Weekend Challenge -- Mr. Greco and Mr. Dumpty

    
          El Greco (1541--614) Oil/canvas "View of Toledo"

.Mr. Greco and Mr. Dumpty

Mr. Greco and Mr. Dumpty met 
Now figures on canvass and paper both
Was on a Sunday sunny afternoon
Way back then before Dumpty became famed

After the fall, King's men and horses failed
Dumpty had moved to Spain, there doctors could
But the Dump didn't want to fall again
Commissioned the Grec to paint his new home

Paint me a wall from which I cannot fall
That his request, was easy for the Grec
Then Grec embellished, dobbed in King's Palace
Made Toledo famous tourists would come

(The Dump lived happily ever after
The Grec became famous artist renown)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMsnu9bFvO8

Poem Copyright, © 2016 Jimmiehov, All Rights Reserved

Today I used a former challenge that I had missed. It is Imagined By Björn Brudberg and called "Weekend Mini-challenge - Ekphrasis ".  
 - A part of his instructions follow:
"So today I will challenge you with just a single piece of art, and this time I would like you to (write) ... a poem that does not just describe the painting, but how it speaks to you, what stories do you find in it?. You might find a detail in the painting, or it might bring back some stories from your past, it might bring back dreams or hopes. But make sure you do not merely describe the picture, you have to find your story in it." Bjorn also wanted it to be short, 250 words maximum (mine is 105 with title).

 - So I chose this one pictured above, featured by Margaret in her Weekend Challenge "Play it Again".  I hope this will suite both the desires of both of the Toads mentioned, Björn and Margaret.
 - Margaret said in her post this about the Painting:
"In this, his greatest surviving landscape, El Greco portrays the city he lived and worked in for most of his life.  The painting belongs to the tradition of emblematic city views, rather than a faithful documentary description.  The view of the eastern section of Toledo from the north would have excluded the cathedral, which the artist therefore imaginatively moved to the left of the Alcazar (the royal palace).  Other building represented in the painting include the ancient Alcantara Bridge, and on the other side of the river Tagus, the Castle of San Servando."  The painting resides at the NYC Metropolitan Museum of Art." 

Author's Note:  
 - I was not aware of El Greco's "View of Toledo" and will make a point of finding it if and when I get back to NYC. It may have been on loan when I first visited as the museum had moved to Queens ?? for remodeling. Didn't see it other times either.
 - Anyway, I would have love to have seen Toledo back in his day. Been there three times, first in 2003. The 'hill' is full of buildings, commercial, church related, and homes now. Most were old, old. Been to the Royal Palace museum a few times also. Wonderful places.

 [click on pictures for larger view]

"Old Toledo" taken from across the river.  There is plenty of underground parking near where the cars are congregated at the left.  Most people in good shape walk up the hill.  Photo taken by Chensiyuan and obtained from Wikipedia (link).

 

 

Toledo at Sunrise.  Photo by Diliff and obtained from Wikipedia, (link).