Classics Retold

Dutch landscape painters of great repute who lived in the seventeenth century. Two names are always linked together: Jacob Van Ruisdael and Meindert Hobbema.  Hobbema trained under Ruisdael, travelled with him in sketching excursion, and Ruisdael even served as a witness at Hobbema's marriage in 1668. Both of them specialised in landscapes of Dutch country side: including forests and woodlands, streams and ponds, windmills and watermills, dramatic sky and changing light. Their styles were so similar that some paintings were later misattributed from one to other. Although closely connected, their artistic identity were distinct. Ruisdael was more romantic and emotional. He loved wild and powerful nature.  Often painted stormy skies and rugged scenery.  His paintings were of romantic grandeur. The Jewish Cemetery, Windmill at  Wijk bij Duurstede, View of Haarlem with Bleaching Fields are some of his great works.  Hobbema's creations are more peaceful and lyrical....

Griffin is a mythical creature, with the body tail and legs of a lion, and the head and wings of an eagle.  Known as a symbol of strength, courage, and vigilance, it has been a popular motif in ancient mythology and art, and modern fantasy.  Mythological and Historical origin: Lion is the king of beasts and eagle the king of birds; and so griffin is considered the majestic ruler of all animals.  In ancient Greek and Persian lore griffins were famous for building nests out of gold in Central Asia.  According to modern historians and paleontologists these myths were originated from ancient people who happened to see the fossilized remains of dinosaurs near gold deposits.

Gurgoyle is an archaic alternative spelling of the word gargoyle. It is a monstrously carved stone water spout.  Its appearance is grotesque.  It is found in Gothic architecture, designed to throw rain water off the roofs away from building's masonry.  True gargoyles are purely functional;  if a carved stone figure is purely decorative, and doesn't spout water, it is technically classified as grotesque.  Thomas Hardy in his "Far From The Madding Crowd" features this spelling. The word gargoyle comes from old French word "gargouille" which means throat or gullet.  This traces back to onomatopoeic Latin root garg.  The word is linguistic sibling to "gargle" , "gurgle" and regurgitate, means gargle or thought. 

When Bathsheba had left the house at the previous night, Troy's first act was to cover the dead from the sight. This done he ascended the stairs, and throwing himself down upon the bed, dressed as he was, waited for the morning. Twenty pounds having been secured from Bathsheba, he had managed to add to the sum every farthing, he could muster on his account, which had been seven pounds ten.  With this money, twenty seven pounds ten in all, he had hastily driven from the gate that morning to keep his appointment with Fanny Robin.  On reaching Casterbridge, he left the  horse and trap  at an inn and went to the bridge at the other end of the town, and sat on the parapet.  The clocks struck the hour, and Fanny not appeared.  In fact, at that time she was being robed in her grave clothes by two attendants at the Union House.  They were the only women who honoured her.  Troy waited her for half an hour.  This was the second time she had broken a se...

Galanthus or snowdrops is a genus of about 20 species of small bulbous flowering plants in the amaryllis family.  They are the first to bloom after winter, often appearing before the snow leaves completely. It has narrow grass-like leaves, white bell-shaped flowers with six petals.  Galanthus comes from the Greek words gala meaning milk and anthos meaning flower, and it literally means milk flower.  They are native to southern and eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and parts of Southwest Asia. They naturally grow in decidous woodlands, mountain meadows, damp grassland, and the periphery of forests with rich soil.  Europeans see it as symbol of hope and renewal. They sprout at the fag end of winter. 

Yew is a type of evergreen tree belonging to the genus Taxus.  It is renowned for its longevity, appearance, the quality of wood, and toxicity.  Longevity: It can live for hundreds of years.  Some churchyard yews in Britain are among the oldest living trees in Europe.  Appearance: They have dark green needle-like leaves and produce bright red berries called arils.  Wood: The wood is strong and flexible. In medieval England they were used for making long bows. Toxicity: Its leaves, seeds, bark and wood are poisonous to humans and many animals.  The red fleshy aril surrounding the seed is the only the non-toxic part, but the seed itself is highly toxic. Literary Symbolism:  Because of its great age and association with churchyards and cemeteries, the yew often symbolises death, immortality, mourning and endurance. Habitat: Yews are native to much of the Europe, including Britain. They are widely used in ornamental landscaping. Yew grow also in parts of I...