A Painting Within a Painting: Hidden Messages in Dutch Art

Due to the wealth and prosperity of the Netherlands in the 17th century, there were now hundreds of painters creating works for private homes.  Artists and art galleries flourished during what is now known as the Dutch Golden Age.  Genre themes, or scenes of everyday life, were very popular at that time.  When we look at these works today we see paintings with people engaged in a variety of routine activities.

However there is more than meets the eye in most Dutch genre paintings.  Often rather than portraying common activities, genre paintings contained moralizing messages or were allegories of virtue or vice.

Contemporary 17th century viewers would have recognized many levels of symbolism, including the meaning in the painting within a painting.  Let's look at some examples of Dutch genre paintings that have small works of art in the background to better understand their variety of meanings.

The Love Letter, Vermeer, 1669, Rijksmuseum

One common example are love letter paintings, they were a popular theme because due to foreign trade and the Eighty Years War many Dutch men were sent away from home.  This was a genre scene that has many incarnations, typically when we see a woman who is receiving or reading a letter we know it is meant to be a love letter.  What is the message inside? Clues are typically given to the viewer in the painting within a painting.  There are two paintings within the above work by Vermeer.  The top painting shows a man along a road which lets us know that the woman is receiving a letter from someone, likely a fiancé or husband, who is on a journey.

A ship at sea was a common metaphor for love and that is the subject in the botttom painting.  What is going on with the ship gives the viewer a clue as to what is in the letter.  Is the ship on a calm sea? Then all is well and the reader will be getting good news.  Is the ship on a stormy sea? This may mean the reader is receiving some troubling information.  In the Vermeer the ship is on a calm sea, but clouds are rolling in.

Man Writing a Letter/Women Reading a Letter, Gabriel Metsu, 1664-66, National Gallery of Ireland

Gabriel Metsu created these two works to hang together as companion pieces.  In the first a young man is writing a letter and in the second a young woman is reading a letter.  The viewer is meant to understand he is writing a love letter to her, though their exact relationship to one another isn't known.

We can understand by his surroundings that he is traveling, there is a large globe that sits in the corner of the room behind the open window and an oriental carpet is being used as a tablecloth.  The painting on his wall is a pastoral landscape. 

In the other painting we understand with the inclusion of the little dog that the woman is being faithful, in the foreground there is a tiny thimble which lets the viewer know that she was so excited to get her letter she jumped up in the middle of her needlework.

As the woman reads her letter, her maid pulls back a curtain over a framed painting to reveal two ships on stormy seas.  Due to the fact that Metsu shows us that the man is fine and that he created these two works to be hung together, the rough seas would likely be a symbol for the turbulent nature of love, especially when spent apart from a loved one, rather than a symbol of bad news.

The Slippers, Samuel van Hoogstraten, 1654-62, (Louvre)

Another type of genre painting which commonly used a painting within a painting were those with a moralizing message.  We can see an example of this in the van Hoogstraten work known as The Slippers.  At first glance the viewer sees a quiet interior setting with two slippers in the foreground.  On closer examination the work is an allegory of lust and temptation.  The slippers are not a set, there is one man’s and one woman’s.  A broom in the foreground has been left to the side as if to suggest that the woman who was cleaning and a man are in the bedroom together.  The painting within the painting here, the Father Admonishing his Daughter by Netscher (a variation on a well known work by ter Borch) was actually a painting that takes place in a brothel. The contemporary viewer would have taken note of this and immediately understood the allegorical message.

The Doctor's Visit, Jan Steen, 1665
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen (Rotterdam)

In the same vein of allegories of lust are the many versions of The Doctor's Visit, painter Jan Steen in particular created a number of these.  A doctor's visit genre painting typically shows a young woman being visited by the doctor (often shown as a quack) and contains clues that she isn't sick, but rather is pregnant.

In this particular painting everyone but the young woman seems to know this and to be laughing about it.  To give an added clue here the painting above contains two embracing lovers.  The paper on the floor states, "No medicine is of use, for it is lovesickness."
 

