My life story starting with my childhood years in the small town of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, Philippines up to my retirement from the United States Food and Drug Administration, Center of New Drugs in 2002 and beyond. Some of the photos and videos in this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention in infringing on your copyrights.
In 2000, Macrine (RIP), Ditas and I visited the Alhambra Gardens in Granada, Spain. This visit is a culmination of my childhood dreams to visit the Gardens and Castle of Alhambra. This is a continuation of my Series ( Part 6 of 10) on Art Museums and Historical Landmarks that Macrine (RIP) and I had visited.
Macrine and I enjoying the Tour and Visit and Ditas and I Posing for a souvenir of the visit
Several years ago, I had an attacked of BPPV (Benign Paraoxysmal Positional Vertigo). I went to see my Ear Doctor and had Epley maneuver exercises. Since then I had not experienced it until last week. The episode lasted for a few seconds. I did my Epley exercises and today I feel better. So what is BPPV.
Here's an article from the Cleveland Clinic.
"You’re rolling over to your right in bed, when suddenly the room
starts rolling over, too. For a couple of days, the world spins each
time you turn to the right — until the sensation fades away on its own.
The condition, called benign paraoxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV),
is downright scary because it takes you by surprise. And the dizziness,
light headedness and nausea left in its wake will keep you from working
and doing normal activities.
“Episodes of BPPV can last for a few seconds, a few days, a few weeks or a few months,” explains neurologist Neil Cherian, MD, a dizziness expert. “Because BPPV is so common and so fleeting, it’s hard to get good data on its incidence.”
What are ear crystals, anyway?
At the root of the problem are tiny calcium crystals that sense gravity, found within the chambers of the inner ear.
“Imagine a hill with blades of grass, and on top of each blade is a
crystal,” explains Dr. Cherian. “Together, these crystals form an
interconnected matrix. Whenever the blades of grass move, so do the
crystals.”
The blades of grass represent cilia, hair-like processes that are
attached to tiny nerves in your inner ear. When the crystals move, it
stimulates the nerves to fire, which tells the brain your head is
moving.
This crystal matrix serves as a reliable motion-sensing map — until
crystals break free, drifting into one of the ear’s three semicircular
“balance” canals, and create havoc.
Why do loose crystals make you dizzy?
Normally, the fluid in the semicircular canals and the small,
direction-sensing cupula in your inner ear move only when your head
moves.
“When the crystals are all connected, the fluid in the canals settles
down as soon as your head stops moving,” says Dr. Cherian. “But when
the crystals are disconnected, they keep moving in the fluid for up to a
few seconds afterward.
“Then your brain has to figure out, ‘Why is there movement when I don’t see it?’ And that is what makes you dizzy.” The
fact that your eyes continue to move in response to this false cue
gives doctors another way to confirm that you have BPPV.
Three factors make it more likely that ear crystals may loosen:
Age over 65 years.
Head injury.
Viral inner ear infections.
You don’t need expensive tests to get a diagnosis of BPPV. Your
doctor can diagnose it based on your pattern of symptoms and a medical
evaluation.
How do you fix loose crystals?
A doctor or vestibular physical therapist (PT) can show you how to do
self-repositioning exercises at home. Collectively called the Epley
maneuver, they move the ear crystals back into place, and are easy to do
on a bed or on the floor.
“When done in a medical setting, the success rate for these exercises is up to 90 percent,”
says Dr. Cherian. “So doing them properly on your own can be quite
effective for BPPV.” He adds that, once your BPPV clears, the exercises
should stop.
If the Epley maneuver isn’t helping you, it may be because:
You have too many loose crystals.
Crystals have drifted into more than one semicircular canal.
Both of your ears are affected.
You’ve got technical issues (e.g., the wrong ear or wrong method of treatment).
Your dizziness has a different cause.
In these cases, seek help from an ear, nose and throat (ENT)
specialist — or go straight to a vestibular PT, who can diagnose and
treat BPPV. They can put you through additional exercises to move the
crystals back into place.
Do ear crystals always cause vertigo?
Having loose crystals in your ear doesn’t necessarily make the room spin.
“Many patients with BPPV don’t even feel dizzy — just lightheaded,
unsteady or a bit ‘off’ — but when we test for crystals in the office,
there they are,” says Dr. Cherian.
