* World Classic Gallery *

* CHARLES MARION RUSSELL *

BIOGRAPHY and PAINTINGS Russell, Charles Marion 1864 - 1926

USA, Realism (style)
CHARLES M. RUSSELL was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1864. When Russell was 15, he traveled to Montana and, became a part of the West. During the first winter, Russell lived with an old-tlme trapper named Jake Hoover. He learned, about the land, animals, hunting, trapping, and the Indians.
Charlie Russell was a man who loved everyone. He felt close to nature and had a great fondness for animals. Russell would often work a piece of wax into a model of an animal, just to entertain the children who gathered around him.
Russell paintings show the West exactly as it was. Russell once lived with the Indians, so he painted them just as he knew they looked and dressed. Russell knew the wilderness, and pictured every detail correctly. Russell paintings are a lesson in history, because they show us what it was like in the days of the old West.
Charlie Russell was much more than an artist. Russell was also a great storyteller. He would amuse his many friends with exciting tales of the land, animals, and the Indians. Charlie Russell once said, “I have always been what is called a good mixer -- I had friends when I had nothing else”. Many of his illustrations are in books so we can enjoy them just as we enjoy his paintings. "Back-Trailing On The Old Frontiers" was one of his best known publications. Russell worked as a sheepherder and as a cowboy. He was a night wrangler and knew about the way cowboys lived and worked. But during the cowboy years, Russell always painted and sketched, too. His paintings were his deepest love.
Charlie Russell was a painter who painted what he wished, and still made a living at it. Russell worked in several forms. His major paintings were in oils, but his water colors and pen-and-ink sketches and bronzes are highly prized. Much of his pen-and-ink work was done as an illustrator of books and magazines. The ten prints in this edition were carefully selected to represent the best of his historical drawings. Numbering in the thousands, Russell paintings are a legacy of the West and a permanent record of a colorful era in our history.
But Charlie Russell left us much more than his paintings and sculpture. Russell left us an example of how to live in friendship with nature and mankind.

Horse of the Hunter, 1919, Oil on canvas, 15 x 24 inches (38.10 x 60.96 cm)

Attack on a Wagon Train, 1902, Oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches (60.96 x 91.44 cm)

Carson's Men, 1913, Oil on canvas, 24 x 35 1/2 inches (60.96 x 90.17 cm)

Deer at Lake McDonald, 1908, Oil on canvas, 15 x 20 inches (38.10 x 50.80 cm)

In the Wake of the Buffalo Hunters, 1911, Oil on canvas, 29 1/2 x 35 1/2 inches (74.93 x 90.17 cm)

The Surround, 1911, Oil on canvas, 28 3/4 x 50 inches (73.03 x 127.00 cm)

Indian Women Moving, 1898, Oil on canvas, 24 1/4 x 36 inches (61.60 x 91.44 cm)

Planning the Attack, 1901, Oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches (60.96 x 91.44 cm)

Running Buffalo, 1918, Oil on canvas, 29 1/2 x 47 1/2 inches (74.93 x 120.65 cm)

The Broken Rope, 1904, Oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches (60.96 x 91.44 cm)

The Salute of the Robe Trade, 1920, Oil on canvas, 29 1/2 x 47 1/4 inches (74.93 x 120.02 cm)

The Stranglers, 1920, Oil on canvas, 29 1/2 x 47 1/2 inches (74.93 x 120.65 cm)

Watching for Wagons, 1917, Oil on canvas, 23 1/2 x 35 1/2 inches (59.69 x 90.17 cm)

When Law Dulls the Edge of Chance, 1915, Oil on canvas, 29 1/2 x 47 1/2 inches (74.93 x 120.65 cm)

When Shadows Hint Death, 1915, Oil on canvas, 30 x 40 inches (76.20 x 101.60 cm)

When the Land Belonged to God, 1914, Oil on canvas, 42 1/2 x 72 inches (107.95 x 182.88 cm)

