Has any poster here seen the fantastic Hope Diamond?

[Robert W]

The Hope Diamond is well known, and it is located in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC.

I saw it when I was at that museum in DC. I will post a picture for you to see it as well. I will also post the most guarded objects. There is also a gigantic gold nugget. It is years since I was there and the museum is huge. But it is worth the trip I guarantee you all. The museums in DC are fantastic. See as many as you can. I also went to other museums there including the air and space museum among others.

 

[Concerned American]

The Hope Diamond is well known, and it is located in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC.

I saw it when I was at that museum in DC. I will post a picture for you to see it as well. I will also post the most guarded objects. There is also a gigantic gold nugget. It is years since I was there and the museum is huge. But it is worth the trip I guarantee you all. The museums in DC are fantastic. See as many as you can. I also went to other museums there including the air and space museum among others.

Nope, but I've seen the Mona Lisa up close as well as the original Statue of David and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Amazing.

 

[g5000]

Has any poster here seen the fantastic Hope Diamond?​

Yeah, I've seen it. I did not go out of my way to see it. I have visited the Smithsonian many, many times for entirely different reasons than a piece of jewelry.

I'm not impressed by that kind of thing.

 

[g5000]

Nope, but I've seen the Mona Lisa up close as well as the original Statue of David and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Amazing.

The Mona Lisa was another underwhelming thing. It is behind such thick dark glass as to be entirely robbed of its glory. It's also protected by a barrier which makes an up close view impossible for this tiny painting.

I did enjoy the rest of the Louvre immensely.

 

[gtopa1]

Underwhelmed by the Mona Lisa....................I wasn't at all. It is an amazing picture and was presented beautifully. I was delighted. THERE was the Renaissance in its essence. True; it is smaller than I expected even though I knew its measurements in advance, but it was magnificent.

I'm glad you enjoyed the coffee shops and TeaTowel merch shops though.

Greg

 

[gtopa1]

Nope, but I've seen the Mona Lisa up close as well as the original Statue of David and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Amazing.

I have seen the Mona Lisa and the Sistine Chapel roof..............amazing both. But not the original David.

Greg

 

[EdwinAMartin]

Underwhelmed by the Mona Lisa....................I wasn't at all. It is an amazing picture and was presented beautifully. I was delighted. THERE was the Renaissance in its essence. True; it is smaller than I expected even though I knew its measurements in advance, but it was magnificent.

I'm glad you enjoyed the coffee shops and TeaTowel merch shops though.

Greg

I've had that happen a couple of times. there are a couple of very famous Van Goghs that are barely bigger than postcards I've gone to see at the Kimbell. The glossy pics in the art books don't give a sense of their sizes.

Another pic is far bigger than I thought it was, that one of a Paris street in the rain by Caillebotte. It's also a very flat coloring. The glossy pics in the art books actually look a lot better than the painting itself does.

In fact that's the case with a lot of paintings; get the art books, they're better than the originals many times.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

The Hope Diamond I knew was a stripper from the Bronx in the 70’s.

Good times

 

[gtopa1]

I've had that happen a couple of times. there are a couple of very famous Van Goghs that are barely bigger than postcards I've gone to see at the Kimbell. The glossy pics in the art books don't give a sense of their sizes.

Another pic is far bigger than I thought it was, that one of a Paris street in the rain by Caillebotte. It's also a very flat coloring. The glossy pics in the art books actually look a lot better than the painting itself does.

In fact that's the case with a lot of paintings; get the art books, they're better than the originals many times.

Lovely painting.

Greg

 

[1srelluc]

I saw the Hope Diamond there when I was a kid.

LOL....I remember thinking it was a lot smaller than I expected.

I was a lot more impressed with the ME-109 and the Zero at the old air and space museum.....I wonder if they are still there or have been moved to the Hazy facility at Dulles?

Hazy is impressive.

 

[EdwinAMartin]

Lovely painting.

View attachment 1270417


Greg

Absolutely fascinating how he did the 'wet' look on the street and sidewalk. At 83.5 in × 108.7 in, you had to stand across the room to get the full effects.

Artists also pretty much had to make their own paints in those days as well.

 

[gtopa1]

If you're ever passing through Sofia, a day trip to Boyana is worthwhile.

Boyana Church

Located on the outskirts of Sofia, Boyana Church consists of three buildings. The eastern church was built in the 10th century, then enlarged at the beginning of the 13th century by Sebastocrator Kaloyan, who ...

whc.unesco.org

Greg

 

[g5000]

Underwhelmed by the Mona Lisa....................I wasn't at all. It is an amazing picture and was presented beautifully. I was delighted. THERE was the Renaissance in its essence. True; it is smaller than I expected even though I knew its measurements in advance, but it was magnificent.

I'm glad you enjoyed the coffee shops and TeaTowel merch shops though.

Greg

If all you think there is at the Louvre other than the Mona Lisa are shops, then you haven't been there.

 

[g5000]

I'm not big on art. I'm a left-brained person. My wife is an artist, though. A very good one.

There are only three works of art which have ever touched me. The first one was Woman with a Parasol by Claude Monet. It hangs in the National Gallery.

I have no idea why it affects me so much.

I have made at least a dozen trips to Washington, DC just to see that painting. I have sat in front of it for hours at a time.

If I could steal that painting and get away with it, I would. No joke. I tell everyone this so I won't be tempted. If it ever goes missing, they will know it was me.

I own a reproduction and even my mouse pad is that picture.

The second is The Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Paul Delaroche. It hangs in the British Museum.

Again, no idea why it impacts me. Not as much as the Monet, but still.

The third requires a bit of a story.

I was helping the girlfriend of my best friend move one day. She had not boxed up a thing before we got there. I hate it when people do that. Thoughtless. We're doing you a solid and you can't pre-pack for us?

So I'm carrying a giant armload of unfolded linens down the hallway and the woman drops a painting on top of the pile, just inches from my face.

I was instantly gobsmacked. Stunned. Stopped in my tracks.

I asked the woman where she got it. She tells me a friend of hers made it.

I later met that friend and married her.

We just celebrated 27 years of marriage.

 

[gtopa1]

If all you think there is at the Louvre other than the Mona Lisa are shops, then you haven't been there.

Whatever you reckon; I commented on WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE FOUND MOST INTERESTING.

Greg