Snooker, anyone?

Via here

Silhouette

How is this for a mouthful? Collection De Cent Silhouettes Des Personnes Illustres Et Celebres Dessinées D'Après Les Originaux (1791) or simply Profile Portrait Silhouettes of 18th Century European Nobility by Johann Friedrich Anthing. Specializing in the popular 18th and 19th century silhouette effect, Anthing took commissions from royal courts across Europe. He lived much of his life in St Petersburg, where he also created silhouette portraits of the Russian Science Academy members...

Via Bibliodyssey

Kedleston Hall

A huge thank you to readers who solved the mystery for me just as I was about to don my Nancy Drew Google hat. The magnificent house in my previous post is Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire. Incidentally, many scenes of The Duchess (starring Keira Knightley) were filmed at Kedleston...

 See more here and here

Curved

Spectacular proportions. And as for the floor...

Via here (does anyone know details about this house?)

Second Term

Hooray....

Via here

Eye for an Eye

Been away for the weekend at a swim gala in ostrich-country... Oudtshoorn. Forty degree plus temperatures (celsius). In the meantime (and rather randomly) until we settle back home and I rehydrate my innards, here is an antique illustration of the eye from 1899...

Via here

El Palacio de Cristal del Retiro

A bit of heavenliness in Madrid, Spain...

Via here and here