Dinner Plates of the Italian Renaissance.

So what's the deal with halos in Italian Renaissance art?
I mean, how'd they get so fashionable anyway?


My favorite art history professor in college lovingly referred to Renaissance halos as "dinner plates," due to their stiff and literal appearance........

Fra Angelico - "Flight to Egypt".

Prior to the Renaissance, artists were less interested in the illusion of reality and more concerned with the content and symbolism of their work. The size of each element in the image related to its importance, rather than it's placement in a space.
The gilded dinner plates were meant to indicate the prominent holy figures in the composition.

Here's an example of a gathering of extremely benevolent people. Can u handle it?:

Massacio - "The Tribute Money".

Baby angel dance party in the sky:

Giotto - "Lamentation".

For those days when you feel you want to express your subtle, blessed aura:

Piero di Cosimo - "The Visitation".

D'oh! Way to keep a low profile, Jesus!:

Donatello - "Christ Before Herod".

Ghirlandao - "The Visitation".

Giotto - "The Legend of St. Francis".

The reason for St. Martin's chronic neck problems:

Martini - "The Dream of St. Martin".

Just in time for Autumn, brown halos!:

Uccello - "Crucifixion".

Rainbow wings and calculated perspective- I love this guy:

Fra Angelico - "Annunciation".

Now they're just giving away halos:

Cimabue - "The Virgin and Child Throned".

Giotto, God bless him. His solution for a crowded table of apostles is precious.
"So.....umm..Bartholomew, your halo makes a better door than a window":

Giotto - "The Last Supper".

Okay, so now the guys in the front row don't even GET a halo:

Duccio - "The Last Supper".

What about Botticelli? He wouldn't stoop to such a simple visual trick would he?
Eep!

Botticelli - "Virgin and Child".

Definitely not Leonardo Da Vinci then! He was too busy perfecting chiaroscuro and inventing helicopters...........Good God!:

Da Vinci- "Benois Madonna".

One of these apostles is doin' his own thang....hint: eternal damnation:

Ushakov - "Last Supper".

Square halo?:

Roman mosaic of Pope Paschal c. 820.

Lovely Lie, "Photoshop".

I've been a good girl, Baby Jesus.

Leah W. This is your life....

Saturday was Leah's surprise 26th birthday party.........



Surprise! Holding in secrets is hard......


Colin "I'm never planning anything again" Smith:



Party favor fashion:



There was a karaoke machine.......




I like taking photos of Maite holding food now. There is something oddly insane about this combination:





When doing karaoke, you must sing from your heart:










Leah is soooooooo out of her former shell now:


What song is this again? Oh yeah, Google says "Rhinestone Cowboy."



Again with the Bananagrams:



I ate a chocolate bar for the first time in like, five years:



Facial recognition challenge:





Fireball can fuck right off:



Jasmine's back:



Getting ready to leave to the secondary location:



Guns N Roses "Lies" freestyle karaoke and alleyway peeing awaits..............

Man-Shorts Quiz Answer Key.

Answers:

Shorts # 1 through #15 are all unacceptable.

What were you expecting, God.

The last two weeks in pictures.....

Sunday was the annual Tequila Pancake party.......



I think we are growing up...it was quiet this year. No sombreros, garden smashing or water guns...




I did leave early though....





Mr Brownstone:









We ended it with Ethiopian. Good idea? I need THREE straws at all times....just one of my usual demands:




Took my niece Edith M. to the zoo...




This guy needs a...ah...hornicure?




Edith M. was worried this elephant was going to step on her:




I was extra fascinated with these strange African cows:




Mainly because of their Tim Curry in Legend horns:


There better be a baby goat under my Christmas tree this year:




Edith M is a little skittish....can you see the tension in her eyes?



Lemurs sleeping together in a ball. *melt*




It started to rain so we had to stand under this tree forever....nice hat, Pops!



Don't you want to just dive in?


A few snaps from Eat Cake:






I have to go take a bath in Vodka now.............