, I was rewarded with a garden dominated by Hollyhocks, of every hue & colour.

They grew huge & continued to my joy to self-seed in wild abandon.
Hence, happy memories represented by this 1996 photo of my Mother...

Sadly, following Winters were exceedingly wet.

The 'water table' rose & the garden became a mini lake.

It was not home threatening like the events experienced much later, but the Hollyhocks didn't appreciate their roots being submerged & the plants sadly rotted away.
I subsequently re-seeded but never that successfully.
I now, only have, one fine specimen in my back garden with lots of frilly skirted blooms..And, a solitary Hollyhock @ the front, competing with the rambling rose...

But, my neighbours now have them a plenty...

Today's Flowers home is HERE.
Two Fer Tuesday is Jonna's concept.

True Colours Thursday - BLACK & WHITE!

So, this week we have BLACK & WHITE; a nice twist to Colours after SCARLET, as, I believe life is, mostly varying shades of GREY.
Few of us can truly define our lives in BLACK & WHITE.
The Pearly Kings & Queens of the east end of London being the exception...Dreamingspires 'still-life' mine artists come in Black & White too...And, I may not be able to match my good friend BJ's effort @ finding a house for every weeks True Colour.

But, for a second week running the Covered Market's Celebration Cake Shop has come up trumps...

As for the personal stuff, I think BLACK & WHITE looks very smart.

It's in both my Summer & Winter wardrobe...

My 'signature' perfume by the Canadian designer comes so packaged...

And, there's my bonechina Wire Fox Terrier mug; a cherished gift from the one & only and my very favourite WFT Jackson & his J1...

To participate in True Colours Thursday, all you need, is to post a photo/photographs & text, or better still both, on the specified colour of the week.
Then, LINK back to me & leave a 'Comment' here, to say you are playing along.
Everyone, who is or has previously participated recently, is named & linked in my side bar.
AND, I do try to up-date the list throughout the day.
Next weeks colour is LIME, as in bright new green!
If, anyone has a suggestion for a 'Colour', please do feel free to say.

True Colours Thursday - BLACK!

Thankfully, I was ahead of the game, when taking my photo's for the colour BLACK!
Between Christmas & New Year, my favourite city/riverside pub closed for a brief refurbishment.
This included replacing the outside canopy's - they are now all, obligingly, BLACK...So, they now compliment nicely, the huge crane, that recalls when this spot @ the head of the river, was a working warehouse...But, given the choice between sitting outside @ this time of year, even with heaters & Winter sunshine, a roaring fire in a BLACK lead grate, in a cosy home, wins hands down...
Everyone is welcome to join in this weekly photo meme of mine.
You can even, simply be wordy on the colour of the week.
Just, please leave me a comment to say that you have participated to aid visiting for my-self & others.
A list of previous 'True Colours Thursday' players can be found in my side bar.
Next weeks colour - heaven help us - is TURQUOISE!

Lots of Spots!

Only one guess @ what movie I watched this afternoon?
Yes, Walt Disney's 1961 classic animation 'One Hundred and One Dalmatians'.
Found a pristine copy of the DVD in my local British Heart Foundation charity shop before the Holidays.
Seeing it again was a wonderful tonic.
Although, I did enjoy immensely, the more recent 1996 film version, staring Glenn Close as a spirited & delightfully evil Cruella de Ville; the animated one, is still my favourite.
It's magic remains & brought back sooo many happy childhood memories.
I had a huge jigsaw once, showing the barn scene where the Old English Sheepdog, The Coronal had the farm animals help/ hide the pups!
Wonder what happened to it?

Belated Birthday Greetings Picasso!

Last year, I remembered, one of my favourite artists birthdays; this year, I'd competely forgotten about it, till visiting PiCassieO!

Pablo Picasso, born 25th October 1881, in Málaga, Spain, was a child prodigy; recognized as such by his art-teacher father, he was ably led along by him.

Picasso went through many periods & styles, some I favour much more than others!

I've naturally, always had a liking for his 'Blue' period.

And, the image on the left 'Jacqueline with Flowers', 1954, an oil on cavas, is one that particularly appeals to me.

It was painted in a very good year too, my birth year no less!

When in Paris in the Nineties, I insisted that Little Buddy & I visit the Musée National Picasso, located in a large 17th century mansion, the 'Hotel Sale', in the historic Marais district. He was not amused!

There, over 3000 paintings, mainly abstract plus sculptures by the artist, are housed. The ornate townhouse makes an interesting back-drop.

I rather like the fact that, even famous painters have tax problems, and Pablo Picasso was no exception.

To settle the taxes on his estate, the French government 'inherited' a large number of his works upon his death in April 1973 as he was living in Mougins, France @ the time. It's these, that form the core of the Paris exhibition.