If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 536

 

 

 

 

 

Poster by Joseph Maria Auchentaller, 1906:  Grado, Italy

 

This used postcard sent by a friend, is distributed by Nuove Edizioni della Laguna and features a painting by the Austrian and Italian painter, draftsman, and printmaker Josef Maria Auchentaller (1865-1949).  The picture created in 1906 is titled:  Seebad Grado:  Österrichische Küstenland.  The clean lines of the composition show beach goers and sunbathers in light colorful pastels.  Borders of this type around the picture were popular in the early 1900s.

 

Josef Maria Auchentaller was born in Vienna, Austria and attended the Technical College, 1882-1886, and the Academy of Fine Arts, starting in 1890, both in Vienna.  He excelled while was at the Academy of Fine Arts and won several awards.  He married Emma Scheid in 1895 and they had two children, Maria Josepha and Peter.  About the time he and Emma married he began contributing art nouveau designs for his father-in-law’s silverware and jewelry company, G.A. Scheid.  He moved to Munich in 1892 where he continued his studies under Paul Hoecker until 1896.  By 1897 he had become involved with the Vienna Secession. This was a group of artists who left the Association of Austrian Artists and had exhibitions and shows of their own.  As part of the Secession, he helped play a role in the exhibitions shown between 1899 and 1901.  In 1905 he and Gustav Klimt left the Secession due to differences of artistic opinion.  After leaving the Secession he began painting moody landscapes and portraits. 

 

Auchentaller continued to design art nouveau style jewelry.  He also produced billboards and posters for various companies.  The picture on the postcard was an advertisement for the town of Grado, Italy where he lived for a while.  He eventually became an Italian citizen.  The Grado poster has become one of his most famous art nouveau works.  Many pieces of his sizeable collection of works are in private collections or have been lost. 

 

As always, thank you to my friend for sending the card.

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Maria_Auchentaller

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 535

 

 

 

 

 

Santa Claus, Father Christmas, St. Nicolas

 

The two unused postcards shared this week come from Dick Thompson’s Scrapbook Collection and have reproductions of Victorian Christmas greetings.  They are products of Merrimack Publ. Corp. of New York and printed in Hong Kong.  The originals were most likely from around 1900.

 

Santa Claus, Father Christmas, or Saint Nicolas, by whatever name we choose to call him he is often featured in holiday greeting cards.  When the Dutch established New Amsterdam they brought the legend and traditions of Sinterklaas with them.  We get the name Santa Claus from the Dutch Sinterklaas.

 

Traditionally Nicolas is thought to have been born in 15 March 270 and died 6 December 343 at the age of 73 years.  His parents were wealthy Greek Christians who both died of plague when Nicolas was a boy.  Accounts show him living a devout life and using his inherited wealth to help the poor and suffering.  He was made Archbishop of Myra, a harbor city near where he was born, when he was in his twenties.  During his life there was much persecution and torture of Christians.  It is believed that he was tortured and imprisoned during that time.  Many miracles have been attributed to him although it is not possible to tell how many of the events occurred as they were recorded long after he died.  His habit of secretly giving gifts became a tradition of gift giving in his honor after his death December 6.

 

 

 

 

Also depicted on the cards is holly.  Some scholars believe the name holly came from the word holy and is sometimes referred to as “Christ’s Thorn.”  The sharp, prickly nature of the leaves is to remind us of the crown of thorns worn by Jesus.  The bright red berries are reminders of the drops of blood.  Another account says that the shape of the leaves resemble flames and can serve as reminders of God’s burning love for his people.  Because the holly tree remains green with red berries during the Christmas season it has naturally become associated with Christmas. 

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicolas

https://www.celebratingholidays.com

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 534

 

 

 

 

 

 

Château de Villemonteix, France

 

This used postcard was one of those sent by a friend.  The card is a photo edition “France Regard” 19300 Egletons.  It is a relatively small castle built in the 15^th century and is privately owned but is open to the public.  In 1946 it was listed as a historic monument.

