Miserably cold! Everything is hard. The sky is hard. The snow is hard. Walking to work this morning I took extra care, because the sidewalk was slick. And hard. I didn't want my watch to get worried. Earlier that day I'd taken a small trip going up the stairs, and the watch instantly wanted to know if I was okay. If it happened twice in one day it might just say "dude what is the problem today" and you can't tell it "I was wearing thick slippers this morning, a half-size larger than my actual shoe size, because half-sizes were not available, so sometimes going up the stairs, I'll stub a foot. The sidewalk issue is something completely different. That's ice and gravity." You can't say that to your watch.
Today, anyway. Next year, probably. It'll say "okay, got it. I should have cross-referenced your shoe purchases and the weather."
Made it inside without falling, and was instantly stopped by the 333 Building custodian. He's always around. Always polishing. Always hoovering. He warned me that the floor was wet, and I should slow down. Water! It's got it out for me, in two of its most popular forms. The interesting detail, as I recall, was the absence of the yellow warning sign. I'd entered during the narrow window when the floor was wet but there was not an indemnifying sign. If only I'd slipped then! I could've sued!
No, I wouldn't have. Even if I wanted to, the defense would've subpoened my watch and made it confess that I'd fallen twice before that day. Well, once, but twice in a hypothetical situation.
Can your phone testify against you? Don't we have wearer-device privilege or something?
Well, busy day, many things to do, and some fun news tomorrow. Until then we have only . . .
Our weekly recap of a Wikipedia peregrination. Expect no conclusion or revelations, but if you've been with us since this started next year, you know . . . sometimes we learn interesting things.
 |
|
|
 |
|
So! How do we get from here . . . |
|
|
|
 |
|
. . . to there? |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
From a Mpls paper, late 50s:
Since it’s on Washington Avenue, I thought there was a chance it went down during Gateway Urban Renewal. It didn’t seem familiar. Googled the address . . .
Ah: one of the nicer examples of new construction. It’s not fancy or inventive, but this was before developers started to think “you know, I should probably try to fit in.” Decades ago - late 90s, I think. What’s notable is the sculpture outside, which has stood for a long time. It’s by one of the most famous artists in the world today.
You’re thinking: they are rather plump, no? That’s his style. Botero. He does “fat people,” as he calls them.
But most famous in the world? Yes, and while that may be a small category, there are a few. Because of memes.
A lot of painters have a moment of fame from memes. Samuel Johnson, by Joshua Reynolds:
There’s the self-portrait of Joseph Ducreux, laughing at us:
We know the work, but the man?
In 1769, Ducreux was sent to Vienna in order to paint a miniature of Marie Antoinette (shown left) before she left the city in 1770 and married Louis XVI of France. Ducreux was made a baron and premier peintre de la reine (First Painter to the Queen) in rewards for his services.
At the outbreak of the French Revolution, Ducreux traveled to London. There he drew the last portrait ever made of Louis XVI before the king's execution.
Jacques-Louis David became one of Ducreux's associates when the latter returned to Paris in 1793. David helped Ducreux continue an official career.
His daughter was a painter as well.
Didn’t sign her work, so it’s hard to know how many survive.
As for Botero:
That’s Pope Leo X. One of the more profligate popes.
To remain financially solvent, the Pope resorted to desperate measures: instructing his cousin, Cardinal Giulio de' Medici, to pawn the Papal jewels; palace furniture; tableware; and even statues of the apostles. Additionally, Leo sold cardinals' hats; memberships to a fraternal order he invented in 1520, the Papal Knights of St. Peter and St. Paul; and borrowed such immense sums from bankers that upon his death, many were ruined.
The Botero painting has the addendum “after Raphael,” which at least has the virtue of being chronologically correct.
Anyway, in Minneapolis: a Botero, for everyone to see!
By the way, I had the wrong address for the building. I went south instead of north. This is the correct address for the Iron Building.
Rehabbed and ready for its second century.
|
