Louis XV Royal Chapel (by jeff_a_goldberg)
Maria SS. di Custonaci
The miraculous image of the Madonna of Custonaci in Sicily. It is a depicting of Mary suckling Jesus.
The devotion of Our Lady of Custonaci dates back to end of the sixteenth century. It is said that one night a ship bearing the painting got caught in a terrible storm. After calling on the Madonna the storm miraculously stopped. When the ship safely reached the shore the sailors decided to build a shrine for Mary out of gratitude.
The miraculous event is commemorated at the end of August every year, when a procession of boats takes places. The following day the Madonna is carried through the city, of which she is the patroness.
Weather destroying beauty. 17th.century. Giovanni Domenico Cerrini. Italian. 1609-1681. oil on canvas.
Style of the Week : Rococo
Rococo, less commonly roccoco, also referred to as “Late Baroque”, is an 18th-century artistic movement and style, which affected several aspects of the arts including painting, sculpture, architecture, interior design, decoration, literature, music and theatre.(text-source: Wikipedia)
Château de Vendeuvre : The Château - 1/4
The Château de Vendeuvre is situated in the commune of Vendeuvre, near to Lisieux in Normandy, France. Classed as a Historic Monument both for its exterior and interior, Vendeuvre is a prototypical aristocratic Norman country house. It is famous for its eighteenth-century interiors.
Vendeuvre was built between 1750 and 1752 from the plans of architect Jacques-François Blondel and is a great example of a country house (maison de campagne) of the eighteenth century. Its owner, Alexandre Le Forestier, ‘’seigneur’’ of Vendeuvre, coming from a Cotentin family that claimed descent from the Counts of Flanders, wanted a modern summer retreat built in the style of the day. The old manor-house was demolished, as it was damp (it was closer to the Dives river-banks than the present building) and built partially into the hillside slope.
After the château was damaged during the Second World War, the present Count of Vendeuvre, a direct descendant of Alexander of Vendeuvre, set about the complete internal and exterior renovation of the chateau. It was opened to the public, including a miniature furniture museum and gardens in 1983. (text-source: Wikipedia, edited)
Image credits: Museé et Jardins du Château de Vendeuvre