Woman Holding a Balance, Johannes Vermeer, c. 1664, National Gallery of Art

Other versions of messages within paintings contained religious themes. During this time the Netherlands was strongly Protestant and religious works were no longer being painted or hanging in churches.  However religious imagery can be found in many of the paintings within a painting, which is interesting in genre scenes as it would be very uncommon to find these within the average home.

In Vermeer's well known work Woman Holding a Balance, the woman in the painting is dressed in the finest clothing and is surrounded by a variety of expensive jewelry and pearls.  She holds up a small empty balance scale, perhaps to weigh some of her jewelry.  This genre scene takes on an entirely new meaning when the painting in the background is taken into consideration.  

Here we see the Last Judgment and the analogy can be made that Christ will be holding the ultimate balance, weighing the souls of the saved and the damned.  It is perhaps a reminder to the viewer that regardless of the riches you accumulate in life, it is important to take care to live a life of virtue and realize your immortal soul will ultimately have more weight than your possessions.

 

 The Sick Child, Gabriel Metsu, 1663, Rijksmuseum

In our final example we turn again to a Christian religious painting on the wall, this time it is a Crucifixion.  In Metsu's The Sick Child, a young mother holds her little child in her lap.  The child looks pale and unwell and slumps across the mother's legs, much like a modern version of the Pieta found in Italian Renaissance art.  Interesting to note too is the fact that the mother is dressed in a gray shirt, which would have been common, but has a blue skirt with a red undertunic.  At this time women would dress in simple colors in day to day activities, but the Virgin Mary is nearly always shown wearing a dress of royal blue (the color associated with her) with a red undertunic (red symbolizing the blood and Passion of Christ).

The fact that the mother is wearing these colors and that on the wall we have a picture of the Crucifixion of Christ lets the viewer know that Metsu is drawing a comparison between this mother and sick child and the Madonna and Christ.  But what message exactly is he sending the viewer?  He may be likening the sacrifices all mothers make to those of the Virgin Mary, or reassuring parents that she would know how it felt to be worried about your child.  Perhaps Metsu wants to remind viewers not to worry about things such as sick children since Christ has died to bring salvation to everyone.  The exact interpretation would likely have been more apparent to the contemporary viewer.

While the meanings of a painting within a painting vary, always make sure to take note of what the artist has chosen to embed in their paintings.  The subjects within these frames within frames always enhance the viewers understanding of a painting. 
 
 

The Unicorn Tapestries

Elaborate woven tapestries were a common art form during the period of late Medieval and the Renaissance.  Tapestries served the dual purpose of adding warmth to a room and providing beautiful decorations.  Biblical or historic themes were common and often tapestries would be created in a cycle of 4-10 works telling a story.  They were hand-stitched from threads of wool and silk, created in workshops throughout Europe.

The unicorn was seen as a symbol of Christ and was frequently shown in Medieval art.  There are several interesting examples of unicorn tapestries, this blog post will focus on one of the most famous unicorn tapestry cycles known as The Hunt of the Unicorn.

The Unicorn in Captivity (Cloisters Museum), 1495-1505

This seven tapestry cycle was likely created sometime between 1495-1505.  This cycle is displayed in the Cloisters Museum in New York, the branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art dedicated entirely to Medieval Art.  The original patron and tapestry workshop is not known, but the dates can be deduced based on clothing styles of the figures.  It was probably created in Belgium (known at the time as Flanders).  Brussels in particular was known for its high quality tapestry construction around the turn of the 16th century.  

In the late 17th century the cycle was owned by French nobility living in Paris.  After the French Revolution the tapestries were taken down and used by peasants to keep warm and were found lying in a barn 70 years after the revolution.  Unfortunately during the years when they were outside they were damaged, faded and in the case of the fifth tapestry in the cycle, torn badly.  They were recovered in the 1850's by descendants of the French family that once owned them and despite their damage they are still quite well preserved. The Rockefeller family purchased them in the early 20th century and then later donated them to the museum where they hang today.

