Oh, Vienna!

It's very windy this morning- but warm. We had a lie-in- as we sometimes do on Sunday mornings because the neighbours don't wake us up with their alarm clocks and shouting.

I dreamed Cliff Richard was driving his bus on a huge expanse of beach. He had a very young boy with him and a teenager who was acting as chaperon.

John Rentoul has a piece in the Indy pointing out that Thatcher was in continuity with her predecessors. Frank Cottrell Boyce has a piece in The Observer saying she hated Britain. Peter Hitchens has a piece in The Mail saying she wasn't really a conservative because what exactly did she conserve?

I enjoyed part 2 of the first Arne Dahl mystery. I was sorry the best-looking male detective and the only female detective had to wind up in bed together. I thought it was unprofessional of them.

Yesterday evening's Doctor Who was a bit Pertwee-era- featuring Soviet submariners and nukes and a defrosted Ice Warrior. David Warner  had a supporting role as a ditzy old Russian scientist with a thing about Ultravox.

Godfried Schalcken: Self Portrait

Sheridan Le Fanu wrote a creepy story about "Schalcken the Painter". It turns out he was real person- and a master of candlelight. This dramatic self-portrait is on display at the Royal Pump Rooms in Leamington Spa. I suppose Le Fanu may have seen it there.

Salome With The Head Of John The Baptist: Workshop Of Rembrandt Van Rijn

Here's a painting from Rembrandt's circle. It has been attributed to the great man himself (most unlikely- that's not how he lit a scene) and- more plausibly- to Carel Fabritius. Currently it seems to be securely anon. That it was produced in Rembrandt's workshop is almost certain. The executioner looks a lot like Rembrandt himself (that huge nose!)- and if not him could be some other member of the family. The model for Salome is (I think) Rembrandt's wife, Saskia.

So it's not a proper Rembrandt but it's good enough to be one. Psychologically charged. Consider the look that Salome is exchanging with the inscrutably bluff executioner. Conclusion: Rembrandt was a damn fine teacher.

Lucretia: Rembrandt Van Rijn

A painting by the man himself- in his pomp.

It doesn't get any better than this...