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Zangy Comment Graphics

* World Classic Gallery *

* CLAUDE OSCAR MONET *

BIOGRAPHY and PAINTINGS Monet, Claude Oscar 1840 - 1926

France, Impressionism (style)
Claude Monet was a famous artist. Monet painted many oil paintings that are in famous museums today. Monet lived at a time when there were wars and hardships. Claude Monet has inspired millions of artists. He lived from 1840 until 1926.
Claude Monet was born on November 14, 1840 in Paris. When he was five years old he and his family moved to Le Havre. When Monet was 17, his mother died. The year after, Monet met an artist named Eugene Boudin. Boudin convinced Claude Monet to do his oil painting outdoors and this led to the first outdoor landscape painting of Monet painting career. Monet went to the Swiss Academy, continuing to devote his life to his art. Monet met a woman named Gaudibert who admired his art. She was one of the first to recognize his artistic abilities.
In 1867, while Monet was at an art event in Sainte-Adresse, his first son was born. Monet was 27, and he had to be away much of the time to promote his paintings. He also suffered from depression. There was a time in 1868 when Monet “tried to commit suicide”. But we admire the fact that he was able to overcome his depression and keep on with his art. All through his life Monet had to work hard. People did not buy Monet paintings at the start. Monet had to move his family many times, but he still painted.
In 1870, Monet married Camille-Léonie Doncieux, the woman who gave birth to his first son. Monet’s father died in 1871. Monet’s second son named Michael was born, but tragedy struck in 1879 when Monet’s wife died. After the death of his wife, he moved the family to Poissy. Not many people bought Monet paintings and Monet remained poor. So, in 1883 Monet moved the family again to a house he rented at Giverny. He died in 1926 at the age of 86.
At Giverny he started going to more exhibitions and Monet paintings became more popular. He earned more money and was able to buy the house. Monet fixed up the house to include gardens and a Japanese bridge. His yard became the subject for some of his most famous paintings. His popularity and fame grew. By 1907 Monet had painted many well-known paintings, but by then he had “his first problem with his eyesight”. He started to go blind. He still painted, though his eyes got worse. He wouldn’t stop painting until he was nearly blind. Monet lived at Giverny a total of 43 years during which time his second wife and his older son died.
When we read the biography we appreciate his life even more, knowing Monet overcame so many obstacles. Monet is a person who inspires people. Monet had inner strength, was hardworking, and imaginative. He also brought new ideas to the art world. Monet helped invent what we call “Impressionism”. A hero can be brave, and Monet was willing to dedicate his whole life to art. He wasn’t selfish because he thought of his family and worked to make a living for them and a good home. Because of all of this, Monet is our hero and a hero in the art world.

Boulevard des Capucines, 1873, Oil on canvas, 31.26 x 23.23 inches [79.4 x 59 cm]

The Seine at Bougival in the Evening, 1869, Oil on canvas, 23.62 x 28.94 inches [60 x 73.5 cm]

The Artist's Garden at Vetheuil, Oil on canvas

Jeanne-Marguerite Lecadre in the Garden, 1866, Oil on canvas

The women in the Garden, 1866-1867, Oil on canvas

The garden in flower, 1900, Oil on canvas

Woman with a Parasol, 1875, Oil on canvas

London: Houses of Parliament at Sunset, Oil on canvas

The Waterllily Pond, 1899, Oil on canvas

Water Lillies I, Oil on canvas

Poppies at Argenteuil, 1873, Oil on canvas, Original size: 50x65 cm.