He notes that it’s possible to have leftover crystals without knowing
it if you consistently avoid turning your head in the direction that
triggered your symptoms. But the goal of the exercises is to get you
back to fully normal function.
Is there a cure for BPPV?
Dr. Cherian tells patients that BPPV is like the common cold. “We can
identify it, and we can get you out of it sooner, but we can’t prevent it,” he says.
The outlook for BPPV is hard to predict from one person to the next.
If symptoms are related to head trauma, and diminish as you heal, you
may have fewer problems over time, he notes. If not, mastering the
Epley maneuver will allow you to quickly stop the spinning sensations
and light headedness when crystals get loose.
However, if you get so nauseous that you can’t hold down liquids, or
if weakness, numbness, tingling or changes in vision occur, “seek help
sooner rather than later,” stresses Dr. Cherian. “These could signal a
more serious problem, such as stroke.”
Macrine (RIP) and I at the Vatican Museum Tour Matching Our Head Profiles with the Exhibits (December, 1990)
This is Part 5 of 10 on my series on Art Museums and Historical Landmarks that Macrine(RIP) and I had visited in our younger years.
In December 10 to 16, 1990, Macrine (RIP) and I had a one week tour in Rome, Italy, Assissi and in the Vatican. Besides an an audience with Pope, one of the highlights of this tour was our four hours visiting the Vatican museum and the Sistine Chapel.
Audience with the Pope and The Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
Thanks to Ditas and her friend at Dignity Health(Macrine's Niece), I was able to make an appointment for my first dose of Moderna's vaccine in our neighborhood hospital, San Juan Mercy's Hospital. I hope there will be supply of the vaccine for my second dose in 4 weeks.
The process was so streamlined and smooth via appointment on line and confirmation by e-mail. Ditas and I drove to the Vaccination site 30 minutes early. There was a line outside the door of the vaccination auditorium but was moving fast. There were a couple of steps of documentation, verification, checking of paper work and then the actual vaccination. All these steps took only about 30 minutes. There was a 15 minute wait after vaccination to see if there are major side effects.
So far I feel good and very happy, grateful and thankful to all the workers in the Vaccination Center. Special thanks to Ditas and her cousin at Dignity Health.
Meanwhile, Enjoy this article on Fire Rainbows.
Have You Seen a Fire Rainbow? I have not seen an actual one only on photos and video posted in this blog.
Watch this 8 minute video. The fire rainbows is beautiful as it dances in the sky!
“Fire
rainbows” are a rare phenomenon that only occur when the sun is higher
than 58° above the horizon and its light passes through cirrus clouds
made of ice crystals. At the right alignment, the crystals act as a
prism, and refracts the light to look like a rainbow.
Photos from Soul Alchemy-Another video of a Fire Rainbow
My Inauguration Day Souvenirs- Happy for the Biden-Harris Team
Today is one of the happiest moments of my life here in the US.
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was sworn in as the 46th president of the
United States today, taking office at a moment of profound
economic, health and political crises with a promise to seek unity after
a tumultuous four years that tore at the fabric of American society. Good Bye 4 years of Lies and Poor Leadership!!
This is also the day that Kamala Devi Harris was sworn in
as vice president by Justice Sonia Sotomayor.. Ms. Harris’s ascension made her the highest-ranking woman
in the history of the United States and the first Black American and
first person of South Asian descent to hold the nation’s second highest
office.
So
as a member of the Silent Generation, I am very proud indeed to be an
American with Filipino roots and ancestry. Coming to the US for Graduate
School in the 1960's is also one of the happiest and most important
decision I made during my 8 Decades and Six years of my life here in
Planet Earth.
In my last blog, I discussed the Five generations.
Today's blog will focused on the Silent Generation to Group that I am
proud to belong.
In my last posting I discussed briefly about baby boomers, Generation Y and Z and the Millennials. In this article, it will be about the Silent Generation where I belong.
The Silent Generation is the demographic cohort following the
Greatest Generation and preceding the baby boomers. The generation is
generally defined as people born from 1928 to 1945. By this definition
and U.S. Census data, there were 23 million Silents in the United States
as of 2019. According to Wikipedia, the common characteristics of this generation are as follows:
The Silent Generation were children of the Great Depression whose parents, having revelled in the highs of the Roaring Twenties,
now faced great economic hardship and struggled to provide for their
families. Before reaching their teens they shared with their parents the
horrors of World War II but through children's eyes. Many lost their fathers or older siblings who were killed in the war. They saw the fall of Nazism and the catastrophic devastation made capable by the nuclear bomb.
