Answers to the Friday Afternoon Challenge and the Challenge goes on vacation.!

[CTyankee]

No Challenge for the next two Fridays. It will return on Aug. 26th.

If you missed the Challenge yesterday and wish to try your luck go to http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1672430

Here are the answers:

1.a. Brunelleschi's Crucifix
1.b. Donatello's Crucifix

Brunelleschi got into a fracas with Donatello, when he said Donatello's crucifix made Christ look like a peasant. Donatello said "Then get some wood and you do one." Which Brunelleschi did and invited Donatello to visit. When Donatello saw what Brunelleschi had done he exclaimed "You have created il Cristo and I have created un contadino!"

2.a. J.M.W. Turner's "Helvoetsluys"
2.b. John Constable's "Waterloo Bridge."

Turner was exhibiting his work right next to Constable's but when he saw the red colors in that painting he got out his paint and paint a little red buoy in his own work, so it wouldn't look so pale by comparison. Constable was quoted as saying "Turner was here and he fired a gun."

3.James McNeill Whistler's "Nocturne in Black and Gold." When John Ruskin said that Whistler had "thrown a pot of paint at a canvas" Whistler got furious and sued Ruskin for libel. A jury only awarded Whistler one farthing in damages and the cost of the lawsuit ruined Whistler financially. Ruskin couldn't personally testify he said because he had "temporary insanity" brought on by looking at paintings of the "lady-saints, in particular St. Ursula." (go figure that one...)

4. Leonardo's "Annunciation." In 2003 the Uffizi arranged a loan of this work for a museum in Japan, ostensibly to improve Italy's trade relations with that country. A member of the Italian Senate issued a protest and chained himself to the gates of the Uffizi, on the grounds that the painting was too precious to risk being destroyed in one of Japan's earthquakes. He famously said "The French don't send the Mona Lisa to other countries to sell Brie." Others joined the protest. However, the painting did go to Japan and return safely. Can you imagine what would have happened if the painting had been there at the time of the tsunami and earthquake Japan recently had?

Thanks to everyone who joined in. The discussion was great!