Finis

Although I appreciate the kind words and those who wish to follow this site , please know it is now a closed site. Thank you .

 

Final Curtain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although flattered that I still receive followers to this defunct site, I feel obligated to stress that I no longer post on Babylon Baroque. Although I personally use this site as an archive for information that is of interest to me, I have since moved on to studio work. Updates from the studio can be found at http://www.boondocksbabylon.com.

I would be delighted if you followed me there.

Be well, Leonard

Salome cast in Greenery-Yallery

We recently had the good fortune of catching the final performance of the San Diego Opera’s production of Salome. As I really am only familiar with our dear minx by way of Oscar and Aubrey I wasn’t sure what to expect.

source

I was delighted, most particularly with the lead soprano Lise Lindstrom, she gave a marvelous performance. As is so often the case I was drawn to the sets and costumes, in particular her gown in the final scene. It was, I declared with great bombast the perfect yallerish, Oscar would have adored the color. Unfortunately yallerish is incorrect, a quick Google search for the word provided only my own blog as the source, I have made MANY references to the word, all of them incorrect. I feel a bit of a fool.

The correct word to describe this Aesthetic Movement staple is Greenery-Yallery. First termed it appears by the witty duo Gilbert and Sullivan for their production of Patience in which they mercilessly lampoon lily- wristed blue-and-white china lovin’ aesthetes with utter abandon. 

“A pallid and thin young man

A haggard and lank young man

A Greenery-yallery Grosvener Gallery

Foot-in-the -grave young man!”

This 1882 greeting card illustrates the sort of fellow perfectly.

Source V&A

Wilde did of course make ample use of the color yellow, there is his poem Symphony in Yellow.

The drawing room at Tite Street was described as having dazzled in “greenery-yallery” effect 1909 source 

And of course there was that notorious yellow book found on Wilde’s person at the time of his arrest; alas it was not THE Yellow Book so loved by the “foot-in-the-grave” set.

Yellow Book, volume 3, October 1894

My only real disappointment in the San Diego production was the executioner of Blessed Jachanaan. In my fantasy he would appear as that bit of stellar beef ( Duncan Meadows) from the Royal Opera House production .

Unfortunately he was a rather chunky fellow with bad posture, quite a let-down.

Duncan Meadows, Royal Opera House production of "Salome"

 source : Feuillton

For a snippet of the final scene with the minor deity( and his mighty sword) check out this clip

The Duncan Meadows “lead” so to speak was from my friend the artist Clive Hicks-Jenkins.Clive not only is a most impressive artist,but a blogging wiz, he kindly walked me through the compexities of WordPress.

Although I have been blogging for quite some time, I must have become rusty ( or WordPress has become more persnickety).

I thank you friend, a fresh day and a constant  visit to “save draft” seems to be the trick.

Knowing that once again I may post freely is a tremendous relief. I am now posting far less frequently than I have in the past. I hope my readers understand that my life is now often spent in my Hermitage ( my pretentious little studio); posting is becoming less and less a priority, but when the spirit and time allows I will indeed be back.

I am touched at the swelling number of followers, perhaps I ought to give it all up for good if the number of “hits” is any indication of activity when I am so very fallow.

Wishing all a “utterly charming” day!

Take care,

Babylon Baroque

A Bit of Gratitude

In the spirit of the holiday, and perhaps a bit of self indulgence, a few images that reflect what pleases me most, the Mister and the pups.

David with Buddy and Rose

Yours truly withSpeck, Rose and Viola

My great beauty, Speck

My three legged wonder, Rose

The unstoppable Viola

The Man with the Old Man (16 and counting) Buddy

Wishing all a very happy and safe holiday!

Happy Thanksgiving,

Leonard @ Babylon Baroque

Remembrance of a Dark Day

Another year, another remembrance of that dark October noonday in which Marie Antoinette lost her head. A blow to Catholic monarchy, but a deeper blow to humanity; man’s brute ruthlessness exhibited its might.

I won’t bore my readers with my oft repeated monarchist drivel, I will instead commemorate her sad day with a few images.

Marie Antoinette, Queen of France

anonymous artist, engraving, 18th cent.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

b. 2nd November 1755

d.16th October 1793, 12:15 pm

Recquiscat in Pace 

Plaque of Marie Antoinette

Josia Wedgewood and Sons

1780-1800 

Victoria and Albert Museum

For quite some time I had been in the habit of featuring a chair, often once a week. I haven’t for some time, but this beauty popped up and I could not resist, as it was made for her most holy highness.

Armchair

Maker Jean Baptiste Claude Sené

1785

Victoria and Albert Museum

print after work by Jean Baptiste-Andre Gautier-Dagony

1777

V&A

I thought I would close with this recording of Stabat Mater by Vivaldi, it is very beautiful and felt fitting.

Recquiscat in Pace dear Queen.

