Ridgway and the Temple of the Sybil

This early, c.1830's plate from William Ridgway in the Italian series depicts the Temple of the Sybil (Temple of Vesta) at Tivoli, Rome, Italy . This temple is one of the earliest surviving examples of concrete construction and considered to be one of the most fascinating of the many monuments of the period. It was built in the 1st century BC. The plate is bordered with delicate roses and flowers amongst scrolls and urns. The color is unusual, a pale pinkish-lavender.

This plate measures just over 9"
Marked on back in an ornate scrolled cartouche: Sybil's Temple Tivoli WR ITALIAN

William Ridgway operated the Bell Works in Shelton and the Church Works in nearby Hanley from 1830-54. Ridgway were the potters to Queen Victoria. The WR marking on the plate is indicative that this was made at the Bell Works, which since 1956 has been The Potteries Musuem at Bethesda Street and houses the largest and most important collection of North Staffordshire pottery in the world.


http://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/pmag

Landscape with the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, by Adam Elsheimer, c. 1600

Waterfalls of Tivoli, Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich, 1745–1750

Now you can have your box of chocolates, AND eat it too....literally:

I know I would like this for Valentines day...a heart shaped box, made of edible chocolate!

http://www.cocoamill.com/

A Poem For Your (love) Thoughts:

 

"For Those Who Dare to Love"

Love is possessed by two kingdoms of forces

Which of times cross through bewildering courses

Giving of gladness or wracking despair

Unto passive souls with hearts unaware.

Its paths are varied in depth and height

And merge with darkness or forge into light.

Love can slowly and softly steal into a heart

Or strike with the boldness of a swift, whizzing dart.

It can free grand inspiration influencing life's fate

Or it can clutch with sacred passion beneath ways of hate-

It can mold tallest mountains or claw deep valleys

It can crumple smooth highways or pave rough alleys.

When love is received it can be life's finest glory,

And given for naught, it is love's kindest story.

Love might bring joyous smiles and enchanting days

Or tears falling forlorn if clouds obscure with haze

A love that only sunshine can see mature,

But given a little rain cannot long endure;

Though: When lives are joined from love's firm foundation

Where there is friendship and determination,

For all its time it can sing onward and resound

The soft echoes springing forth of a sweet mellow sound;

Or, if love does not flourish after tried romance

Perhaps with another there will be greater chance,

For where one love takes another might give;

And where one live dies a second can live

And know lasting beauty and memorized mar

Through gold deeds that polish or thorns that leave scar.

Thus, for some, love will hold an enriching reward

And unto others will cast pain and wretched discord.

There is life's real wonder neath earth's marveled sun-

Its challenge is there with a victory to be won.

There's kingdom far below or one high above...

Awaiting those searching souls who dare to love.

©1977 Marilyn Stubbs Robinson (my Mother of many talents)

I've linked up with Beverly at How Sweet the Sound, her gorgeous blog, for Pink Saturday in celebration of all things pink.  Click on over for pretty pinks.