#1: The Hunters Enter the Woods (Cloisters Museum), 1495-1505

The cycle tells the story of a royal hunt of the unicorn and in these tapestries there are many symbolic ties between the unicorn and Christ.  The unicorn is seen in six of the seven tapestries but he is missing from the first one.  It is the start of the hunt with huntsman and hunting dogs out looking for the unicorn.  If you look carefully you will see the initials "A" and "E" hidden in each tapestry several times.  The "E" is backwards and one example can be seen in the tree between two hunters, others are found in the bottom corners. Notice the distinctive style of clothing worn by everyone in the tapestry.  Every part of the tapestry is filled and the forest floor contains dozens of types of plants and flowers.

#2: The Unicorn is Found(Cloisters Museum), 1495-1505

In the next tapestry the Unicorn is discovered as he dips his horn into the stream to purify the water.  A wide variety of animals wait by the side of the stream to drink out of it afterwards.  The animals include: a panther, a stag, a lion, a rabbit and even a hyena.  Rather than representing animals found in a typical French forest, each animal had its own symbolism.

At the very moment he is putting his horn into the water the unicorn is discovered by the hunters who all point to him.  This lovely tapestry is rather faded and the blue sky was added later after the cycle was recovered.  During the time that this was created the sky would have been replaced by something else such as more trees.  As we can see in the other tapestries, all areas were filled in with decoration and not left a solid flat areas of color.

#3: The Unicorn is Attacked (Cloisters Museum), 1495-1505

The recurring initials have led historians to think these tapestries may have been commissioned for a marriage.  Note that in this tapestry the letters "F" and "R" have been added to this particular work, but they appear to have been added later and not part of the original tapestry.  The viewer can also see different coats of arms on the collars of the hunting dogs which is likely an allusion to the family or families represented by the initials.  The "R" added later may stand for the La Rochefoucaulds, the French noble family who owned these works for a time.

The composition in the 3rd tapestry is quite similar to the 2nd, the unicorn is in the center by the stream and surrounded by hunters, in the 2nd they all point to him and in the work above they all lunge at him with spears. As in the first two we can also note the use of vivid colors and dense foliage.

#4: The Unicorn Defends Itself (Cloisters Museum), 1495-1505

In the 4th tapestry the unicorn has been surrounded and is making an escape by giving a powerful kick, as he kicks outward his horn gouges one of the hunting dogs.  This two follows the compositional set up of the previous two works.  In the foreground a variety of animals continue to drink from the purified stream. 

There is also a #5: The Mystic Capture of the Unicorn, today this is badly torn and only fragments remain.  This is unfortunate as we don't know how the unicorn came to be captured.  In one strip of the tapestry the unicorn is with two women (only the hand of one remains).  The woman who strokes the unicorn is thought to be a maiden (virgin) due to the fact that she is shown in an enclosed garden which was a popular symbol of virginity.  As he is subdued it appears that the other woman is signalling to the hunters.  However since only pieces of this work are still intact that isn't known for certain.

#6: The Unicorn is Killed and Brought to the Castle(Cloisters Museum), 1495-1505

The killing of the unicorn is presented in a rather gruesome way.  If we are to follow the Christian symbolism of the unicorn in this tapestry cycle we can note the following: The unicorn is capable of purifying the water, the unicorn is tamed by a maiden (virgin) and killed violently.  However after he is dead, he is resurrected in the last tapestry.

#7: The Unicorn in Captivity (Cloisters Museum), 1495-1505

The subdued and resurrected unicorn sits within another small enclosure in the final tapestry in this series.  In addition to the Christian symbolism there are also symbols that could reflect that the "maiden" has in fact subdued a bachelor by marrying him, another reason that historians think this was commissioned for a wedding.