Until next,

take care,

Babylon Baroque

A Moment for Louis XVI

As it is now 5:15 am in the city of Paris, in a few hours there will be an opportunity to either celebrate or mourn depending upon your ideology. Two hundred and eighteen years ago, Louis Auguste de France,better known as Louis XVI, King of France and Navarre was executed on the 21st of January 1793; the maddening crowds who had  gathered to see the only king of France executed, let out “shouts of joy” at 10:30 am.

The King was dead.

I am only an armchair historian, dilettantish at best; but I am romantic, Louis’s tale is tragic, I merely want to honor his death.

Louis XVI

portrait rondel

1787

Philippe-Laurent Roland

1746-1816

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Often remembered as the king who wished to be a locksmith, Marie Antoinette’s star burnt much brighter, her image more glamorous , it is easy for the casual historian to overlook Louis XVI. From the accounts I have read, he was a man of intelligence and devotion to God, his country, and his family. His indecisiveness has been recently attributed to symptoms of clinical depression; as the spouse of a psychologist, I am eager to look into this.

But as I said I am not a historian, for now, I will just present images of the late king.

Louis XVI, King of France

painted porcelain

18th century

Louis XVI

aged 22

b.23rd august 1754

d.21st January 1793

King of France and Navarre 1174-1791

King of the French 1791-1792

painted 1776

Joseph-Siffred Duplessis

1725-1802

Musée national du Chåteau et des Trianons

Versailles

Recquiscat in Pace

As King of the French, the king and his image underwent many humiliations;this engraving from happier times, 1775, was defaced in 1792, the king now known as Louis Capet is seen wearing the phrygian cap of the sans-culotte. It’s an unfortunate image.

source

Ultimately the king and his family endured being separated from one another when the comfort of family was most needed.

Louis XVI at the Tour du Temple

Jean-Francois Garneray

1755-1837

Death of Louis XVI,King of France

English Engraving

1798

If interested, and you are fluent in French, there is a site devoted to the late king.

Musically the memory of the king lives on,the following Funeral March for the Death of the King LouisXVI by Pavel Wranitzky carries the torch for his majesty.

Pavel Wranitzky

1756-1808

Over two centuries ago Louis Capet was having his prayerbook fetched at six o’clock in the morning.

Say a little prayer for the man.

Respectfully submitted,

Babylon Baroque

2010 in review

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.

Crunchy numbers

About 3 million people visit the Taj Mahal every year. This blog was viewed about 39,000 times in 2010. If it were the Taj Mahal, it would take about 5 days for that many people to see it.

 

In 2010, there were 108 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 118 posts. There were 936 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 133mb. That’s about 3 pictures per day.

The busiest day of the year was November 17th with 570 views. The most popular post that day was Chung Ling Soo, the Marvelous Chinese Conjurer.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were porncake.blogspot.com, chateauthombeau.blogspot.com, thehauntedlamp.blogspot.com, networkedblogs.com, and fauxology.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for punch and judy, aubrey beardsley, marie antoinette, steampunk fashion, and prince albert.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

Chung Ling Soo, the Marvelous Chinese Conjurer November 2010
8 comments

2

Teutonic Splendor, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha, and the Great Exhibition of 1851 June 2010
3 comments

3

Beefcake Monday, the eternal Eugene Sandow November 2010
2 comments

4

Recquiscat in Pace Princesse de Lamballe September 2010
5 comments

5

Marie Antoinette la Reine Martyre October 2010
13 comments

Patience Please

I have recently moved , Internet Hell my housewarming. The dreaded Time Warner assures me my service will be restored Sunday.

Eager to post, please stand by.

Babylon Baroque

Good Gothic Revival Shabbos,( a little late), week 8

Crazy hectic schedule and tax time to boot!

My mania for all things Gothic Revival inspires this weeks offering.

Both revival chairs are from the holdings of my hometown museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, both spins on the Gothic, both wonderful.

Gothic Revival Chair

Robert Venturi, born 1925

designed 1979-84,made in U.S. 1984

Bent laminated wood and painted plastic laminate

approx. 41x20x23

This chair in it’s cheery camouflage has been a favorite of mine since youth, it is made by Knoll, and may be one of the few chairs I present that I have an actual chance of owning.

Side Chair

Maker Unknown 1850-70

possibly Philadelphia or New York

Rosewood, rosewood veneer, ash, yellow poplar,cherrywood;brass approx. 46x18x23

A complicated composition in lumber for a pretty conventional side chair. I of course love it, crave it, would upholster it in Venturi pink, but it is a bit dull. I understand the Bloomsbury reaction to all of that stuffy furniture. But again, I wish I had inherited a stash of this horse haired stuff!

Have a great weekend

Fashion Monday

For no better reason then these dresses are magical.

I know nothing of the designer, apparently by the house of J.P. Worth, late 90’s, aughts? not sure, but they are lovely.

always wild for a bit of Egyptomania

Well this is clearly dated, crazy about her mannerism.

Finally, a little High Church glamour.

Good Night.