tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post8717043003795575907..comments2024-03-28T20:05:16.408+11:00Comments on ART and ARCHITECTURE, mainly: A World Fair at Crystal Palace, 1851 Helshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-50376217221705396552016-07-19T11:35:32.616+10:002016-07-19T11:35:32.616+10:00Why were most of the World Fair structures meant t...Why were most of the World Fair structures meant to be dismantled at the end of the festivities? What a waste! Even worse, some structures were loathed, even before the World Fairs started. Go to Invisible Paris for information:<br /><br />In a letter sent to newspaper 'Le Temps' in February 1887, a group of artists, writers and architects criticised the soon to be built Eiffel tower, calling it "inutile et monstrueuse". Gustave Eiffel, an engineer and a "constructeur de machines", would be scarring the beautiful face of the city in an attack on generations of artistic creation.<br /><br />http://parisisinvisible.blogspot.com.au/2011/06/eiffel-and-artists.htmlHelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-43696634193778109412016-03-24T16:02:10.262+11:002016-03-24T16:02:10.262+11:00Geri
agreed. The French had been presenting natio...Geri<br /><br />agreed. The French had been presenting national fairs for years, but Crystal Palace was the first world fair!<br /><br />And it was one of the best because a] it was of great importance to the national pride in Britain and across the Empire or b] Prince Albert was giving great royal patronage or c] the advanced state of the industrial revolution in Britain meant the science, technology, arts, crafts and architecture really were well ahead of the progress made in other countries by 1851.<br /><br />But then national pride was at stake in every world fair, I imagine.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-87435381641529922312016-03-24T12:30:36.235+11:002016-03-24T12:30:36.235+11:00I think this was one of the best fairs. I have a b...I think this was one of the best fairs. I have a book with illustrations of the exhibits and it fascinating to through and see the variety of items that were on display. Geri Waltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12502718669492831691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-8914413386406489192015-09-12T00:08:07.950+10:002015-09-12T00:08:07.950+10:00Amy
look forward to seeing you!
It is interesti...Amy<br /><br />look forward to seeing you! <br /><br />It is interesting that the Company decided to present the Koh-i-Noor diamond to Queen Victoria and even more so that it happened in 1850. The Indian Rebellion, the rebellion in India against the rule of the East India Company, was in 1857 so we can assume that the Company was already in trouble in the years leading up to the rebellion.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-21290414612263975782013-11-15T12:41:38.697+11:002013-11-15T12:41:38.697+11:00What a great story!!! When the exiled teenage boy ...What a great story!!! When the exiled teenage boy Duleep moved to England, he soon became very popular and was quite the gentleman aristocrat. Queen Victoria doted on the prince who she called her beautiful boy. See his portrait made by the German artist, Winterhalter.<br /><br />See The Virtual Victorian blog http://virtualvictorian.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/the-allure-of-cursed-diamond.htmlHelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-83131114590356055512013-02-23T15:42:15.508+11:002013-02-23T15:42:15.508+11:00The blog called Elginism http://www.elginism.com/ ...The blog called Elginism http://www.elginism.com/ has just written about David Cameron and the anti-returnist’s reasoning behind keeping Koh-i-noor diamond.<br /><br />The timing is perfect.<br />Helsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-67150345784032508422013-01-08T20:51:37.711+11:002013-01-08T20:51:37.711+11:00Chris
There aren't many names to choose from ...Chris<br /><br />There aren't many names to choose from (Henry, William, Charles, Edward etc) and every name has been blotted by at least SOMEONE. But then popes faced exactly the same problem. <br /><br />So my solution is for Charles to branch out and call himself something exotic eg King Gideon I or King Elvis I.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-47514907599972741432013-01-08T17:59:13.203+11:002013-01-08T17:59:13.203+11:00Enzie
Prince Albert was very smart. He understood...Enzie<br /><br />Prince Albert was very smart. He understood that if Britain was to be the top nation when it came to industrialisation, design and technology, an all-singing all-dancing world exhibition was essential. I also would have given my eye teeth to have been there.Helsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-66724353704511503842013-01-08T12:07:06.059+11:002013-01-08T12:07:06.059+11:00If Charles keeps his head, he may well choose some...If Charles keeps his head, he may well choose some other name than Charles :)<br />ChrisJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13139508470517226199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-55383431665458271032013-01-07T10:51:58.226+11:002013-01-07T10:51:58.226+11:00I would have loved to attend the World Fair. Can y...I would have loved to attend the World Fair. Can you imagine all the new inventions that were on display and never seen before. It must have been quiet a sight.Enzie Shahmiri Portraits and Fine Arthttp://www.enzieshahmiri.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-62329818331599439642013-01-07T10:21:17.551+11:002013-01-07T10:21:17.551+11:00columnist,
Prince Charles Philip Arthur George Wi...columnist,<br /><br />Prince Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor (born 1948) has plenty of name choices :) But if he doesn't ascend the throne very soon, he is going to be an elderly and creaky king. <br /><br />Even King Edward VII was only 61.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-55451953618885818772013-01-07T10:15:16.983+11:002013-01-07T10:15:16.983+11:00marc
