Ind.Reading Ch.20-30

During their silent meal the author showed not the least interest in him and at last he was rewarded and Charles began to talk to himself. When the small sum of money which he brought with him from London came to an end he suffered from no dismay. He tried to earn money but failed in everything what he had done. Meanwhile he had never ceased to work at his, he didn’t sail his pictures he only wanted to paint what he saw.

Dirk Stroeve wanted to celebrate Christmas together with the author and Strickland. However, they couldn’t find Charles anywhere. It turned out that Strickland was ill and his “friends” decided to find him. Charles had a serious fever. He eat nothing except bread and some water. Stroeve decided to remove Strickland to his own flat. When Mrs. Stroeve knew about her husband’s intention, she was enraged and burst into tears. Finally, she consented to take care about Charles. Soon, Strickland started recovering, but he was not obliged at all. But suddenly it turned out, that Blanche had secretly fallen in love with Strickland and decided to leave Stroeve with him. However, Stroeve because of his great love to this woman left Strickland and his wife in his own flat. He came to the author and shared with him his misfortune.

Rendering 2

The article published on the website of “Foxnews” on January 28, 2013 is headlined “Nearly 400-year-old secret painting in Rembrandt masterpiece revealed”

The author of this article is Megan Gannon. He reports us about the masterpiece, "Old Man in Military Costume" which was painted by Dutch painter Rembrant Harmenszoon van Rijn. Scientists had noticed the painting bears faint traces of another portrait beneath its surface. Researchers had previously probed the painting with infrared, neutron and conventional X-ray methods, but could not see the behind the top coat, largely because Rembrandt used the same paint (with the same chemical composition) for the underpainting and the final version.

The author notes that new studies with more sophisticated X-ray techniques that can parse through the painting's layers give art historians hope that they may finally get to see who is depicted in the secret image.

The author gives us opinions of different scientists according the situation. "Our experiments demonstrate a possibility of how to reveal much of the hidden picture," Matthias Alfeld from the University of Antwerp said in a statement. "Compared to other techniques, the X-ray investigation we tested is currently the best method to look underneath the original painting."

The article draws conclusion that this isn't the first time scientists have delved into Rembrandt's paintings. Previous research revealed why his art possesses such calming beauty, finding the artist may have pioneered a technique that guides the viewer's gaze around a portrait, creating a special narrative and "calmer" viewing experience.

As for me, I think that Rembrandt is one of the greatest painters and printmakers in European art history and the most important in Dutch history. His contributions to art came in a period of great wealth and cultural achievement that historians call the Dutch Golden Age when Dutch Golden Age painting, although in many ways antithetical to the Baroque style that dominated Europe, was extremely prolific and innovative. He is one of my favorite painters. This article impressed me greatly, because I did not know such information about this unique picture before.

Rendering 1

The article published on the website of “Detroit Free Press” on January 28, 2013 is headlined “Famed Van Gogh painting to visit the DIA in February”. The author of this article is Mark Stryker, Detroit Free Press Staff Writer. He reports us about arrival of a famous picture of Van Gogh to the DIA.

The author remembered about other pictures which were displayed there.  For example, there was the Vermeer’s picture “Woman Holding a Balance,” which was borrowed from the National Gallery in Washington D.C., in August. It is an open secret that as little a single masterpiece at their core are an attractive and cost-effective way to beef up the museum’s exhibition schedule between larger, more expensive special exhibitions.

Analyzing the situation, the author made special emphasize on the description of Van Gogh’s picture. Created in 1889, the “Bedroom in Arles” depicted the interior of the artist’s room when he was living in the south of France. The bold color and woozy perspective gave the picture an unusual charge of energy and emotion for such a quiet scene.

Also the author quoted Van Gog’s words about his own picture:  “The pale, lilac walls, the uneven, faded red of the floor, the chrome-yellow chairs and bed, the pillows and sheet in very pale lime green, the blood-red blanket, the orange-colored wash stand, the blue wash basin, and the green window … I wanted to express absolute repose with these different colors".

The article draws a conclusion that DIA will include two of the museum’s most celebrated masterpieces, the “Self- Portrait” and “The Portrait of the Postman Roulin,” along with “The Diggers.”

Unfortunately, the author did not express his own position according Van Gogh and his painting. As for me, I think that nowadays Van Gog’s works are rather popular among educated people. And, there is no doubt that this particular picture is worth looking.

Ind.Reading Ch.11-21

The narrator found a hotel, where Strickland had stopped. Suddenly, it turned out that Strickland lived there alone in a little stuffy room and this fact puzzled the narrator greatly. Strickland arrived to this cheap hotel alone with just a little sum of money. He arrived there because he wanted to paint. He didn’t love his wife and children anymore and did not want to return to them. However, then Mrs Strickland didn’t believe in it; she started to hate him and told that they were strangers to each other now.

The MacAndrews, who were childless and in easy circumstances, arranged to undertake the care of the children, and Mrs. Strickland, had only herself to provide for.  She let her flat and sold her furniture.  She settled in two tiny rooms in Westminster, and faced the world anew.  She was so efficient that it was certain she would make a success of the adventure. Finally, she became a head of in Chancery Lane (a printing office).

The author was rather bored with London and it’s monotonous life. He went to France and there he went to his old friend, Dirk Stroeve. As it turned out, Dirk was an ardent admire of works of Charles Strickland. So, the author decided to meet with this man again. Strickland had greatly changed since the last time they met.  He became as thin as a skeleton and had a really bad look. The author invited him to dine and Charles accepted.

Ind.Reading Ch.1-10

After the author’s first success because of his first book he was invited to a house of Mrs. Strickland for a lunch.  She usually organized lunches for different authors because she wanted to be in the movement.  She had a husband, who pretended to be a kind of dull persons, and two children, a boy and a girl. The author started to go to pleasant little luncheons at her flat regularly. And one day she asked Mrs. Strickland to introduce him to her husband, despite the fact that he was a he's a typical broker and very boring person.

So, at their first meeting Mr. Strickland’s appearance did not coincide with the image which was in the head of narrator. He was a man of forty, not good-looking, and yet not ugly, for his features were rather good; but they were all a little larger than life-size, and the effect was ungainly.  He was just a good, dull, honest, plain man. 

Suddenly, the narrator knew about the fact that Charles Strickland had run away from his wife, he had gone off to Paris with a woman and had left Amy without a penny. Everyone was shocked by this fact because Amy and Charles had lived together for 17 years without any quarrels.

Mrs. Strickland asked the narrator to go to France and to beg Charles to return to her and their children.

My pleasure reading

Year I Term I - Agatha Christie "After The Funeral"

Year I Term II - Stephenie Meyer "Twilight"

Year II Term III - Stephenie Meyer "New Moon"

Year II Term IV - Stephenie Meyer "Eclipse"

Year III Term V - Charlotte Bronte "Jane Eyre"

Year III Term VI - William Somerset Maugham "Theatre"