NL-1974063

Nouvelles Images, "Roses dans un pot a farine (Roses in flour jar), PHC 2657

CA-357194

DE-2315343

UN Vienna, Economic and Social Council,1980

LV-112131

The beach in Kaltene

US-2310233

An overview of Pomona with snowcapped San Gabriel Mountains in background.

BY-962883

UA-688799

Scherbakov Park in Donetsk

RU-1829845

Darinchi, "With love" (83)

ES-237060

The Aljafería Palace (Spanish: Palacio de la Aljafería; Arabic: قصر الجعفرية‎, tr. Qasr al-Jaʿfariya) is a fortified medieval Islamic palace built during the second half of the 11th century in the Moorish taifa of Zaragoza of Al-Andalus, present day Zaragoza, Spain. It was the residence of the Banu Hud dynasty during the era of Abu Jaffar Al-Muqtadir after abolishing Banu Tujibi of Kindah dynasty. The palace reflects the splendor attained by the kingdom of the Taifa of Zaragoza at the height of its grandeur. The palace currently contains the Cortes (regional parliament) of the autonomous community of Aragon.
The structure holds unique importance in that it is the only conserved testimony of a large building of Spanish Islamic architecture of the era of the Taifas (independent kingdoms).

History.

After the capture of Zaragoza in 1118 by Alfonso I of Aragon, the Aljaferia became the residence of the Christian kings of the Kingdom of Aragon and as such was converted into the focal point for spread of the Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon. It was the birthplace of Saint Isabel of Portugal in the year 1271. It was used as the royal residence by Peter IV of Aragon and subsequently, on the principal building site, a renovation was carried out that converted these chambers into the palace of the Catholic Monarchs in 1492. In 1593, the structure experienced another renovation that converted it into a military base, first according to Renaissance designs (which today can be observed in its moat and gardens) and later as military quarters. The building suffered continuous alterations and considerable imperfections, above all with the Siege of Zaragoza during the Peninsular War until it was finally restored in the second half of the 20th century and currently it houses the Cortes or autonomous community legislative assembly of Aragon.
In the original construction, extra ramparts were made in the open field surrounding the Aljaferia. With urban expansion over the years, the building has remained inside of the city. Yet the city of Zaragoza has not been able to honour the landscaped surroundings of the Aljaferia. A freeway passes only a few meters away.

PL-735348

Warsaw's Old Town (Polish: Stare Miasto, colloquially: Starówka) is the oldest historic district of the city. It is bounded by Wybrzeże Gdańskie, along the bank of the Vistula, and by Grodzka, Mostowa and Podwale Streets. It is one of Warsaw's most prominent tourist attractions.
The heart of the area is the Old Town Market Place, with its restaurants, cafés and shops. Surrounding streets feature medieval architecture such as the city walls, the Barbican and St. John's Cathedral.

Warsaw's Old Town has been placed on the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites as "an outstanding example of a near-total reconstruction of a span of history covering the 13th to the 20th century".

FI-1805233

NL-1956730

Delft blue

NL-1956416

Nouvelles Images, KEYSTONE / Sweet Games (PH 1821)

CA-297370

DE-2293014

Gustav Klimt, "Die drei Lebensalter der Frau" (Three Ages of Women), 1905 (fragment)

Bought in 1912 by the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna in Rome, The Three Ages of Women had won the gold medal in 1911 International Exhibition, also held in Rome.

The painting is an example of Klimt's symbolic and allegorial works. He continued to paint such images right until his death in 1918.

The painting show a little girl in the protecting arms of a young woman, while beside them an old woman stands with bowed head. The aged crone is symbolic of the passage of time.

The figure of the old woman is based on a sculpture by Auguste Rodin (1840 - 1917), called The Old Courtesan also known as 'She who was once the Helmet-Maker's Beautiful Wife', which was exhibited in Vienna in 1901 as part of the ninth Secession exhibition. The show, devoted the works of Rodin, the painter Giovanni Segantini, and Klinger, had a lasting effect on Klimt, who was delighted when he was able to meet Rodin the following year during the sculptor's visit to Vienna. Rodin saw and praised the Beetjpvem Froeze; the admiration was mutual.

The black background is unusual in Klimt's work up to this date. Another painting, called Death and life, which was begun three years later in 1908, started out with a gold background. However, Klimt was not happy with it and substituted a blue-black background in 1911. Most of his later symbolic works share these dark grounds, in sharp contrast to the continued brightly coloured decoration of the figures themselves.

Information taken here

BY-944704

US-2291728

NL-1936535

Gustav Klimt: Poster for the I. Secession exhibition (before censorship), 1898

HK-150484

Hong Kong island from Hanoi road, Tsim Sha Tsui.
This spectacular view of Central & the island is from the Masterpiece apartment block on Hanoi Road, home also to the Hyatt Regency hotel.

PL-725440

UA-665991

BY-939490

MY-143890

1. Picking tea leaves at Sungai Palas estate
2. Moonlight Cottage
3. Butterfly at Butterfly Garden
4. Dawn view of Kea Farm valley
5. Parit Waterfall