That is Priceless by Steve Melcher for October 16, 2015

“What do you mean by, ‘the vases is large enough to hold our parents’?”

I understand the use of the pinafore, to keep the kid’s dress clean. But why make it white? Easier to bleach, I guess.

Who? Not us! We aren’t doing anything…….

" What broken vase ? "

A somewhat enlarged image can be found at Mr. Melcher’s blog entry (yesterday). Again, it is a cropped image. A less cropped, click-to-enlarge image can be found, starting here.The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit (link shows painting’s Wikipedia page) is shown, with a different coloration, click-to-enlarge image, and described, by its current-location page.It is also described, by the museum’s curator, in this video, who also appears in an exhibition video about it, found here (shows how huge it is).Another different coloration, maybe-click-to-enlarge image, can be be found here, and another different coloration, similarly cropped image, can be found, starting here; but, there are many such images available online.The artist was Boit’s friend, and he may have painted it just out of friendship. His Wikipedia page and collection (many more under Subcategories at each level).Second, of the 5 works, by this artist, that have, so far, appeared in Mr. Melcher’s blog (4 times), to also appear here (2 total).

Waiting for the cable guy to arrive.

Sisters wondering where dad is going to come up with all those dowries.

Early Hogwarts

Girls’ school inmates suddenly realize that Beatrice was right; Miss Haversham DOES have an unusually prominent Adam’s apple.

A fantastic painting by Sargent, a under appreciated but great artist. The children grow older as your eye goes deeper into the picture, especially if you take into account the baby doll the youngest one is playing with. Also notice that the youngest child is in the bright sunlight while the daughter who is/just has hit the age of puberty is beginning to blend into the darkness. Also notice that the window in the upper right hand corner draws our vision into the picture following the same route that one takes if they view the girls chronologically. Despite a definite deliberateness to the portrait it looks like we the viewers have come across these sisters in the most natural of circumstances. It is also interesting to give a close look at the girl’s faces [they all cast an unsettling look at us the viewer] and then know that all four grew up to be very eccentric and, if memory serves me, all became spinsters.

Having clicked on the Wikipedia page (thank you Mabrndt) and the comparison with a Velasquez, I am struck and very much appreciate the open space in Sargent’s painting. An interesting view of differing cultural context.

“That’s right, Lucy. Strangle baby brother so that we girls will get all the inheritance”

Why heck any babysitter worth her salt can shotgun a beer, or even a 5th of JD. You want to see something really special wait ’til the twins turn that there vase into a beer bong!

sisters acting like they’ve never seen a babysitter with a shotgun before….

Another work by this artist can be found here.