Flowers each had their own symbolic meaning and several in this would also tie into a matrimonial theme; for example the lily for faithfulness and the carnation for marriage.  The Metropolitan Museum of Art website says of this work:

"The Unicorn in Captivity may have been created as a single image rather than part of a series. In this instance, the unicorn probably represents the beloved tamed. He is tethered to a tree and constrained by a fence, but the chain is not secure and the fence is low enough to leap over. The unicorn could escape if he wished but clearly his confinement is a happy one, to which the ripe, seed-laden pomegranates in the tree—a medieval symbol of fertility and marriage—testify. The red stains on his flank do not appear to be blood, as there are no visible wounds like those in the hunting series; rather, they represent juice dripping from the bursting pomegranates above."*

*"Unicorn in Captivity, The [South Netherlandish] (37.80.6)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/37.80.6 (October 2006)  

 

get games

popular games like solitare so familiar for us,if you dont have it and want to have you can visit https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/big-deck-solitaire/id478293068?mt=12, and there is many other game can you get in there, you might always find game provider sites.

http://www.macgamesandmore.com is the right place to download the game to your liking, your service provider which makes it easier to get it all, for you or your pc gadgets, everything is easily accessible.

some of the great games available for your pc. as you can that you can get in http://www.cultofmac.com, The fact is, just about any type of game that you are into can be found and played on your pc. So, with the new games, the ease of getting them and playing them as well as all the latest technology.

Payday Loans May Hide the Shame That Troubled Debt Carries

Are you ashamed of your debt and want to keep your payday loan usage a secret? You are not alone. In previous generations, the shame kept financial problems rarely talked about in fear of being judged morally by their peers. With very little options available, loan sharking was rampant.
Nowadays, online payday loans are becoming increasingly popular. Not only are they access to fast money, but the convenience of being able to apply for the loan from home, office, tablet or now even smartphones his increased the popularity. People still carry shame with financial problems, but no longer have to involve family or friends for the unexpected or emergency loans. Let's face it, money troubles are embarrassing. The size of debt has grown over the years creating new problems for getting relief.
Debt has become increasingly difficult for lower income workers who struggle with cost of living expenses alone. The ones who need the most help are often the first ones rejected. Without proper education or guidance for financial opportunities, resources can be very limited. Discuss money problems with friends, family members or even credit counselors so you won't be missing out on positive financial opportunities or advice.
It's a nice way to keep every other creditor out of your business. Your loan will be between you and the lender (unless of course you have a joint bank account, then the other person can gain knowledge of the transaction). If by chance you default on your loan, it will then be recorded with the credit bureaus by the collections agency - so much for keeping your finances private.
Your best bet will be to check out what exactly is needed for money, know where it will be spent and how you will pay it back. The next piece is how you can avoid needing third party money in the future. If you are determined to keep your money issues under wraps, then you will want to build yourself a savings account. Even if you can only afford to put away a small amount each month, something is better than nothing.
When your priority is getting rid of debt, especially credit card debt, your extra money should be put towards one creditor at a time. Some people think that paying off the largest debt amount first is best practice. Others might tell you to knock off the one with the highest interest first. Another options is to pay off your smallest deb for immediate results which will motivate you to continue on to the next. Whichever option you choose, you will want to stick to it while keeping your monthly spending to a minimum. Paying off one debt while spending on another will defeat the purpose of the struggle.
Rebuild your budget incorporating your new plan. This piece my need some assistance. If you really do not want to open up to someone close to you, take advantage of the non-profit organizations who offer the service. Some debt amounts may need the services of debt programs in order to make your finances work. Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red Dark Moonlight Red Best Dark Moonlight Red

