The Real Mona Lisa

What a difference! Too bad removing the dark varnish from the beloved Mona Lisa would ruin the painting. Underneath the dark colors, she looks more like the woman on the right. Isn't she even more beautiful? Much younger, with rosy cheeks and lips and porcelain skin.

I hope they figure out how to remove the varnish safely one day!

Vintage Travel Posters from the Boston Public Library

These lovely, brightly colored vintage posters were created during the "Golden Age of Travel", which began in the 1920's and continued through the 1940's.

The Boston Public Library owns over 350 vintage travel ads, including the ones above, and has been kind enough to share them online through their Flickr stream! Click here to view more of these stunning works of art.

Italian Light and Sky

This breathtaking photo of a palazzo in Siena (with its famous clock tower) was taken by John Eidsmo. The perspective used is really original. Does the inside rectangle, with its crenellations, remind anyone else of a postage stamp?