L'amour inondera mes matins

private collection

Cornelis de Heem. Detail from Still-life with a Bouquet of Flowers, Cherries and a Clock, 17th Century.

Saint George and the Dragon

Two Panels with striding lions, ca. 604–562 B.C., Babylonian, Mesopotamia, Babylon (modern Hillah), ceramic glaze.

Gabriel Metsu. Detail from Portrait of a Lady, 1667.

Virgin with Child Enthroned (detail) c. 1200-1225

1665-70

Leuven Town Hall - architect Sulpitius Van Vorst and Matheus de Layens,  Leuven, Belgium by VISITFLANDERS

Annunciation 

Detail of Princess Henrietta Maria of France, Queen consort of England by Anthony Van Dyck, 1636-1638

Lilies: Found almost exclusively in annunciation scenes, the lily symbolizes Mary’s purity. In some accounts the golden anthers in the center of the flower represent the “radiance of her soul”. 

See the new rotation of ‪‎Sōtatsu: Making Waves, on view through January 31. As @smithsonianmag reports, our exhibition coincides with the 400th anniversary of the Rinpa style of painting. 

tempera and metal foil on panel, 1466-69

Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Decorative details of Nijo-jo Part II por Kevin Via Flickr: On Explore - Thanks so much Everyone! Highest position: 106 on Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Wedding Uchikake.  Late Meiji period (1890-1910), Japan.  The Kimono Gallery. A large wedding silk over-kimono (called ‘uchikake’) featuring many Edo period scenes embroidered onto a dark blue satin-silk ground. The many scenes were created by gold-colored metallic couching embroidery as well as simple embroidery highlights. The red inner lining is a rinzu (damask); padded hem (the custom with all uchikake).