Using a 24 Hour Fast Cash Advance for Urgent Financial Situations

If that you have found yourself in a quite difficult short-term financial situation and aren't too sure of the best course of action, then you might want to look at the availability of the 24 hour fast cash advance loans. Loans of this nature are rapidly increasing in popularity for anyone that needs an instant remedy to meet certain financial obligations. Essentially the cash advance loans are similar to getting instant access to a monthly wage before it actually arrives. Many people need their payday to arrive sooner, and with a these instant type of loans, you are able to get your hands on a cash advance when you might need it most.
If you are looking to apply for a fast loan, you often have a choice of using either one of the many online companies or the more traditional money lending stores. The easiest and often the most convenient choice would be to use one of the reputable online loan companies. You are able to submit a loan application at any time from the comfort of home. If you don't have secure access to the internet, then you can always visit a money lending store in person if preferable.
Irrespective of the approach used for applying for a loan, the application process is generally much the same. In either case, you will be required to complete in full a short application form, which is then submitted or handed to the loan personnel. Generally a fast cash loan will be approved or declined within a matter of minutes. Although, as the acceptance criteria are quite minimal, with no need for credit checks to be conducted, most applicants tend to be successful in applying for this type of loan.
On acceptance of the advance loan, funds can be electronically transferred into your designated bank account within one or two hours. Provided of course the loan was approved on a normal workday. If you did apply for a loan at the weekend you might have to wait for the following Monday to receive the funds in your account. If however, you applied for a loan inside a bricks and mortar money lending store, you might receive the funds in the form of cash.
At the time of agreeing the fast cash advance loan you enter into an agreement whereby the full balance of the loan is to be repaid within a specific period, often in the region of 14 to 30 days. Often the loan company will be flexible in relation to the specific payback date to make it easier for the funds to be repaid as required.

Helpful Instant Cash Advance Loans

Emergency cash advance loans offer the perfect opportunity to acquire instant cash in times of receiving an unexpected bill in an urgent situation or where it just isn't practical to wait until the end and of the month to get a paid. A cash advance loan might be relied on for those with a poor credit history to those that don't really have friends or family to call on for a short-term financial help. Payday loans are obtainable from a range of online companies that are able to offer the required funds within a period of 24 hours.
Here are some of the key features to the short-term loans:
What are the qualifications for a payday loan?
In most cases an applicant would be successful in being approved for this loan type as the criteria for acceptance is minimal. Essentially, the basic requirements relate to meeting a minimum age requirement (which is 18), having an active bank account (this is needed to deposit the funds), and having steady employment (often 90 days plus with the same employer) or a minimum wage (about $1000 or so). Also the payback duration is often in the region of 14 to 30 days, so it is important to choose one that will fit within your particular financial payback timeframe.
How easy is it to apply for these short-term loans?
Due to the ease of applying for these loans online the entire application process is designed to be as simple and convenient for the customer as possible. Emergency cash advance loans are conducted via a secure and confidential web site to make sure your privacy is maintained. The process of completing an application form, which can often be completed in less than five minutes, is all quite straightforward. After submitting the application it's just a matter of waiting for the response from the loan company - with approvals often completed in as little as a few minutes. Although it is rare to fax documentation, it might on some occasions be necessary to send on a bank statement or paycheck stub.
If the application was successful, the requested funds can be deposited into a bank account within one or two hours. A delay in receiving the funds might be noticed if the loan was taken out at the weekend, in this case it would be necessary to wait for the next business day until funds are received.

Long Term Loans: Grab Sufficient Money for Unplanned Fiscal Demands

Are you running out of finance? Do not able to handle financial crisis situation on time? Looking for external monetary support to fulfill some important fiscal requirements? At such point of time, the provision of long term loans proves to be excellent for you. As the name implies, these loans come up with a facility of long repayment term. With the help of these loans you can gain sufficient amount of funds in tough times, which enables you to settle down your short term fiscal requirements on time with great ease and comfort.
These loans prove to be your best financial partner in crisis situation, so that you can overcome from the dilemma of shortage of funds in a soothing manner. There are certain requirements laid down by the lenders which are needed to be fulfilled by you for accessing long term loans. The requirements may comprise that your age must not be less than eighteen years and you must hold a valid active bank account for the direct transfer of funds. Furthermore, you must be currently working as a regular employee in an eminent firm with good income flow.
By the assist of these loans you can raise good amount of finance in crisis, depending on your requirements and repaying potential. For the repayment of the loan you will get a long and soothing repayment term.
The privilege of online medium prove to be really very helpful as it allows you to apply for long term loans without leaving the convenience of your home or office, with just few clicks of mouse. Online application procedure is really very easy, comfortable, fast, reliable and safe. Plus, through online applying you can manage to save your time, efforts, money and energy in a great way. A good research of the comprehensive market helps you to take out best financial deal at a feasible rate, without making much effort.
Long term loans don't let you undergo with any credit checking hassle. This means people struggling with unfavorable credit status are eligible to apply for these loans in tough times, without facing any lender's restrictions. This means all their bad credit factors are acceptable here that may include defaults, arrears, missed payments etc.

