After the spectacular storm last night I'm thinking about wonder, and specifically 16th century thinker Francesco Patrizi's list of the 12 sources of wonder, which he published in the 1580s. Patrizi's twelve sources of the marvelous: —ignorance —fable —novelty —paradox —augmentation —departure from the usual —the "exceedingly natural" —the divine —great utility —the very exact —the unexpected —the sudden The storm would have to fall under the "exceedingly natural" ...
http://www.encyclopediaoftheexquisite.com/?p=1390
I was doing a little research on Peter Paul Rubens' wife Helena Fourment, this morning. They married in 1630, when he was 53 and she was 16 (ahem), and she inspired some of his most voluptuously and rosy works from then on. (This image was done around the time of their wedding.) As a daughter ...
http://www.encyclopediaoftheexquisite.com/?p=1384
As I wind down writing my second book (!), I'm taking some time to go back through my files & to post some of the photos I had hoarded while writing Encyclopedia of the Exquisite. Perhaps you'll remember the entry on Felines? Well, here are some photos of famous feline lovers, like Josephine Baker and ...
http://www.encyclopediaoftheexquisite.com/?p=1367
Whenever the seasons change, it's a good time to check in with Kenko (1283-1352), the medieval Japanese monk scholar behind one of my favorite books, Essays in Idleness. "No season is so crowded with events as autumn." I love his take on the turning leaves, and the darkening atmosphere of autumn: "Here the autumn moor, in wanton luxuriant ...
http://www.encyclopediaoftheexquisite.com/?p=1362
I couldn't resist posting these photos of some of the incredible pieces of centuries-old lace now on display at the Met, as part of the museum's "Gems of European Lace" exhibit. Okay, I admit, the title sounds pretty snoozy, and it would be easy while walking the Met's halls to cruise right past. But what's ...
http://www.encyclopediaoftheexquisite.com/?p=1354
I came across all these wonderful photos of chorus girls (a ton after the jump), most anonymous, though they reminded me of Anna Held, of course, as well as Busby Berkeley's dancers and the dancers of the Quadrille Naturaliste. (And I'm starting out my first pinterest board in high style under the handle encycloexquisit, if ...
http://www.encyclopediaoftheexquisite.com/?p=1309
I always miss Wallace Stevens' birthday—October 2—so this year I'm prematurely tipping my hat to the great poet. Thinking of him this evening, I spent some time rifling around in the archives. I do love him so. And he loved all the good things: snow, poetry, honey, walking, ravens, tea... I found a funny site plastered ...
http://www.encyclopediaoftheexquisite.com/?p=1305
I swear, the next time Swiss artist Christian Marclay's video work "The Clock" plays anywhere, I will get there. Won't somebody let me know when that happens and before it's too late!? I'm obsessed with this idea—an entire film, a 24-hour montage, made from clips containing shots of watches and clocks—or the voices of humans telling ...
http://www.encyclopediaoftheexquisite.com/?p=1301
I've got one more maritime themed entry to share. All winter long we've been busy around building not one, not two, but three fantastic little sailing boats designed by the phenomenally talented Eric Blake with a big knot of friends, in anticipation of summer. Late nights. Loud music. So much fun. Someone pointed out recently that ...
http://www.encyclopediaoftheexquisite.com/?p=1297
Artist Sophie Calle is someone whom I hope I'll have the chance to meet somehow before one of us is no longer. I mean, that kind of thing can go wrong—you meet the admired person after so many years of admiring, get disappointed, etc. But I'd certainly risk it in Calle's case. I just saw this ...
http://www.encyclopediaoftheexquisite.com/?p=1294