A Cart on the Snow Covered Road with Saint-Simeon Farm, 1865, Oil on canvas

Argenteuil, Flowers by the Riverbank, 1877, Oil on canvas

Argenteuil, Late Afternoon, 1872, Oil on canvas

Apple Trees near Vetheuil, 1878, Oil on canvas

Argenteuil, Seen from the Small Arm of the Seine, 1872, Oil on canvas

Autumn on the Seine at Argenteuil, 1873, Oil on canvas

At the Parc Monceau, 1878, Oil on canvas

Asters, 1880, Oil on canvas

Arrival at Saint-Lazare Station, 1876, Oil on canvas

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Chess, but not mate

The government replaced the obedient members of the presidential commission with magistrates, which is a tough, but not deadly offensive against President Basescu, since he has got the Constitutional right to decide how he pleases.
The ministerial responsibility law was modified so that the Superior Council of Magistracy would appoint the members of the commission who consent to criminal inquiries against ministers. The members are to be appointed in 30 days' time and the criminal cases against officials are frozen until then.
The President may disregard magistrates' decision, but he will have to explain and announce the decision by which magistrates investigate on a minister. One more point set in the Emergency Ordinance no. 97 is the fact that the National Anti-Corruption Department has no longer got the right to ask for consent to the opening of criminal investigations against ministers. It is now only the general attorney's right. President Basescu is accusing the Tariceanu Cabinet of "abuse of power", outlining the Superior Council of Magistracy didn't consent to the emergency. And politicians don't share opinion on it.
Politicians comment on ordinance to modify presidential commission
Crin Antonescu, leader of Liberal deputies: "Basescu's personal instrument"
"Unfortunately, Romania's president is corrupted and cynical. After his failing plot with the Social-Democrat Party, he dares talk about democracy and independent Justice ! The Cotroceni commission has proved to be Traian Basescu's personal political instrument, but not a Justice instrument. (...)
Now the man in Cotroceni Palace may no longer remove people from the government the way he pleases, which is very benefic. Traian Basescu is deeply corrupted and abusive".
Peter Eckstein-Kovacs, senator from the Democrat Union of Magyars in Romania: "Arguable regulation"
"An arguable regulation is now arguably modified. The solution isn't against the Constitution, but it raises doubt on some magistrates' participation to an institution with administrative attributions, which is against the principle of the separation of powers in state"
Emil Boc, president of the Democrat Party: "Victory against the rule of law"
"The only emergency of the 2nd Tariceanu Cabinet is to overtly protect ministers by releasing documents to block the research of judges on ministers suspected of corruption. (...) Chiuariu, Pacuraru and Remes are above the law and they enjoy immunity. The ordinance is the Tariceanu Cabinet's victory against the rule of law".
Corneliu Vadim Tudor, leader of the Greater Romania Party: "Bravo ! Well done !"
"How come Basescu is investigating ? What has he got to do with the power of judges ? (...) Brave guy, Chiuariu ! Bravo ! Well done ! They took his toy. The justice minister has made no mistake so far. He is right, which is why my party will support all his initiatives".
Victor Ponta, vice president of the Social-Democrat Party: "The Liberals are afraid"
"I don't trust Liberals' sincerity. One year ago they voted against the law draft authored by myself and the party, which pursued to dismember the commission. Their emergency ordinance taking this measure shows the Liberals are afraid of the situation emerging because of the investigated ministers. I am now expecting an ordinance to dismember courts and the Parliament who voted against the government".
German MEP Markus Ferber: "A step back"
The German MEP Markus Ferber announced yesterday that he was going to ask Commissioner Franco Frattini to apply the safeguard clause on Romanian Justice, because of the government's decision to modify the ministerial responsibility law. He described the ordinance on the presidential commission as "a step back" in the fight against corruption and he opined the document was unable to destroy the nigh level corruption network. He commented it was unacceptable that the justice minister himself should propose such an ordinance, adding the European Commission had to think about measures and action.

