Thursday, August 30, 2018

China's Empresses at the Peabody-Essex Museum: fabrics

What a splendid exhibit!  I can truly say, I have enjoyed the Peabody-Essex's exhibit "Empresses of China's Forbidden City" as much as I have enjoyed any Asian exhibit, anywhere.
It is such a varied and wonderful exhibit that I have to do three separate blogs in order to do it justice: Fabrics, Paintings, and Objects.

The incredible ceremonial robes, hairpins, etc. that the show curated would have been an exhibit that could have stood alone.
Here is the first blog: Fabrics.

The Peabody-Essex
Roof over Atrium


Barbara, Susan, Bill

Festive Robe with Eight Dragon-Phoenix Roundels and 
Twelve Imperial Symbols
Guangxu period, 1875-1908

Festive Headdress with Phoenixes and Peonies
probably last half of 19th. Century

Court Vest with Dragons and Clouds
Yongzheng Period, 1723-35

detail of above

Court Hat with Phoenixes
18th. or 19th. cent
detail of above


Six-panel wall hanging with phoenixes and birds in landscape,
Daoist Immortals, and the character for longevity
Quanlong period, 1736-1795


detail of above
I had to capture some of these remarkable birds

detail

detail

detail

detail

detail


Theatrical robe with peaches butterflies, bats and clouds
Quanlong period, 1736-1795



Festive robe with eight roundels of baskets with lotuses
Yongzheng Period, 1723-35

detail of above

detail of above

Hair ornaments

Hair ornament with basket of lotuses

Lobed fan with cranes, peaches and rocks
Qianlong period, 1736-1795

Boots with phoenixes, peonies and lotuses
Kangxi period, 1662-1722

Empress Cixi, the last empress of China

Robe with phoenixes, peonies and the character for longevity
Guangxu period, 1875-1908


















Monday, August 27, 2018

The Butterfly Bush

The Butterfly Bush right next to the rail on our deck where we have been eating dinner, a rare occasion this Summer because of the heat and rain, has been attracting the Ruby-throat, and a wonderful Hummingbird Moth.
A few pictures.  I wish the male Ruby-throat would put in an appearance.












Friday, August 24, 2018

Midsummer Night's Dream

Friends Anne and Bill Gardner performed in an out-door staging of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and it was a delight.  Some lines were lost out doors, but the small cast playing multiple roles was very  professional, with both Bill and Anne showing their chops. Puck was really outstanding as well. Here are a few pictures. Congratulations, cast!  Broken legs, all around.








New Flash Experiments

Some more trips to the woods, trying out the flash (all these photos are with the Canon 7d II, the flash attachment, and a 70-300 mm F4 L lens.

The, as always beautiful, Strier Conservancy


Water Strider






The flash brings out such color.




I love this.


Ruby-throated Hummingbird (female) in the Soulia's backyard