When the Silent Generation began coming of age after World War II, they
were faced with a devastated social order within which they would spend
their early adulthood and a new enemy in Communism via the betrayal of post-war agreements and rise of the Soviet Union.
Unlike the previous generation who had fought for “changing the
system,” the Silent Generation were about “working within the system.”
They did this by keeping their heads down and working hard, thus earning
themselves the "silent" label. Their attitudes leaned toward not being
risk-takers and playing it safe. Fortune magazine's story on the “College Class of ‘49” was subtitled “Taking No Chances."
From their childhood experiences during the Depression and the
insistence from their parents to be frugal, they tend to be thrifty and
even miserly. They prefer to maximize the property's lifespan, i.e. "get
their money's worth." This can lead to hoarding in the guise of "not
being wasteful.” In summary:
Some of the Common Characteristics of this Generation are as follows:
1. They are hardworking-Consider work as a privilege and the wealthiest generation so far
2. They have willpower-Adversity does not daunt them. They have survived the Great Depression
3. They are loyal Employees-Unlike Gen Y and Gen X workers, most of them stayed in the same employers throughout their working lives
4. They respect authority- Conformity and conservatism are prized and they tend to be good team players
5. They practice Waste Not, Want Not-Tend to be Thrifty- for example not trading their cars every few years and do not mind eating food left-overs
6. They can be Technically Challenged-Dont expect them to be whiz in operating smartphones and I-pads; may be slow to change work habits and last to adapt new technology in the work place or at home
7. They are Traditional- they value old-time morals, safety, security and consistency
Personal Note: As a member of the Silent Generation I strongly agree with Numbers 1,5 and 7 in the List of Common Characteristics above. If you belong to this Age Group do you agree with all the seven Characteristics listed above? Let me hear from you!
Meanwhile enjoy this photo of my recent Xmas gifts.
I have heard often times of the terms Millennials, Baby Boomers, and Generation X, Y and Z in the news.
I am sometimes confused of the above terms so I did some Google search and here's a summary of what I learned.
The terms are based on the breakdown of age differences as follows:
Baby Boomers: Baby boomers were born between 1946 and 1964. They're currently between 56-74 years old (71.6 million in U.S.)
Gen X: Gen X was born between 1965 and 1979/80 and are currently between 40-55 years old (65.2 million people in U.S.)
Gen Y:Gen Y, or Millennials, were born between 1981 and 1994/6. They are currently between 24-39 years old (72.1 million in the U.S.)
Gen Y.1 = 25-29 years old (around 31 million people in U.S.)
Gen Y.2 = 29-39 (around 42 million people in U.S.)
Gen Z: Gen Z is the newest generation to be named
and were born between 1997 and 2012/15. They are currently between 8-23
years old (nearly 68 million in U.S.)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Boomer Birth Years: 1946 to 1964
Current Age: 56 to 74
Generation Size: 71.6 million
Media Consumption: Baby boomers are the biggest
consumers of traditional media like television, radio, magazines, and
newspaper. Despite being so traditional 90% of baby boomers have a
Facebook account. This generation has begun to adopt more technology in
order to stay in touch with family members and reconnect with old
friends.
Banking Habits: Boomers prefer to go into a branch
to perform transactions. This generational cohort still prefers to use
cash, especially for purchases under $5.
Shaping Events: Post-WWII optimism, the cold war, and the hippie movement.
What's next on their financial horizon: This
generation is experiencing the highest growth in student loan debt.
While this might seem counter intuitive, it can be explained by the fact
that this generation has the most wealth and is looking to help their
children with their student debt. They have a belief that you should
take care of your children enough to set them on the right course and
don't plan on leaving any inheritance. With more Americans outliving
their retirement fund, declining pensions, and social security in
jeopardy, ensuring you can successfully fund retirement is a major
concern for Boomers.
Generation X
Gen X Birth Years: 1965 to 1979/80
Current Age: 40 to 55
Other Nicknames: "Latchkey" generation, MTV generation
Generation Size: 65.2 million
Media Consumption: Gen X still reads newspapers,
magazines, listens to the radio, and watches TV (about 165 hours' worth
of TV a month). However, they are also digitally savvy and spend roughly
7 hours a week on Facebook (the highest of any generational cohort).
