the past, lost in space... @shewolfofdavid - Tumblr Blog

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Rest in peace, Christopher Columbus Kraft, Jr. (February 28, 1924 – July 22, 2019). A legend whose contributions to NASA and spaceflight cannot be overstated. As Jim Bridenstine said, his legacy is immeasurable. Ad astra per aspera, Flight Director.

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“Per aspera ad astra”, from Finland in the Nineteenth Century, 1894

Through hardship, to the stars

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I picked the second painting to do a master’s copy of for my final. I got really interested in these two paintings by Gerrit Dou, both depicting an astronomer - in the first one he painted an astronomer with his things disrupted, leaning out into the night, looking up at the sky as if trying to understand. Then as soon as Dou was done with this painting, he immediately began to paint the second one, depicting an astronomer poring over the written word, hand confidently resting on his globe. His environment is almost identical except it’s been kept in order. When I first saw it I thought to myself that he looks sure of himself, and the guy in the first painting doesn’t. In the first painting he almost looks troubled, as if he’s struggling to understand something, or struggling to see something just out of his vision. I had to think about that for a while.

I think I didn’t understand the intention that well…in the second, hunched over his books, the astronomer looks smaller in a lofty and dark environment - almost like something quivering and alive constrained by order - and the hand with the protractor is less confident and more distracted, waiting for him to finish his intense thought. If the first is about witnessing then the second must be about interpreting. Or, observation and then calculation. Do they both look a bit troubled? I think one not more than the other.

I wonder what compelled Dou to paint two like that, instead of just one.

(Which is your favorite?)

christianandtruesuccesslife

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”

Psalms 23:1-3(NKJV)

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Psalms‬ ‭23:1-6‬

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever."