Posted on 03/28/2005 8:43:46 PM PST by nuconvert
Fascinating GGG ping
" As art restorers in London inspected a 230-year-old painting by master landscape artist William Hodges, they noticed the canvas was thicker in some areas than others.
Using an X-ray machine, they peered behind the lush greens of New Zealand and discovered the oldest known painting of Antarctica.
The X-ray revealed two icebergs, painted during Captain James Cook's historic expedition below the Antarctic circle. Until the National Maritime Museum in London made the discovery last year, historians believed that only sketches of the frozen continent had been produced. "
Thanks for posting the link for the paintings.
Thanks
Blowing it up, it STILL looks like a person clinging or climbing the sheer side of the left 'iceberg', which looks like a cliff.
Makes me wonder just how certain they are that these are icebergs.
Fascinating story, nuconvert. Thanks for posting it.
"This is an X-ray, provided by the Yale Center for British Art, of an image beneath William Hodges' painting entitled 'View in Pickersgill Harbour, Dusky Bay Sound, New Zealand,' which is currently on temporary display at the center in New London, Conn. Experts believe this image shows the oldest known painting of Antarctica, painted during Captain James Cook's exploration there. (AP Photo/Yale Center for British Art) "
Oh, oops! Sorry for the mistake.
It's a beautiful painting. Thanks for posting it.
Isn't it amazing that the article doesn't give you the title of the actual painting?
It does:
. . . Hodges immediately turned on his iceberg canvas and painted his "View in Pickersgill Harbour, Dusky Bay Sound, New Zealand."
I missed it! Thanks.
Thanks for that link...have bookmarked for further enjoyable 'looking at'...took a short glance, but will explore further later on...I cannot draw any better than a toddler, so I always enjoy looking art, such as on that website...again, thanks...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.