carlo pellegrini

Oil on canvas- Carlo Pellegrini by Jules Bastien Lepage
Maxminimus photo

One of the greatest newspaper marketing ideas ever was Thomas Gibson Bowles' innovation of including a lithographic print of a prominent newsmaker in each weekly copy of Vanity Fair. They have since become known as SPY prints, for that was the non de art used by the prolific artist Leslie Ward when signing his art.

The first artist used by Bowles, and my favorite was Carlo Pelegrini who usually signed his work APE.  Today would be his birthday.

Ape- Carlo Pellegrini by AJM (Arthur Marks) in Vanity Fair 1889

This is my favorite Pellegrini print, of George Osborne made especially for the then Prince of Wales in 1865. It's one I'll save from the fire.

Toad

Grammy's Birthday

Until recently, Granddaughter Liz had two grandparents who shared today as their birthday.  Not long ago her maternal grandmother died.  Grammy was the rock of the family foundation.  A southern woman through and through, you never had any doubt about where she stood on an issue or what was going through her mind.  She told you straight up.  She told you she loved you always and often, she let you know when you were a horse's ass, she let you know that her expectations of you were higher than you had of your self, she told you how proud of you she always was. With love like hers you were loath to disappoint. She was a generous soul and a force of nature.

Today is the first time, in her family's memory, that March 25 has rolled around without her laugh, smile and guidance.  I miss her plenty, and will always remember that today is HER birthday.

Toad

BTW it is also The Suburban Princess's birthday.  She'd love for you to stop by and help her blow out (away) the candles.