Razvan Gheorghe & C.A.
Ziua saturday 6 october 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Basescu-Geoana Siamese and PD-PSD clones

The moment Mircea Geoana was elected a president of the party was the most uninspired in the history of the PSD (Social-Democrat Party). It is now obvious why Ion Iliescu was so furious that the party would be ruled by such a character. But his warnings were so obstinate that they seemed the mere frustration reflexes of the former Communist regime faced with the young man perceived as a reformist.
Adrian Nastase has in his turn been undermining the alliance with Mircea Geoana for three years now in order to make even with ex President Ion Iliescu, who had ceaselessly harassed him while a PM. In fact, Ion Iliescu had a determining contribution to Traian Basescu's victory in presidential elections, especially due to the decision to free Miron Cozma from jail, a man assailing candidate Adrian Nastase.
I am saying it again: after the general elections, the PSD missed the chance to keep Adrian Nastase head of the party, for his electoral legitimacy was almost equal to Traian Basescu's and he was leading the party that had actually won elections. But Adrian Nastase was asked to step back and even those he had promoted to the party and the government undermined him. Then Mircea Geoana agreed that a Liberal should take over the Chamber of Deputies only to sack his rival Adrian Nastase, hopeful he would deprive the latter of his last authority attribution.
But Mircea Geoana was wrong. Even without position and under judicial harassment (just as the others, the Christian-Democrats in particular, would be harassed while he was a PM), Adrian Nastase kept his authority over the party much greater than the PSD president's. The same goes for Ion Iliescu too. The party is now split in sides. The groups of Adrian Nastase and Ion Iliescu, once rivals, are getting regrouped these days, due to circumstances, to sack Mircea Geoana and presently fight for power. For the time being, people can feel Mircea Geoana, a terminator of the PSD, is collapsing and heading a different destination. The state of things in the PSD, that is enmity and dissolution, is the effect of domestic adversities and conspiracies. From this perspective the PSD is now strikingly resembling the National Christian-Democrat Party who committed suicide. This serves the PD (Democrat Party) and Traian Basescu.
A true leader attracts and makes leaders. A weak leader fears competition and does everything to do away with potential competitors. Mircea Geoana resembles Traian Basescu as far as this is concerned. Despite appearances and propaganda, Traian Basescu is a leader as weak as Mircea Geoana. Didn't he have equipment and structures to rely on, Traian Basescu would resemble "a silly boy", as he is also temperamental. The thirst for power and the hatred of anyone and anything opposing their personal interests make them perfectly similar.
Traian Basescu destroyed all the PD leaders, now presidential remote controls. The inflatable PD is only up to President Basescu's popularity rate. Mircea Geoana is destroying some PSD leaders. Cristian Diaconescu, now very nervous, is one of them, unfortunately. The PSD is about to explode and the PD is smouldering. Both parties' leaders are taking desperate measures for intimidation, they are expelling those sensible minds who opposed the bill against the government. But the riot can't be repressed for too long. Several Democrats are now aware that Traian Basescu's service is only momentary and in the future it will turn into a disadvantage. There are also many Social-Democrats aware that, because he is obsessed with power, Mircea Geoana is turning the PSD into a clone of the PD.

Roxana Iordache
Ziua saturday 6 october 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Total war in PSD

Mircea Geoana, president of the PSD (Social-Democrat Party), wants to depose all party members opposing him: Ion Iliescu, Adrian Nastase and the group in Cluj, represented by Vasile Puscas. The PSD leader is actually trying to make the failure of the bill against the government serve him and eliminate those top members who may reproach him for the failure in the Parliament or may who want him out in the near future.
Central party leaders have summoned the representatives of all party branches to a meeting to take place in Brasov, expected to be the bloodiest PSD reunion by far. Ion Iliescu and Adrian Nastase will be reproached for their statements and ballots against the bill. Vasile Puscas is also targeted. Dan Tudorache, obedient to Geoana, has threatened to expel him, although the leader of the group in Cluj claims he voted for the bill. The attitude of Marian Vanghelie is surprising: he is against expelling the guilty from the party. Local party branches don't share opinion on the sanctioning or forgiving of the 'betrayers'.
Ion Iliescu strikes vehemently
Ion Iliescu wouldn't participate in the play to be staged in Brasov, although a member of both the Permanent National Committee and the Executive Committee. But the honorary president of the PSD has kept on denying and criticizing Geoana's decisions vehemently. He commented: "This man came with the wave, when the PSD was in power. If we talk about a call for betrayal, then Mr. Geoana has got no moral authority to talk about it".
While in Constanta he argued: "People get together in a party for the sake of some values. This is what keeps them together, but not the boss's whip. This is the primitive outlook of some who don't really know what politics is and who were not part of the great battles that built post-revolutionary democracy in Romania. Geoana and his men came after 2000, when difficulties had been settled. But now they want to put things in order in a party built with so many efforts and with the contribution of reliable and serious people. But here they are to impose some rules for children's games or for primitive humans who don't know what a party is, who think it is like in military camps where a commander orders and everyone bows, isn't it ?" (...)

