Post

How to get URL link on X (Twitter) App

On the Twitter thread, click on or icon on the bottom
Click again on or Share Via icon
Click on Copy Link to Tweet
Paste it above and click "Unroll Thread"!
More info at Twitter Help

James Lucas

@JamesLucasIT

Apr 9 • 7 tweets • 3 min read • Read on X

Scrolly

Once a year, a full heart appears in this tomb.

A breathtaking mausoleum born from a sculptor’s deep sorrow for his late wife 🧵

This is the final resting place of Léonce Evrard and his wife (1850-1916) at the Cimetière de Laeken in Brussels.

During the summer solstice, and a few days before and after June 21, sunlight streams through the roof, casting a heart-shaped pattern inside the burial chapel.

Evrard, a marble sculptor renowned for his expertise in stone ornaments, was profoundly affected by the passing of his wife, Louise Flignot.

As a tribute to their love, he commissioned this unique mausoleum in her memory, a symbol that transcends the boundaries of death.

The chapel, designed by architect Georges de Larabrie, is a neoclassical hexagonal structure featuring a statue of a grieving woman sculpted by Pierre Theunis.

It is said that this unique and extraordinarily poetic light display was not part of the original design...

This symbol of eternal love reminded me of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116:

"Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle’s compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved."

Thanks for reading till the end! If you enjoyed this story, please share the first post and follow me for more threads like this.

I write about art and the many facets of beauty in my FREE newsletter.

Join 9,500+ readers here 👇
James-lucas.com/welcome

Laurence Olivier recites Sonnet 116

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

More from @JamesLucasIT

James Lucas

@JamesLucasIT

May 21

This artist deserves way more attention 🧵

1. The difference between a greeting hug and a farewell hug by Fabian Perez.

2. For Fabian Perez, the purpose of art is to perpetuate beauty:

"That is what I am always striving for. God created the world and embellished it with the wonders of nature. I think it is the artist’s job to embellish it with his work".

3. Born on November 2nd, 1967, in Campana, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Fabian draws deeply from the vibrant memories of his youth.

His father, Antonio, owned several nightclubs — most notably the iconic “Las Brujas” — which became a symbolic subject in his art.

Read 21 tweets

James Lucas

@JamesLucasIT

May 18

The magnificent wooden spiral staircase of Peles castle in Sinaia, Romania - a thread 🧵

An impressive example of late 19th-century craftsmanship, the spiral staircase is renowned for its elaborate carvings, elegant curves, and richly detailed design that exemplifies the opulence of the castle.

It features sculpted figures and unique motifs, with handrails and balusters adorned with stunning engravings.

The staircase is situated within the Hall of Honour, a grand three-level space completed in 1911 under the direction of architect Karel Liman.

Read 8 tweets

James Lucas

@JamesLucasIT

May 18

The beauty of ginkgo trees - a thread 🧵

1. This giant has existed for over 1400 years

The Golden Tree of Gu Guanyin Buddhist Temple

This magnificent Ginkgo tree — one of the last surviving species of ancient Chinese flora — has stood for over 1,400 years.

It is believed to have been planted by Emperor Taizong of Tang himself in 628 AD.

2. Ginkgo tree in Aichi Prefecture, Japan

Read 13 tweets

James Lucas

@JamesLucasIT

May 17

10 amazing details in Las Meninas 🧵

1. Diego Velázquez includes himself painting the very scene you're looking at. So, who’s the real subject here?

You're not just looking at a painting.
The painting is looking back at you...

Considered one of the most important works in Western art, this masterpiece depicts a room in the Royal Alcazar of Madrid during King Philip IV’s reign.

The scene features several figures, identifiable as members of the Spanish court, in a moment that feels like a snapshot...

2. This is one of the most iconic details in art history: the mirror reflects King Philip IV and Queen Mariana.

But they’re not in front of us — so are we in their place?

Many believe the reflection captures the couple’s pose, making the painting their view of the scene.

Read 13 tweets

James Lucas

@JamesLucasIT

May 15

15 details from one of history's most mysterious paintings - a thread on the Arnolfini Portrait🧵

1. Just 5.5 centimeters wide, the mirror in Van Eyck's masterpiece reflects the whole room, showing the couple from behind and two others: one of whom might be the artist himself.

2. There’s more to this painting than meets the eye...

Let's start with their often debated joined hands: some see a marital vow, others a contract granting the wife business authority.

Arnolfini’s raised hand indicates oath-taking, with their hands joined in consent.

3. The extinguished candle above the wife subtly implies her death, lending weight to interpretations of the painting as a memorial portrait.

In contrast, only one candle remains lit — positioned above Giovanni's head — symbolizing that he, unlike his wife, is still living.

Read 16 tweets

James Lucas

@JamesLucasIT

May 13

The surreal scale of nature - a thread 🧵

1. The smallest known mushroom in the world

2. The northern pudu is the world's smallest species of deer

3. The size of a Quetzalcoatlus, the largest flying animal ever discovered.

While wingspan estimates over the years have ranged from 5.2–25.8 m (17–85 ft), more recent estimates hover around 10–11 m (33–36 ft).