Banking Habits: Since they are digitally savvy, Gen X
will do some research and financial management online, but still prefer
to do transactions in person. They believe banking is a
person-to-person business and demonstrate brand loyalty.
Shaping Events: End of the cold war, the rise of personal computing, and feeling lost between the two huge generations.
What's next on Gen X's financial horizon: Gen X is
trying to raise a family, pay off student debt, and take care of aging
parents. These demands put a high strain on their resources. The average
Gen Xer carries $142,000 in debt, though most of this is in their
mortgage. They are looking to reduce their debt while building a stable
saving plan for the future.
Millennials (Gen Y)
Millennial Birth Years: 1980 to 1994/6
Current Age: 24 to 39
Other Nicknames: Gen Y, Gen Me, Gen We, Echo Boomers
Generation Size: 72.1 million
Media Consumption: 95% still watch TV, but Netflix
edges out traditional cable as the preferred provider. Cord-cutting in
favor of streaming services is the popular choice. This generation is
extremely comfortable with mobile devices but 32% will still use a
computer for purchases. They typically have multiple social media
accounts.
Banking Habits: Millennials have less brand loyalty
than previous generations. They prefer to shop product and features
first and have little patience for inefficient or poor service. Because
of this, Millennials place their trust in brands with superior product
history such as Apple and Google. They seek digital tools to help manage their debt and see their banks as transactional as opposed to relational.
Shaping Events: The Great Recession, the technological explosion of the internet and social media, and 9/11
What's next on their financial horizon: Millennials are entering the workforce
with high amounts of student debt. This is delaying major purchases
like weddings and homes. Because of this financial instability,
Millennials prefer access over ownership which can be seen through their
preference for on-demand services. They want partners that will help
guide them to their big purchases.
Generation Z
Gen Z Birth Years: 1996/7 to 2012/15
Currently Aged: 8 to 23
Other Nicknames: iGeneration, Post-millennials, Homeland Generation
Generation Size: 68 million
Media Consumption: The average Gen Zer received
their first mobile phone at age 10.3 years. Many of them grew up playing
with their parents' mobile phones or tablets. They have grown up in a
hyper-connected world and the smartphone is their preferred method of
communication. On average, they spend 3 hours a day on their mobile
device.
Banking Habits: This generation has seen the
struggle of Millennials and has adopted a more fiscally conservative
approach. They want to avoid debt and appreciate accounts or services
that aid in that endeavor. Debit cards top their priority list followed
by mobile banking. Over 50% have not entered a bank branch in at least 3
months.
Shaping Events: Smartphones, social media, never knowing a country not at war, and seeing the financial struggles of their parents (Gen X).
What's next on Gen Z's financial horizon: Learning
about personal finance. They have a strong appetite for financial
education and are opening savings accounts at younger ages than prior
generations.
An excellent video an Inter Generational Mutual Mentorship
From the Page of a FB friend: I
am Generation X. Anyone who was BORN between 1965 & 1979, we are
the last generation that played outside until dark. We are the FIRST to
play video games & the LAST to record songs off the radio onto a
cassette tape, we loved roller skating on Friday and Saturday nights. We
survived the 80’s with big hair and the era of extravagant everything.
We took walks with friends without worry of being taken, we watched
cartoons on Saturday mornings while eating a bowl of cereal... we
programmed the VCR before anyone else... we remember learning how to use
a computer for the first time, we played Atari & Nintendo. We are
the generation of Soul Train, Gilligan’s Island, Dukes of Hazard,
Scooby-Doo, Charlie’s Angels, Wonder Woman, Little House on the Prairie,
Happy Days, & Good Times... We traveled in cars w/o seat belts or
airbags, rode in the backs of pick ups & lived without cell phones.
We did not have flat screens, surround sound, I-Pads, Facebook and
Twitter...But we had a GREAT time All the time with each other! For more details visit:
* Can anyone give me a reason why Ages 74 to 91 are called the Silent Generation -the age group where I belong ? Do you identify with Generation X comments above? Will be glad to hear from you.