Roxana Andronic
Ziua saturday 6 october 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

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Zangy Comment Graphics

* ROMANIA's WONDERS *

Saligny Bridge – Cernavoda – It was inaugurated in 1895, after 5 Years of construction, and is constituted of two metallic bridges with an total length of 330 meters.

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President is rude again

Romanian President Traian Basescu hasn't given up his dirty language. After "faggot", "pussy" and "filthy gypsy", yesterday he told a female journalist: "Of course. I'll come straight to your office and we do it".
President Basescu has never made a secret of his disdain for journalists. The words quoted above are words he used to call some journalists. But there are also statements with indecent hints. Yesterday while in Branesti, Romania, the President was asked by a female journalist if he was making a statement in Bucharest on the failure on the bill against the government. And he answered: "Of course. I'll come straight to your office and we do it".
The President took various TV shows and interviews for opportunities to express his opinion on journalists: "The press is more hungry for shows than politicians are. Many a time journalists provoke the show or do away with it. I can give a list of 10 journalists who would starve to death, were there no politicians".
Liberal senator Puiu Hasotti: "Bad manners"
"To be ironical is one thing, typical of the clever people. But bad manners are something else. One mustn't mistake one for the other".
Democrat senator Radu Berceanu: "No sexual connotation"
"Some people prove a certain sexual call. I watched the recording on TV and I can only say the President gave a right answer to the journalist's question. It had no sexual connotation".
Lavinia Sandru, deputy from the National Initiative Party: "He is constant"
"He is constant. Because of such statements he has obviously lost women's support. The National Council against Discrimination should take action".
Political analyst Stelian Tanase: "A truck diver style"
"There can be two possible explanations. One is related to his temper and reminds about his noisy young years. The second one is that people like his truck driver style, part of electoral calculations. He releases anti-capitalist messages against the educated class, but people appreciate it. People don't pay attention to such speech and the impression left is that it is normal for journalists and educated people to be aggressed, even verbally. After offending the Antena 1 journalist in the referendum day, he popularity was not at all harmed".

Anca Hriban & Cristian Andrei
Ziua friday 5 october 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Social-Democrats may reach government

The leaders of the PNL (National Liberal Party) have not denied the idea of allowing Mircea Geoana's Social-Democrats to join the government after the election of MEPs takes place. PNL sources say there will follow some changes in the government. The ministers likely to be replaced are foreign minister Adrian Cioroianu, education minister Cristian Adomnitei, Justice minister Tudor Chiuariu and Mihai Voicu, a minister in charge of relations with the Parliament.
The presence of some Social-Democrats in the government would mean reliable parliamentary support for the Tariceanu Cabinet and the end of the dispute on the state budget, the same sources claim.
The PNL deputy Emilian Francu admitted it yesterday that the Liberals were planning a "larger" government for after the election of MEPs. (...)
The Liberal PM Calin Popescu-Tariceanu told the PNL leaders last Wednesday that he might agree to a "larger governing structure" after the election of MEPs, sources add. The PM is also claimed to have advised the Liberals to refrain from making official statements against the Social-Democrats and target Cotroceni Palace and Emil Boc's Democrats instead.

