Western Opus

Classic is the new counterculture.

Diogenes was known as "the cynic" for a reason. After hearing Plato define human beings as a "featherless bipeds", he took a rooster, plucked all its feathers off and flaunted it as Plato's idea of a man. That forced Plato to append "with broad, flat nails" to his definition.

"It is better to live at New Orleans, in sackcloth and ashes, than to own the whole state of Ohio". Lafcadio Hearn, Greek writer and translator.

Hi, we are Western Opus and we love beauty, bright lights and gold. Referring to a box of concrete as "architecture" is a torment to us all. Thank you for the time and attention. 📍 Palazzo Reale's Galleria del Daniel @ Turin, #Italy.

La Partie de Billard (The Game of Billiards) | Jean Béraud, 1915 AD. Anyone up for a match of Eight-Ball? #fine #art #painting #sports

Burg Eltz, Deutschland (Eltz Castle, Germany). Wilhelm Brandenburg, 1820 AD. Eltz, Neuschwanstein, Schwerin... I could spend eternity wandering through German castles. #fine #art #painting #idyllic

Gesù Cristo e il buon ladrone (Jesus Christ and the good thief). Tiziano Vecelli, circa 1566 AD. "We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man didn't anything wrong. Then he said: Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom". Luke 23:32-55. #art #catholic #painting

POV: God, the Holy Cross and Brunelleschi team up to turn night into day. 📍 Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore @ #Florence.

"He harms himself who does harm to another. And the evil plan is most harmful to the planner". Hesiod, Ancient Greek poet & mythmaker.

Have you ever pictured Greek philosophers as goofballs? Ordinary people, always ready to crack a Dad joke? If you haven’t, remember: Chrysippus died from laughing after seeing a donkey eating his figs and ordering a slave to give the animal some wine to help it wash them down.

"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life. For there is in London all that life can afford". Samuel Johnson, English writer.

Ein Wikinger Überfall (A Viking Raid) | Ferdinand Leeke, 1901 AD. Kidnapped ladies, check; Leaving destruction and fire behind, check; Sacked goods, check; Waving swords and spears up in the air, check. Yes, it's a viking raid indeed. We're good. #fine #art #týr #painting

Vista exterior de la catedral de Burgos (Exterior of Burgos cathedral). Francisco Javier Parcerisa y Boada, 1859 AD. Medieval Castilian folk hero Rodrigo 'El Cid' Díaz de Vivar is buried inside the cathedral, beneath its central lantern dome. #fine #art #painting #Spain

The Good Shepherd | W. Dyce, 1857 AD. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me". Psalm 23, King James version. #catholic #art #painting

POV: You weren't looking for the Pietà, but it found you anyway... ...And it came escorted by angels. 📍 Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Anima @ #Rome.

Do you think you are ill-fated? Luckless? Unfortunate? Well, maybe you should think twice. Ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus died when an eagle dropped a tortoise (or turtle) onto his bald head, mistaking it for a rock to shatter the shell. THIS guy has reasons to complain!