 

It has a rectangular main building with tall round towers at the corners and square towers on the opposite side.  There are two watchtowers with a connecting walkway.  The castle has four levels, a courtyard, and a hexagonal well.  Inside there are Aubusson tapestries, period furniture, and an 18^th century porcelain Sèvres dinner service.  Also in the home is an extremely rare Pleyel double piano.  Only a few of these pianos were made by Pleyel, most in the 1890s and none after 1930.  

 

Thanks to my friend for sending the postcard.

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Villemonteix  [this page can be translated]

 

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignaz_Pleyel

https://egri-pertis.com/en/double_piano/

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dveqri-sK4Q  [to listen to the piano being played]

 

 

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 533

 

 

 

 

Miramare, Castle, Trieste, Italy

 

A photograph of Castello di Miramare is featured on this used postcard printed by www.tipografia.com.  On the reverse center line is:  Art.006. 

 

Built during the years 1856 to 1860 for Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian and his wife, Charlotte of Belgium it is situated on the Gulf of Trieste in northern Italy.  The archduke and his wife later became Emperor Maximilian I and Empress Carlota of Mexico.  The castle grounds were designed by the archduke and include a cliff and seashore park.  There are numerous tropical trees and plants on the grounds.

 

The Austrian architect, Carl Junker, designed the castle to reflect the artistic interests of the archduke who was acquainted with the architectural styles seen in Austria, Germany, and England.  Maximilian and his wife were planning to live on the ground floor.  Areas for guest receptions and a Throne Room were on the first floor.  The castle annex or small castle called Gartenhaus or Castelletto has panoramic views, trees, greenhouses, and a fountain. 

 

When construction began, Miramare Park had no vegetation.  Work on the park began in 1856. Today there are trees and shrubs imported from all over the world, formal gardens with flowers and greenhouses.  There are twisting paths, watercourses, pools and some grassy areas similar to English gardens.  Although it was not originally intended for public use, in the 1955 the complex was opened to the public free of charge under the name Miramare Park.  That same year the castle was named the Historical Museum of Miramare Castle.  Visitors can see Maximilian’s chambers and those of his wife; the guest rooms; information about the history of the castle and the park construction.  The Throne Room was recently restored and is also open to the public.

Many thanks to my friend for sending the card.

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miramare_Castle

 

 

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 532

 

 

 

 

 

Trieste, Italy  -- Grand Canal

 

Antonella Rimbaldo is credited with the photo on this textured used postcard produced by Diecisettanta.com and shared by a friend.  The picture with reflections is beautiful and the textured cardstock makes it look almost like a watercolor painting instead of a photograph.

 

The canal is located in the center of Trieste about halfway between the railway station and the Piazza Unità d’Italia.  Built between 1754 and 1756 it is a navigable canal.  Today there are two bridges and a pedestrian walkway crossing the canal.  The Red Bridge was of wood in 1756 and painted red.  It was later rebuilt in iron but retained its name.  The Green Bridge was built in iron in 1858.  In 1904 a second bridge, called the White Bridge, was added next to the Green Bridge for the railway.  When the bridges were built they could revolve or open to let sailing ships pass through.  These movable bridges were later replaced by masonry bridges that only allow the passage of small boats at low tide.  The Red Bridge was replaced in 1925 and the Green and White bridges were replaced and combined to make a single structure in 1950.  The approximately 80 ft or 25 m long pedestrian stone and steel bridge opened in 2013.  It has 4 ft or 120 cm high unbreakable glass parapets and handrails on both sides and is illuminated with LED lights.

 

The salt pans were buried to allow more urban development and also so that boats could come directly into the city to unload their goods.  Originally the canal was longer than it is now.  Rubble from demolition in the old city was used to bury the terminal part of the canal in 1934. 

 

 As always, thank you, to a friend for sending the card.

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_Grande_(Trieste)