Thirteen Magnets on Lulu’s Refrigerator

Oh, boy.  This is a real sit-and-watch-the-paint-dry-on-the-wall kind of post today, y’all!  Bear with me on this one.  I’m sure that you’re all interested in knowing about the magnets on my fridge..

1.  The Kiss by Gustav Klimt.  This is by far my most favorite painting.  It captures the essence of two people lost in a moment of love and passion.  (And the next time GR turns the magnet horizontally?  I’m going to smack him over the head and drag him to the Österreichische Galerie in Vienna so that he can see it for himself.)

2.  The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck.  I studied this painting in an art history class several years ago and was struck by its oddness.  Luckily, I was recently able to see it for myself at The National Gallery in London.  This work is a portrait of Giovanni di Nicolao Arnolfini (who looks spooky to me) and his wife, and although she looks pregnant, she is only holding her dress in a way that makes her look as such.  There are many interesting symbolic meanings in this portrait that you can read about here.

3.  John Churchill (1st Duke of Malborough) from the Schellenberg tapestry.  I bought this magnet at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England.  The palace was built for John Churchill and was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.  When I bought the magnet, I admit that I didn’t know much about the artwork—only that I liked the colors and the toile-like battle scene.  Apparently, this is a scene from The Battle of Schellenberg.

4.  Elizabeth I, 1533-1603, by an unknown artist.  This is another painting that I had the opportunity to view at the National Portrait Gallery in London.  I must admit that I love anything (paintings, books, movies) related to the Tudors.  And speaking of Jonathon Rhys Meyers…oh, weren’t we speaking of him?  Well, if we weren’t we sure should be!  Because he’s starring in the Showtime miniseries The Tudors as we speak.  And now?  I am all aflush.

5.  Portrait de Monna Lisa, by Leonardo Dicaprio de Vinci.  No explanation needed.  Except for I did get to see her in person at the Louvre.  The painting is much smaller than what I had envisioned…

6.  Bourton-on-the-Water.  The most beautiful place in the Cotswolds of England that I could ever have imagined.  This small village is nicknamed the “Venice of the Cotswolds” due to the small foot bridges that cross over the Windrush River that runs through the village.

7.  Sacre Coeur, Paris.  The basilica dedicated to the Heart of Christ.  Sacre Coeur sits on the hilltop of Montemarte, 129 metres above sea-level, overlooking Paris.  You can walk the gazillion stairs to the top of Montemarte hill to get to the basilica, or you can take the funicular.  We took the funicular.

8. & 9. The British Museum, London.  Such an enormous, wonderful museum, it deserves two magnets!

10.  The Biltmore House in the Fall, Asheville, North Carolina.  The closest that you can get to a castle in the southern United States!  If you’ve never been, I suggest going to a Candlelight Christmas Evening event in December. 

11.  Believe in Everday Heros.  GR lives his life by The Andy Griffith Show.  Or at least he tries.

12.  ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.  A handy magnet to have if you own a pet.  To get one of your own, click here.  It’s free!

13.  Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh Sweetpea.  My niece, Sweetpea, created this little masterpiece in her 1st grade classroom.  Pretty cool, huh?

Y’all can wake up now!  It’s all over! 

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)