Meanwhile, enjoy this photo from my collection
My Pineapple Plants still growing in the Winter Chills of Northern California
Personal Note: It is good to know that I belong to the Silent Generation*
This is Part 4 of 10 on my series on Art Museums and Historical Landmarks in the US that Macrine (RIP)and I had visited. Enjoy!!
Macrine (RIP) and I had been residents of Chicago, Illinois during my graduate school years at the University of Illinois from 1960 to 1964. One of our favorite recreation on weekends is to visit the Art Institute of Chicago. We have visited the Art Institute four times during our four years residence in the Windy City.
The
Art Institute of Chicago is a world-renowned art museum housing one of
the largest permanent collections in the United States. An encyclopedic
museum, the Art Institute collects, preserves, and displays works in
every medium from all cultures and historical periods as well as hosts
special exhibitions.
With a collection of more than 260,000 artworks and
artifacts, the museum has particularly strong holdings in Impressionist
and Post-Impressionist painting, early twentieth-century European
painting and sculpture, contemporary art, Japanese prints, and
photography. In 2009, the museum completed the largest expansion in its
130-year history, the internationally acclaimed Modern Wing designed by
Renzo Piano.
Incorporating the latest in green museum technology, the
264,000- square-foot Modern Wing is dedicated to modern and contemporary
art, photography, architecture and design, and new museum education
facilities. In addition to displaying its permanent collection, the Art
Institute mounts approximately forty special exhibitions per year and
features daily lectures, gallery tours, and special performances.
Meanwhile enjoy this painting at the Art Institute:
ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PAINTINGS in the Art Institute
I have been been writing a series on Art museums and historical landmarks here in the US. This is #3 of 10 articles of the Series. Enjoy!
The website at the bottom of this page lists the top ten most expensive paintings in the world. The Number #1 is Salvador Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci below.
This piece by Leonardo
da Vinci painted in the 1500’s was often put under the radar for its
authenticity. The art world is still divided whether it’s da Vinci’s
real work or the work of one of his skilled students. Regardless, it
fetched a hefty $450 million at a Christie’s auction in 2017. The piece
was bought by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud through his Minister of Culture. The
painting was due to be displayed at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, however, it
was later cancelled. It’s rumoured to have been held up on a Saudi
prince’s yacht and reserved for display at Saudi’s very own future
cultural centre in Al Ula, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Photo Credit: Luxhabitat: Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci (US$ 450.3M)
The three videos are worth your time if you want more details.
This piece by Leonardo
da Vinci painted in the 1500’s was often put under the radar for its
authenticity. The art world is still divided whether it’s da Vinci’s
real work or the work of one of his skilled students. Regardless, it
fetched a hefty $450 million at a Christie’s auction in 2017. The piece
was bought by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud through his Minister of Culture. The
painting was due to be displayed at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, however, it
was later cancelled. It’s rumoured to have been held up on a Saudi
prince’s yacht and reserved for display at Saudi’s very own future
cultural centre in Al Ula, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Visiting museums are some of the highlights of our 12 years residency in the Washington DC area. We resided in Colesville, MD -( a suburb of Washington DC-only 30 minutes to the National Mall) from 1990 to 2002. One of our favorite recreation is to visit the museums in the Mall and nearby areas. There are 15 most popular museums in the Mall. Several of the museums we have visited more than 3 times.
One of Macrine(RIP) favorite is the Museum Of Natural History that had a collection of Gems and Jewelry including the Hope Diamond. In one of our visits she purchased a simulated Hope Diamond in the Museum gift shop that she treasured during her lifetime.
This is the simulated Hope Diamond(cubic zirconia) that Macrine purchased in the Museum Gift shop that she treasured very much. In 1992 she paid $100 for it. She had worn it several times during our Filipino- American Ball and Parties in the several cities that we had resided here in the US.
For the history and mystery of the real Hope Diamond visit this site:
The Hope Diamond is renowned for its rare color and rich history. It was
formed more than a billion years ago at a depth of about 150
kilometers. The diamond was brought to the Earth's surface by a volcanic
eruption. The rare blue color of the jewel is attributed to light
interaction with an impurity in the diamond's atomic structure. As the
diamond grew, a few atoms of boron entered the crystal structure and
substituted for some of the carbon atoms.
For a list of 15 most popular museums in the mall visit the following site.
Note: I found that a cheap imitation of the Hope Diamond is advertised in FB today as Heart of the Titanic. It sells for 0nly $27.95 plus shipping. However, this could be a scam. I have been scammed in FB ads once and I am suspicious of buying on FB again.
