Art Kaleidoscope

Konstantin Somov. Harlequin and Death. 1907. Watercolor and gouache on paper. Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Death behind Harlequin mask

Death behind Harlequin mask
Harlequin mask was one among the other characters of the Italian commedia dell’arte – folk theater of masks. Born in the 16th century, this theater existed for three centuries, loved both by a crowd of poor onlookers and elegant aristocrats. Italian storyteller and playwright, who wrote many wonderful comedies and fairy tales for theater masks, Carlo Gozzi jokingly and lovingly talked about his character: “They are accelerated into the seriousness of magnificent tragedies and cheerful courtesy of deliberate comedies.”
In fact, all the masks of commedia dell’arte are entirely comic, tragic mask does not exist here. All came from the stories. They were diverse: pastoral, tragical, catastrophes and horrors. Nevertheless, masks have always played comic roles and were funny. Therefore, have always been popular.
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2014 Ten Most Expensive Books

2014 Ten Most Expensive Books
Traditionally, written word costs a bit, but in some cases may even cost millions. Meanwhile, since the mid 1980s the government, billionaires and private collectors often paid several times higher auction prices for individual manuscripts. In 2014, in the list of most expensive books in the history of mankind, appeared a new one. In particular, “Book of Hours” from the collection of the Rothschild family, sold at Christie’s auction in New York for $ 13.9 million. The manuscript, which broke its own record price established 15 years ago, has been recognized also the most expensive illuminated manuscripts. However, it is far from “Leicester Code” by Leonardo da Vinci, which reached $ 30.8 million at Christie’s auction in 1994 (now equivalent to $ 49.4 million). Besides, for many years “Leicester Code” heads the list of the most highly regarded of manuscripts and printed works.
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Autumn twisting. Flower kaleidoscope by Anatoly Vostochny

Flower kaleidoscope by Anatoly Vostochny
Talented photographer and poet Anatoly Vostochny is the author of the gallery of more than 10 thousand pictures on different themes. In particular, portraits, landscapes, still lifes, animals, children, genre, travel, black and white, and retro. Meanwhile, from the extensive collection of photographs I have chosen a series of photographs called “Flower Kaleidoscope “.
In fact they are bright positive pictures processed in Photoshop. Anatoly lives and works in Odessa, but stresses that he was born in the USSR. “Soviet Union – is my homeland, my family, my home. I come from Mariupol. And now I have there children, grandchildren and many relatives: only siblings cousins – 44 of them. So it is really my city …. Well and Donbass … Although I lived in Moscow, Krasnoyarsk, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Vorkuta … How many good things were in the USSR”.
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Girl’s portrait pendant. Handcrafted Enamel by California based artists. Mona and Alex Szabados Enamel Jewelry art

Mona and Alex Szabados Enamel Jewelry art
Enamel Jewelry collection created by Mona and Alex Szabados includes beautiful miniature paintings of female faces and animals. Characterized by rich colors of enamel in combination with precious stones and fantasy of artists. Mona (artist) and Alex Szabados (jeweler) live in California. They are collaborating for over 20 years and have won numerous awards, presented their work in several books and magazines. Each element is formed gradually, using a transparent enamel with gold leaf, silver leaf and gold beads, all about 30 layers. Faces are built with finely chopped transparent and opaque opalescent enamel. The creative tandem of jewelry artists work together at each stage. When Mona finishes with enamel, Alex begins his fine jewelry work packing enamel, adding unique gems, granular gold, reticulation, etc.
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Made from pencils painting by Colombian Multimedia artist Federico Uribe

Multimedia artist Federico Uribe
Born in Bogota, Colombia, Federico Uribe has not created any traditional painting or sculpture. For his entire artistic career this author all the time is inclining to non-standard materials for creativity. He observes them with care, collects them, sets them side by side and combines them. Meanwhile, the everyday objects turn into real piece of art. And we can only admire such a flight of thought and imagination by Federico Uribe. Indeed, not everyone has such ability to go beyond the modest earthly fantasies. However, if you have one and develop it, you can achieve incredible success. According to Colombian artist, this is the purpose of using laces in creative ways, turning them into masterpieces of modern art, not to leave any spectator indifferent.
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Ice castle at 31st Harbin International Festival of ice sculpture, 2015

Harbin International Festival of ice sculpture
January 5, 2015 in Chinese city of Harbin started the 31st annual international festival of ice and snow. Thousands of snow artists and sculptors from around the world have built a city of ice sculptures. At night, the ice city illuminated by LED lamps and lasers, creating a vibrant artistic and architectural images, looks especially beautiful.
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Biology, Botany and Anatomy art by Juan Gatti

Biology, Botany and Anatomy art by Juan Gatti
Anatomy of flowers and birds by Juan Gatti is a series of surrealistic drawings of human body in combination with the taxonomy of plants and exotic animals. Born in 1950 in Buenos Aires, Argentinian artist Juan Gatti is a graphic designer, art director and photographer based in Madrid. His artwork Ciencia Naturales (Natural Sciences) includes gorgeous and detailed drawings of anatomy of human body and illustrations of plants and exotic animals in the tradition of the 19 century artists. The talented artist produced many graphic projects for the movies of a famous director Pedro Almodovar. Meanwhile, his nature illustrations the Encyclopedia of Life the artist created for Pedro Almodovar’s film.
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