See Where Science Fiction Has Been

Speaking of the history of science fiction (as we were yesterday, sort of), Paul Rodriguez points out something worth celebrating:

In a spectacularly detailed, and quite erudite, diagram, Ward Shelley maps the history of science fiction as a series of colorful blobs, clouds, brains, blimps, and tentacles.

Mr. Shelley's artwork is an entry in a visualization contest with the rather prosaic title of "Science Maps as Visual Interfaces to Digital Libraries."

It is also part of a family of historical drawings he has made over the years. Check out his Web site.

YAPID (Yet Another Painting ID)

A friend has inherited a house. She found this painting there. I have only one snapshot of it at the moment.

It shows a Madonna mother and child reading a book, while angels look on. We are all wondering what value the painting may have. The family doesn't know the artist or the date of the painting. It is possible that documentation may turn up as she goes through the house. Better photos might also be obtained. There appear to be five large pinkish blobs of damage near the lower center of the painting.

Do you know when this might have been painted, or by whom? Are there clues in the style? Is it likely original, or is it an imitation of a better-known painting?

There must be plenty of people on the Net more knowledgeable about art than I. Probably I am not many handshakes away from some of them.

If you know someone who might be able to comment, please pass a link along.


Click on any picture to see a higher-resolution version.


4 April 2011-- Edited to add: The owner has requested that I remove images of the painting. bluejo's aunt was kind enough to point out that the painting depicts "Education of the Virgin;" the child is Mary, the mom is St. Anna (or Anne), and the bearded man is Mary's father, St. Joachim. She adds, "It looks Spanish seventeenth century."