The other day, I posted the top ten most popular or visited art museums in the world. Today I am posting the top 100 and top ten most famous and known paintings. How many of these paintings have you seen or are you aware of ?
Photo Credit: Pinterest Original Mona Lisa at the Lourve- #1 most Famous Painting
I was looking at a video listing 100 famous paintings in the world. I was surprised that none of Gaugin's painting was listed, but happy that one of Juan Luna's painting(#67) titled Las Damas Romanas was in the list (see description at bottom of this article). Juan Luna is one of Filipino most famous painter during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines.
The "Mona Lisa" was exhibited on January 8, 1963 at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, was exhibited for the first time in America on January 8, 1963. Over 2,000 dignitaries, including President John F. Kennedy,
came out that evening to view the famous painting. The next day, the
exhibit opened to the public, and during the next three weeks an
estimated 500,000 people came to see it. The painting then traveled to New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it was seen by another million people.
Leonardo da Vinci, one of the great Italian Renaissance painters, completed the Mona Lisa, a portrait of the wife of wealthy Florentine citizen Francesco del Gioconda, in 1504. The painting, also known as La Gioconda,
depicts the figure of a woman with an enigmatic facial expression that
is both aloof and alluring, seated before a visionary landscape. First
Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and Andre Malraux, the French minister of
culture, arranged the loan of the painting from the Louvre Museum in
Paris to the United States.
Meanwhile, here's my painting by an unknown artist titled Morion. I purchased this for $5 in 2010 during our stay at our second home in Boac, Marinduque, Philippines.
The following video list 100 popular paintings and 30 honorable mentions. I am pretty sure you recognize the top ten most popular art work as shown in the 2 videos below.
Here are the videos for your viewing pleasure: I have seen four of the top twelve in the museums where they are exhibited. Enjoy!!
This is #10 on the List- Creation of Adam- Macrine(RIP) and I saw this at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel during our tour at the Vatican Museum in 1990
Artist: Michelangelo Date: 1508 to 1512 Where to see it:Sistine Chapel (Vatican City)
The
most famous work by renowned artist Michelangelo covers a section of
the Sistine Chapel's ceiling -- you have to look up to view it. The
scene depicts God and Adam with outstretched arms, their fingers nearly
touching. It is one of the most replicated images in history. Adam's
muscular form hints at Michelangelo's other talent -- his "David" is
possibly the world's most famous sculpture. You can see the towering
marble statue at the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Juan Luna Las Damas Romanas #67 in the List of 100
Las Damas Romanas (literally, "The Roman Dames"), also known as The Roman Maidens, The Roman Women, or The Roman Ladies, is an oil on canvas painting by Juan Luna, one of the most important Filipino painters of the Spanish period in the Philippines.It was painted by Luna when he was a student of the school of painting in the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando) in Madrid, Spain in 1877. Alejo Valera, a Spanish painting teacher, took Luna as an apprentice and brought him to Rome where Luna created Las Damas Romanas in 1882. Luna spent six years in Rome from 1878 to 1884.
Description: The concept for the 100 cm x 170 cm size painting was based by Luna on ancient Romanhistory. It depicted a domestic scene in ancient Roman life, portraying two women lying on the steps of a house. The hand of one woman was holding the reins of two pet dogs or hunting dogs, in order to prevent them from scaring away some doves.The doves symbolized divinity. The background of the painting presented a shelf of artifacts. To the left of the shelf was a shrine with a pediment shaped like a triangle. In front of the pediment was a burner with a smoking incense.
There are three major elements of Las Damas Romanas,
namely the women, the dogs, and the doves. Roman life involved having
dogs because they were employed by the ancient Romans for hunting
activities, guardians of the home and their property, and as pets. In
Luna's painting, the leashed pet dogs were acting as companions of
women. Doves, on the other hand, were animals that connote eroticism.
In relation to one of the women, there was a suggestion that the woman
on the right with dark hair could be Maria de la Paz Pardo de Tavera.
The notion was discarded because Luna was unmarried when he painted Las Damas Romanas.
