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Showing posts from February, 2023

El entierro del Conde de Orgaz

  El Greco, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Oil paint and canvas. It measures 4,80 x 3,60 m.  El Greco made the painting that I will discuss today. Although he is not an Italian painter, I like his approach to Mannerism in his work. The fact that he studied these techniques in Italy counts towards the same movement, I believe.    The scene represents the miracle that, according to tradition, San Esteban and San Agustin performed together. They descended from the heavens to bury Gonzalo Ruiz de Toledo. He was the lord of the Orgad villa and had an honorable life that the saints wanted to award.  It is a wonderful array of all the mannerist techniques that El Greco had on his sleeve. The dreadful and elongated bodies, almost impossible foreshortenings, brilliant colors that tasted sour. The light gets bent at will, casting exaggerated shadows to bring up the contrast with the more light planes. Almost all the light comes from above, but in the terrenal plane, the clothes shine a li
  Hola! For today’s post, I would like to discuss one of my favorite buildings.  It is located less than an hour away from my hometown: Elciego, La Rioja, Spain.  This building is a hotel for the Marques de Riscal winery. Currently the Second best wine and vineyard on the world.The hotel lets the wealthy tourists stay at the hotel while they enjoy a visit to the winery, the town, and La Rioja. Hotel Marques de Riscal, Frank O.Ghery, 2006   This breathtaking and gravity challenging structure, is a delight to explore both from outside and from inside.  It has Gehry identity touch, the titanium and steel waves that bend and twist beyond imaginable. The building stands out with its silhouette and the contrast it creates with the medieval village that is located in. The curved lines create a welcoming space for guests and a soft atmosphere that fits quite well the hotel’s mission to provide a relaxed stance. I would also like to point out that with the wooden parts of the structure also cu