6th C cultural appropriation ! Arian KingTheodoric (L) renamed as Orthodox EmperorJustinian (R) at St Apollinaire Nuovo, Ravenna. Boo! #MosaicMonday

Our Christmas special is now up. Waldemar explains how art invented Santa Claus. And I look into Peter Bruegel the Elder's mysterious and brilliant Adoration of the Magi. Waldy & Bendy's Adventures in Art, on all the usual platforms.

#MosaicMonday - detail from early 12th C La Martorana church in Palermo built as an act of worship by George of Antioch, Admiral of Sicily.

This week’s Adventures in Art podcast is up. Waldemar and I explore our favourite gothic cathedrals, ask why museum staff are on strike, and celebrate the Indian artist Amrita Sher-Gil. On all the usual platforms.

New episode of the podcast just out. Waldemar solves the mystery of Bosch’s masterpiece, I wonder why a gold toilet is worth $12m, and we explore what made Hans Holbein so brilliant with Elizabeth Goldring.

When I hear Farage talking about rounding up and deporting hundreds of thousands of human beings, and threatening those with leave to remain or settled status, I cannot help but think of the schoolboy sidling up to me and telling me that “Hitler was right” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I really do think that a very strident investigation of Fartage (I do not mean that in a hurtful way) by the intelligence services is long overdue!

The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford

This week on the podcast, we interview Andrew Graham-Dixon about Vermeer, lay into the BBC's arts coverage, and ask why royal portraits are so bad. www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_wU...

If you love great art, this podcast is an absolute must-listen. Incredibly insightful commentary with a delightfully fun spin by two of the best in the business. I just got stuck in with Season 1 and I am obsessed!

so interesting to hear about the 13th C Westminster Retable, painted by a Spaniard and its rel’shp to Cosmati pavement. I’m just back from Palermo & its Arab-Norman fusion wondering if the octagonal motif is moorish. Also pictured the original floor at Mon Réale 12th C @bendorgrosvenor.bsky.social

@rory-stewart.bsky.social felt for you tonight, I felt the presenter was particularly inept. Watched ‘accidentally’ was shocked at how poor NN was, it was like daytime tv.

Weather good, we are gradually working our way north in search of the Loch Ness Monster.

#MosaicMonday (Norman) King Roger 11 of Sicily’s bedroom or dining room in the Norman Palace in Palermo. 12th C. One of many Arab/Norman UNESCO sites in Palermo. My pics 😎

@bendorgrosvenor.bsky.social yay for the return of Waldy and Bendy re the Isabella Wolff painting:I don’t see a swan arising from the book but a suggestion of a swan’s body in the sweep of fabric over Isabella’s lap, the neck arising through her right arm and the head being the feather in her hair.

#FunghiFriday Bignor/Sutton border, West Sussex

#MosaicMonday detail from Galla Placidia Mausoleum ceiling 5th C Ravenna but copied from earlier 5thC church in Rome.

I prosecute and defend the most serious sexual offences in our courts. The overwhelming majority of offenders are British-born. Overwhelmingly the victim is someone known to them, either a partner or relative. Anybody purporting to care about protecting women might start there.

@romanpalace.bsky.social thank you !

#MosiacMonday ‘House of the Stone Carpets’ in Ravenna discovered under a church in 1993/4: mosaic floors 1-6th C. Very early daisy shape floor found under later but still early floors. Highly recommended to visit.

#TombTuesday the tomb of Theodoric, King of the Goths in Ravenna, Italy - 6th Century. Aurisina marble from Trieste with 270 ton monolithic dome which “has no equals in ancient or modern architecture” (UNESCO) bridges Roman and goth architectural styles.

@nedboulting.bsky.social HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ned ! Tried to find ITV at Saint Malo today but no luck ! Fantastic morning at the Tour though, supporting Geraint in his last Tour

This is an extraordinary piece of investigative journalism - and an absolutely extraordinary story

#MosiacMonday St Apollinaire Nuovo (Ravenna) 6th C King Theodoric & his Court were bricked over in gold mosiac (later Arian belief backlash) but a courtier’s hand got left behind on the column ! @drrjwarren.bsky.social

#MosaicMonday @drrjwarren.bsky.social back to 6th C Ravenna or Classe to be exact at San Apollinaire di Classe

@drrjwarren.bsky.social concert last night at San Vitale Ravenna celebrating 500 anniversary of Palestrina - absolutely astonishing and in that setting ….

#MosiacMonday the breathtaking 6th century San Vitale in Ravenna - twinned with Chichester but I find that a tad embarrassing ….. @drrjwarren.bsky.social

Blue Marine Foundation, SKRP Partner, have launched a fantastic new report on 'UK Kelp Recovery' written to transport us all into the world of these magnificent underwater forests and to understand the benefits they offer and the threats that they face. www.bluemarinefoundation.com/wp-content/u...

Sparrow dashes down Soft, white petal in her beak Spring blooms of Medlar

@bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour Early flowering sea kale along Rustington beach in sunny sussex today Crambe Maritima L.

@bendorgrosvenor.bsky.social An episode of Britain’s Lost Masterpieces that I’d never seen: Stunning architecture & galleries of Hospitalfield House plus Uffizi, Prato & Escorial, fab restoration by Simon,wonderful art detection & storytelling of Elizabeth & Patrick’s love story. Mor - who knew - BG

How fabulous is apple blossom ?

Surprising to hear that a government formed exclusively of a country’s most stupid people isn’t really working out.

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I buy very few hardbacks, but this is one I did, and I'm reading it as the year goes on. Even though I've always lived in the countryside, it's already taught me a different way to look (and listen). I've learned so much ❤️ @kierachapman.bsky.social, @drrjwarren.bsky.social   #BookSky #Nature

Eclipsed setting moon Blackbird’s tuneful melody Spring frost under foot (Time for tea)

As Honest Bob Jenrick tours the country repeating far-right conspiracy talking points about “two-tier sentencing”, here is the letter his own government sent to the Sentencing Council last year approving the very Guidelines he now claims are evidence of “two-tier Keir”. The man is a fraud.

Sue Limb is here everybody ! Writer/broadcaster of spoof/drama tour des force: The Wordsmiths at Grasmere, Gloomsbury Alison & Maud and SitCrom R4 radio shows and a hell of a lot more ! Welcome Sue we missed your wit from the other place. @suelimb.bsky.social

@suelimb.bsky.social so fantastic to see you here Sue - I’ve missed you since dumping the other place ! ❤️Sue Limb is here everybody!❤️

#RomanSiteSaturday Pompei , House of Loreius Tiburtinus

#AdoorableThursday Prato Cathedral of St Stefano, 15th Century. Tuscany.

Mini tornado rips through garden, medlars stand firm

8/ The farmer Guy Singh-Watson, who founded Riverford Organics, welcomes changes to APR, because, as he says, he’s “glad to see tax loopholes closing for cynical investor landowners”: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Entry pic: White Stork in field at bottom of my garden, she is now in Spain!