Luna finished Las Damas Romanas after winning a silver medal for The Death of Cleopatra painting in 1881 and before obtaining a gold medal for the masterpiece Spoliarium in 1884 (both were presented during the Madrid Exposition during the years mentioned). In 1886, Luna was awarded a Diploma of Honor at the Munich Art Exposition (also known as the Munich Salon) for painting Las Damas Romanas.
The masterpiece was a classic work painted in the highest conventions
of the academic style, and it was a representative of the "abundant
richness of life, with humankind", represented by women in the painting,
being "in harmony with Nature"
Valuation: Long
thought lost or missing, the painting emerged in an estate sale outside
Paris, France, before 2008. During this art auction, the painting was
originally priced between 10,000 and 20,000 euros (₱623,000
and ₱1.3 million), a range that rose to greater than 200,000 euros
(₱12.4 million) when the painting was bought by a French art dealer.
The painting was auctioned once again on November 30, 2008, at Christie's in Hong Kong with an estimated value ranging from $1 million to $1.2 million, the equivalent of HK$8,000,000 to HK$10,000,000. The work sold for far less than the estimate, however, achieving $609,193, or HK$4,700,000, including buyer's premium.
Macrine(RIP) and I visited four of the museums listed here, #2, #4, #7 and #10. This is #2 of 10 on the Series, I am writing on Art Museums and Historical Landmarks in the US.
The following list was compiled based on traffic to the attractions by Tripadvisor.com and is not endorsed by Reuters:
The Art Institute of Chicago- We Have visited this museum several times during my Graduate School years at the University of Illinois, Chicago from 1960 to 1964
1. Musee du Louvre, Paris, France
Once
a fortified palace that was the home to kings of France, the Louvre is
now the world’s most famous museum, renowned for some of the finest
pieces of art in the world, including the Venus de Milo and the Mona
Lisa.
Macrine (RIP) and I during our tour of the Vatican Museum in 1990
2. Vatican Museums, Vatican City, Rome, Italy
Spanning
nearly nine miles, the Roman Catholic Church’s Vatican collection is
one of the largest and most stunning in the world. Estimated to have
more than four million visitors annually, the Vatican museums feature
the art of Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and, of course, Michelangelo’s
ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.
3. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York
From
Picasso to Pollock, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on New York City’s
Museum Mile, is one of the world’s largest museums with over two million
pieces of artwork and enough variety for any enthusiast. Peruse the
Greek sculptures, admire the armory or browse the 2,000 European
paintings, all contained in a magnificent Beaux-Art facade building.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Aerial View of Paul Getty Museum/Center
4. J. Paul Getty Center, Los Angeles, California
The
Getty features a remarkable collection, including the works of Van
Gogh, Monet and Cezanne. The museum’s structure is a piece of art in
itself, and the grounds also feature beautiful gardens, and views of Los
Angeles.
5. Musee d’Orsay, Paris, France
Enjoy
Van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” inside the Musee D’Orsay, a former train
station built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, with a dramatic
glass roof. Specializing in 19th and 20th century artwork, the museum
displays a striking collection of Impressionism, including famous works
by Monet, Manet, Renoir, Van Gogh and Degas.
Photo Credit: Facebook
6. Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
Experience
(or at least admire) Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus,” in the Uffizi
Gallery, one of the oldest museums in the world featuring works from
Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci in the heart of Florence.
7. Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Located
on Chicago’s Loop, The Art Institute of Chicago boasts extensive
Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collections, including more than 30
pieces by Monet. Visit France from afar through Monet’s “Haystacks” and
spending time “At the Moulin Rouge,” one of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec’s
famous paintings.
8. Tate Modern, London, England
Enjoy
the electric art at the Tate Modern, displayed in a former Bankside
Power Station, with views of the Thames River and Millennium Bridge.
Remember the “Forgotten Horizon,” one of Dali’s many masterpieces and
part of one of the largest collections of Surrealism in the World.
9. Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain
One
of the largest and most impressive collections in the world, not
surprisingly, the Prado Museum is most famous for its assortment of
works from Spanish artists such as Goya, Velasquez, Murillo, and El
Greco.
10. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Located
on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the National Gallery of Art
is comprised of an east and west building, and features a sculpture
garden surrounding a large fountain. Modern art fans should head to the
east building, where works by Jackson Pollock, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy
Warhol are displayed.
Personal Note: Other popular museums that Macrine and I had visited and not in this list are: De Young Museum of Fine Arts in San Francisco and the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum in Kansas City, Missouri
