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| Rijsmuseum Library |
What books do you think these people are reading?
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| Portrait of Alida Christina Assink, 1833 Jan Adam Kruseman |
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| Old Woan Reading, c. 1631 Gerard Dou |
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| An Old Woman Reading, Probably the Prophetess Hannah, 1631 Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn |
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| The Wardens of the Amsterdam Drapers' Guild (Known as The Syndics), 1662 Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn |
How interesting and you certainly made me think about what each character could have been reading in these paintings - certainly the women - who I am sure education was still seen as rather strange for some!
ReplyDeletehttp://pempispalace.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/p-is-for-popular-people.html
Do you have any idea?
DeleteLOL. I thought you would post palm trees and a tropical island for paradise. Maui Jungalow
ReplyDelete;) Paradises can be very different!
DeleteIf I had to guess. I'd say Holy books.Maybe not plays which is what I'm talking about today.
ReplyDeleteP is for plays
http://theglobaldig.blogspot.com/2017/04/p-is-for-plays-atozchallenge-via.html
@trincarl
There is a long gap between Disney plays and Holy Books...
DeleteGood to overthink what paradise would mean. The common ideas in real (a 'place full of neverending happiness') would get boring after some time, I think. 'Life' to me is also 'to learn' and I wouldn't like that to stop if there's a life afterwards.
ReplyDeleteSo at least a big book shelf full of interesting books (library even better!) would cause a pleasant variety in the ideal paradise :-)
Traditional paradises may sound a bit boring, comparing to this library!
DeleteHmmmm.... no idea what they could be reading. The first one I would say a novel of some sort. The rest look more like non-fiction - religious themes?
ReplyDeleteReligious? Really? I was thinking of something funnier!
DeleteWhatever they're reading, I'd really like to get my hands on those books. It's fascinating to me--the different mentalities from different time periods. You really get an understanding of people and their lives from a historical work.
ReplyDeleteAny book makes me curious... Imagine this whole library!
DeleteThanks for your visit.
Of course paradise is a library!
ReplyDeleteI didn't think ordinary people read in the 17th century, especially women...unless they were especially affluent...maybe they are if they had their portraits painted. And maybe they were reading the first novels, or travelogues, or the Classics or maybe the Scriptures...
Btw, thanks much for the link to Yoriyas. Clicked over and loved it!
I'm glad that you like his pictures.
DeleteSuch artsy postcards:)
ReplyDeleteLady Alida could be reading a racy romantic novella (not uncommon among the rich in the nineteenth century)
Extremely intrigued about 'Old Woan Reading'.
Thanks for sharing these Eva.
P is for Poetry, Petra and Pottery
If she is actually the Prophetess Hannah, maybe some commenters are right and she's reading the Bible. I must find out!
DeleteAhhh! that's intriguing. So many books and such little time!
ReplyDeleteMaybe a library like this one can be a bit overwhelming...
DeleteWhat a delightful glimpse of paradise. Yes, I agree a library is a paradise. The possibilities of what they are reading intrigues me but I do not know enough of the time period to hazard an educated guess.
ReplyDeleteNo need of an educated guess. I like to imagine that the old woman is reading the Harry Potter saga, for instance... ;)
DeleteI seen that Amsterdam Drapers Guild somewhere before bu have been without internet most of the day - will check tomorrow
ReplyDeleteI guess I cheated a bit here, because these men are not exactly reading...
DeleteThe library is beautiful. I would love to spend a day in there. And the postcards of people reading are awesome.
ReplyDeleteA day? You will need some days there...!
DeleteYep.
ReplyDeleteParadise IS a library!
*nod, nod*
:))))))
DeleteThey're beautiful. I thought one was a Rembrandt but no.
ReplyDeleteThat first "Old Woman Reading" isn't reading; she's looking at the picture and dreaming, "Oh, I wish this was in the Sears catalog." :D
Only two Rembrandts here. I just love your interpretation ;)
DeleteThat library, and those paintings, are all so lovely and classic! I love that you can find art on postcards. It brings beautiful things to everyone. :)
ReplyDeletePostcards are cheap,affordable pieces of art.
DeleteCurious. I thought I left a comment here yesterday. I wonder whose idea it was to use books in each composition. Was it the painter's? Did the subject choose a book to leave a permanent record of them as a literate person? I'm pretty sure the woman with the dog must be reading the latest Harlequin Romance. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think the subjects themselves chose appear like that (I mean... they are the ones who pay, aren't they?). If a painter made my portrait, I would like to appear writing a letter, sure.
DeleteBy the way... Why nobody thinks that woman is reading classical philosophy?
Oh. My. God. I love grand old libraries! That's certainly paradise. :D I think Alida (in her portrait) is trying to teach her dog to read ;) but her expression says it isn't going well hehe.
ReplyDeleteHere's my "P" post :) http://nataliewestgate.com/2017/04/partner-secret-diary-of-a-serial-killer
Oh, that didn't occurred to me! :D
Delete