In putting together the Twelve Days of Christmas project on Hoarseman, I ran across some of the most stunning artwork in the history of mankind (Wiki Paintings www.wikipaintings.org) It’s amazing that the more you struggle with learning or practicing something, or even working at something you have experience in, the greater your appreciation for those who are truly brilliant in any field.Most of the work in the collage below (11 Pipers is the Twelve Days connection) is by Vincent Van Gogh, of whom I’ve always been a fan, with the addition of some new discoveries from Gerard Terborch and James Whistler.

Another discovery led me to an article on an interesting British officer, and an acquaintance of T.E. Lawrence — yeah the Arabia guy — Richard Meinertzhagen.

‘Nuf from me. Go explore on your own and have a marvelous, fantastic wonderful Holiday…or enjoy your day at the movies. Here’s the collage.

Public Domain images from WikiPaintings(an amazing new site in Beta), except as noted¹from top left:

1. Corner of a Cafe Concert 1880 – Vincent Van Gogh
2. Head of a Peasant with a Pipe 1885 – Van Gogh
3. Head of Man 1886 – Van Gogh
4. Self Portrait with Straw Hat and Pipe 1887 – Van Gogh
5. Head of a Fisherman with a Sou’Wester 1883 – Van Gogh
6. Man with Pipe and Eye Bandage 1882 – Van Gogh
7. A Good Glass of Beer 1873 – Van Gogh
8. Richard Meinertzhagen – Public Domain photograph – (from WikiMedia Commons¹)
9. Man Smoking a Pipe – James, McNeil Whistler c. 1859
10. Fisherman with a Sou’Wester Pipe and Coal Pan 1883
11. A Guard Room Interior with a Soldier Blowing Smoke in the Face of His Sleeping Companion – Gerard Terborch

¹Caption of the same image in Garfield, Brian (2007) The Meinertzhagen Mystery, reads: “Richard Meinertzhagen in the Highlands, 1922″(from Wikipedia)

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