Razvan Gheorghe
Ziua friday 5 october 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

PSD leader wants to expel four members

Mircea Geoana, president of the PSD (Social-Democrat Party), is trying to save himself after the failure of the bill against the government. The PSD leaders decided yesterday to withdraw party support and open procedures to expel from the party the following members: Ion Solcanu, Razvan Theodorescu, Dan Mihalache and Alin Theodorescu. The four were officially reproached for their public statements against the PSD bill, but not for their ballots against the bill.
Mircea Geoana didn't dare criticize senator Ion Iliescu, an honorary president of the PSD, although yesterday the latter kept on accusing party heads and all the sanctions they set. Still Ion Iliescu's fate may be decided by the executive committee of the PSD due to meet next Saturday in Brasov. Party sources claim they may talk about expelling Ion Iliescu from the party. (...)

Roxana Andronic
Ziua friday 5 october 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Postponed final

The government, that is the winner in the history of bills against the government, gets nothings, whereas the losers, that is the President, the PD (Democrat Party) and the PSD (Social-Democrat Party), are trying hard to blame the failure on each other. The assault against the Liberals isn't over yet. The 2nd Tariceanu Cabinet can still be shaken at least twice before the mandate is up. What is next ?
While Mircea Geoana's credibility as a leader is harmed, the PSD may still be at advantage due to the defeat of the bill. It is so because public opinion has finally learned that the left, represented by the most important parliamentary party, has decided to use attributions and behave like a true opposition party. The this time serious attempt to overthrow the government is an argument for those longing for a change to head the PSD in elections. Such an advantage, paradoxically emerging from defeat, would have been even greater had Mircea Geoana not committed the mistake of involving his party in an alliance with the PD and with President Traian Basescu, an alliance which is abnormal. The distance between the Socialists and the Conservatives is maximum, at least in ideology terms. Unless everything is a joke and unless what we see is the show on the return to the mother ship, that is the Front for National Salvation.
There is another strange element. Had the bill passed, the great loser wouldn't have been the PNL (National Liberal Party), who would have got a good chance to get back their electorate from the opposition, but the PSD, who would have missed the time fit for an ascent that only a party in the opposition can get when its adversaries' mandate is over. The great winner wouldn't have been the PSD, but Traian Basescu. He would have helped the PD get power and leave both the Socialists and the Liberals behind.
Given such arguments, at the end of this bill soap opera Mircea Geoana looks discredited. His adversaries can now regroup and wait to proceed to the final offensive after the election of MEPs, in case the PSD's score is poor, which is likely. He has thus weakened the Liberals even more. He has consolidated the belief of his own electorate that to get power again may not be such a far away objective. But the written alliance with the PSD may be a weak point. The PD has demonized the Socialist left much too much. Collaboration with the PSD, whether in power, as written in the Protocol, or in the opposition, can't avoid negative effects and splits among the adepts. The PD leaders have once again proved their lack of moral sense.
But the President keeps silent. Except for offending a female journalist yesterday, he is refraining from statements on the failure of the bill, although he was extremely active on it. Why is Traian Basescu silent ? Out of political instinct. He is aware that, if he speaks up now, many things will be blamed on him. But if he does nothing, it is Mircea Geoana who will be blamed instead.
The 2nd Tariceanu Cabinet and the PNL in particular are in great difficulty. If they can be victorious when taking responsibility for the uninominal vote law to come into force in 2012 it is not known. It is neither known whether the budget passed or not.
There are at least two circumstances under which the 2nd Tariceanu Cabinet may collapse. If will happen unless the Liberals start thinking about a majority 3rd Tariceanu government. It would be achieved not due to the Liberals' president, because he has lost his call for negotiations. If such majority is established with the PSD, then Mircea Geoana shouldn't attend the talks. For all these reasons I think the new denouement will be not before, but after the election of MEPs.

Sorin Rosca Stanescu
Ziua friday 5 october 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english