Melbourne Culture

Despite the rain we opted for culture.

The Hermitage Collection.

Catherine the Greats Private Collection.

The first thing to greet us was part of 

the collection

of Cameos.

Stunning comes to mind!

Medusa was spectacular.

And if you've got a superb collection you might as well

have cabinets made to house them !

Simply Stunning.

And then there's the Sevres Dinner Setting.

It would look nice in the cottage don't you think ?

Maybe a bit over the top !

The largest part of the collection was paintings...

"Portrait of an Actor"

by Domenico Fetti

Maybe the first Transgender Model

by Leonardo Da Vinci

but probably by one of his students..

A bit "Butch" for my liking...

I think the Tits were added later !

Stunning artwork.

The Apostle Paul

by

Peter Paul RUBENS

The odd Sculpture

Destruction of the Turkish Fleet in the Bay of Chesme

by Jacob Phillip HACKERT

they actually blew a Russian Ship so 

he could see how it looked.

No Stuffing about in those days !

Pluck a Duck

And then there was the Chinese Silver.

Hmm...

Followed by a STUPENDOUS Paella

for lunch in Southbank.

The next day 

"The Pilgrimage" to Queen Victoria Market.

We had to start with coffee.

Tomorrow the Wedding.