The Lovers’ Chronicle 17 November – spent – art by Charles Lock Eastlake

The Lovers’ Chronicle 17 November – spent – art by Charles Lock Eastlake – Verdi’s Oberto

17 November 2023 By Rhett 0 In Random

Dear Zazie, Here is today’s Lovers’ Chronicle from Mac Tag dedicated to his muse. Rhett

The Lovers’ Chronicle

Dear Muse,

the sense that after all

the broken trails and verse,

that this, here with you

is…

suddenly,

i find myself uncertain

of how to write this

without soundin’ trite,

or please save me,

maudlin

all i have ever wanted

was to find someone

to accompany me

is that why you were sent

amid the ruins of the past

bear unfalterin’, the structure

of recollection, and once again

recognizin’ the taste of the long

denied soaked in decoction of feelin’s

(how much longer must the discovery

be postponed) of why, immediately

rises up and how the hell to go on

there was a time
when that woulda played
i mean, i still feel it
i am not dead
just numb
incredibly numb

so much time spent chasin’
what was supposed to be
without ever knowin’
it could never be

Today is the birthday of Charles Lock Eastlake (Plymouth, Devon, England 17 November 1793 – 24 December 1865 Pisa, Italy); painter, gallery director, collector and writer of the 19th century. After a period as keeper, he was the first director of the National Gallery.

In 1849 he married Elizabeth Rigby, an art historian and translator of German art histories, forming a formidable art history writing partnership.

In 1845, he was elected into the National Academy of Design as an Honorary Academician. From 1850 to 1865, he was the second president of the Birmingham Society of Artists. Elected President of the Royal Academy and knighted in 1850, he became a notable figure in the British art establishment, being appointed the first President of the Photographic Society in 1853 and, in 1855, the first Director of the National Gallery.

Gallery

20221117_202612

Haidée, a Greek Girl

The lily

And on this day in 1839 – Oberto, Giuseppe Verdi’s first opera, opens at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy.



The town and citadel of Bassano where the opera is set

Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio is an opera in two acts by Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera, based on an existing libretto by Antonio Piazza probably called Rocester. It was written over a period of four years and was first performed at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan. The La Scala production enjoyed success and the theatre’s impresario commissioned more operas from Verdi.