Facts

I've always loved a good fact - there's a particularly good one about the average amount of sesame seeds on a Big Mac burger bun, but it escapes me now. This evening I was reminded of a few other favourites, by Hall's Dictionary of Subjects & Symbols in Art.

 

Perseus and Andromeda, 1570 - 1572 Giorgia Vasari

According to Ovid coral was a kind of petrified seaweed formed at the instant that Perseus laid down the Gorgon's head after rescuing Andromeda from the sea-monster, as depicted above by Vasari (see here for more Medusa). Vasari's coral looks particularly like solidified blood here. I've always loved it, and am always drawn to the colour when its in any item of clothing

And if you were ever wondering about peacocks in paintings: 'From the ancient belief that its flesh never decayed the peacock became a Christian symbol of immortality and Christ's resurrection' as well as being a symbol of 'pride personified.'

 

Homage to a Poet, early 16th Century, Giorgione