Good to see you in 2013. Atomium, a giant mo...marc<br /><br />Good to see you in 2013. Atomium, a giant model of an iron crystal cell, was specially built for Expo '58 in Brussels. No wonder you loved it – the whole idea was to give children fun, but also to dazzle them with science.<br /> <br />Fortunately for the Belgian economy, many of the 1958 buildings were re-used from an earlier International Exhibition in the same area.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-49210706272916925742013-01-07T09:41:22.516+11:002013-01-07T09:41:22.516+11:00We were thrilled by the Atomium in Brussels when I...We were thrilled by the Atomium in Brussels when I was twelve. It is still there.marc aurelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03811106443815434007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-42772844218692785092013-01-06T19:03:55.054+11:002013-01-06T19:03:55.054+11:00There are two Cullinan's, I in the Sceptre, an...There are two Cullinan's, I in the Sceptre, and II in the Crown.<br /><br />As for Charles's name when he becomes king, I understand he has indicated that he might choose George, as in his grandfather, who himself chose George to add a sense of continuity to the monarchy in the year of 3 kings, (1936). So perhaps he will be George VII.columnisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03764365428633038329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-46620726457821271262013-01-06T00:55:06.650+11:002013-01-06T00:55:06.650+11:00columnist
I didn't even think to mention the ...columnist<br /><br />I didn't even think to mention the Cullinan Diamond (530 carats) because it was not found until 1905. The Koh-i-Noor Diamond started off life bigger (793 carats) but ended up smaller (106 carats).<br /><br />You are right, of course. The Cullinan Diamond is now more important because it is set in the head of the Sceptre with the Cross.<br /><br />King Charles III? I hope he avoids the political obstinancy of Charles I and the religious insensitivity of Charles II.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-14466214849733091302013-01-06T00:44:10.773+11:002013-01-06T00:44:10.773+11:00Deb,
nod..spouse and I went on one of those pack...Deb, <br /><br />nod..spouse and I went on one of those package weekends to the Brisbane World Expo 88, and loved every minute of it. Imagine if we were that excited in 1988, how excited the ? less sophisticated crowds must have been in 1851.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-63253008654671392992013-01-06T00:40:40.647+11:002013-01-06T00:40:40.647+11:00Parnassus,
Happy 2013 :) It is such an appalling ...Parnassus,<br /><br />Happy 2013 :) It is such an appalling waste of resources to build fantastic buildings, bridges, roads, railway lines and pavilions for these international exhibitions, knowing they were to be pulled down almost immediately. If they wanted to return the site to its original condition, then run the fair's facilities in huge tents.<br /><br />The Eiffel Tower (Paris 1889) and the Exhibition Buildings (Melbourne 1880) and the Palace of Fine Arts (Chicago 1893) were not the only survivors, as you noted. But I have photos from every world fair since 1851 on, and can count the survivors on my fingers. What a terrible waste.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-85246706166398309972013-01-06T00:33:02.892+11:002013-01-06T00:33:02.892+11:00Andrew
The relationship between the diamond, its ...Andrew<br /><br />The relationship between the diamond, its former owner and the British East India Company is very murky. Despite having read a lot of papers on the topic, there seems to be more truth hidden than revealed.<br /><br />As recently as Sept 2012, the descendants of the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, who they say was forced to hand over the Koh-i-Noor diamond, launched a court action in the UK for the diamond to be returned to India. The court case failed.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-18088795459341450132013-01-05T23:35:31.756+11:002013-01-05T23:35:31.756+11:00This diamond is certainly a "girl's best ...This diamond is certainly a "girl's best friend" in that it is worn in the crown of the queen consort rather than the sovereign, so that the present Queen's (Imperial State) crown has the Cullinan diamond as its principal jewel.<br /><br />I wonder whether the tradition of the monarch wearing the crown for the State Opening of Parliament will continue into the next reign. The idea still works in my mind principally because Queen Elizabeth II has always done so, but also because she is a woman, and the potentially ridiculous idea doesn't occur (to me). But King Charles III, or King William the V? Well who knows.columnisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03764365428633038329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-38837039957978295582013-01-05T21:21:52.827+11:002013-01-05T21:21:52.827+11:00We went to the International Exhibition in Brisban...We went to the International Exhibition in Brisbane last century. It was fantastic for as long as the event lasted. Debnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-7163531470845632392013-01-05T15:43:59.074+11:002013-01-05T15:43:59.074+11:00Hello Hels, The Crystal Palace was certainly the ...Hello Hels, The Crystal Palace was certainly the most iconic of the World's Fairs. The building itself lasted in altered form until 1936.<br /><br />Some other existing Fair buildings: San Francisco still has the Palace of Fine Arts (1915).The site of the 1904 St. Louis fair became the campus of Washington University, and some of the Fair buildings are still in use as college buildings. Also, I have heard of a lot of the smaller buildings at fairs being moved after the even, and some of these are still extant, although probably only fair historians know where they are. <br /> Parnassushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-8675082755014007322013-01-05T10:18:53.089+11:002013-01-05T10:18:53.089+11:00Ownership of the diamond might be more clear cut i...Ownership of the diamond might be more clear cut if the British East India Company wasn't in control. I would guess its ownership was negotiated with a sultan or ruler.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com