Common Themes

Painting by Cosmas Damian Asam, 1735
Photo © Jay Pasachoff, courtesy of APOD.

Today’s APOD showcases what historians believe is the first accurately-depicted solar eclipse found in art:

The above painting was completed in 1735 by Cosmas Damian Asam, a painter and architect famous in early eighteenth century Germany. Clearly drawn is not only a total solar eclipse, but the solar corona and the diamond ring effect visible when sunlight flows only between mountains on the Moon. The person depicted viewing these eclipse phenomena is St. Benedict.

Sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, 1958
Image courtesy of Plan59.

Sure you’ve got your personal rocketship, sure you’re moving to man’s first lunar base. Does that mean you can’t take your designer mid-century modern couch? Does it??

More retro album covers that Brian found on 317x.com. Featured today are a pair of ku-raaaaaazy guys and a number of musical-instrument-shaped constellations. Gotta love those horn-rimmed glasses!

IconBuffet has several versions of their “Atmospheres” icons, which feature weather elements, moons and suns, stars, aliens, ufos and comets/meteors. They are all worth a look-see; personally, Oslo Atmosphere is my favorite.

(If interested, click the button below to sign up and I’ll gladly send them to you!)

These retro album covers are again the findings of Brian, and are from 317x.com. Featured today are an artistic rendition of Sputnik, and man’s first spacewalk. (I think. If not the first, please correct me.)