What Is A Payday Loan? Find Out Here!

Did this week's paycheck fail to meet your needs? Do you think you might need to take out a small loan? A payday loan might be just what you need. You can learn some useful payday loan information from the following article.
You should do some research to decide which payday loan company you want to work with. The top source for the start of your investigation is the BBB. Any past complaint against a company will show up on the website for the BBB.
Try taking out loans directly from lenders to get the cheapest rates. Indirect loans have really horrible fees that are impossible to pay back, they do this so they can make money.
If you're looking for a good payday loan, try looking for lenders that have instant approvals. Any company who is unable to accept or deny a payday loan right away in today's times may not be organized, or they may not have up-to-date tools that will help you through the entire process.
Don't take out payday advances for friends. While you may care about the individual, you could wind up suffering financially because of the decision.
If you are considering taking out a payday loan, it is important to pay it back when it is due, rather than extending it. Every extension is only going to leave you further in debt.
Payday lender use a number of tactics to get around consumer protection laws. They can charge fees as high as the interest itself. This makes the interest rate as much as 10 times the standard interest rate of conventional loans.
If you're going through with a payday loan, make sure you do your research on all the different lenders that are available to you. Never rely on lenders who appear to be trustworthy. Take your time and check into their reputation online. Look for customer reviews or testimonials for first-hand information on the company you are considering giving your personal information to. The best firm will safeguard your credit.

Learn All About Payday Advances And What They Mean

Do you need a loan? Do you have bad credit? There are different options you should look into. Payday advances are good way to go if you need to get some money fast and you do not have another place to go. Read this article to get ideas on what to expect from your loan.
You can look online for a payday loan. Deal with a company whose legitimacy is assured. If a friend can recommend a lender who treated them fairly, go with them; otherwise, check out third-party reviews to ensure that the lender is on the level. All you do is fill out their application and wait to get approved.
Use payday advances carefully. Read the payday loan company's contract very carefully, before signing and ask about all fees and interest rates, how they work and in what circumstances they apply. Search for a company that has a solid reputation and that has been around for a minimum of five years. This simple step is an easy way to avoid many of the most common loan scams.
It is best to submit an online application to a reputable payday loan company. Some may allow you to utilize the Internet though. Once the application is processed, you will likely be able to complete the transaction over the phone. You can also call their customer service, if you have questions.
Never sign a payday loan for a friend! It is not wise to put your finances in jeopardy, no matter how much you want to help someone.
There are a lot of lenders that show that you do not need a good credit rating to get their loan. However, you may learn that you're not able to get a loan because you have a bad credit score. Having no credit is sometimes a reason for denial for a traditional loan, but more often, having bad credit is the culprit. Use this information before you decide to get a payday loan.
Keep track of the time that you have to pay back the loan on a calendar. People often forget when their payment is due and will be hit with penalties and late charges. You don't want to forget to make the payment when the due date rolls around.
Think twice before using cash advances. Repetitively refinancing cash advances can cause a snowball effect of debt. Payday lenders charge very high interest rates, so even a couple hundred dollars in debt can become thousands if you aren't careful. If you can't pay back the loan when it comes due, try to get a loan from elsewhere rather than using the payday lender's refinancing option.
As you would do with any financial transaction, make sure you read the agreement before you sign it. Failing to read all fine print can be calamitous. Protect your interests by carefully reading the entire contract and asking questions regarding anything that you do not understand.

Jusepe de Ribera's Classical Subjects

Jusepe de Ribera was a Spanish Baroque painter who worked in Naples (under Spanish rule since the 15th century) for most of his career.  After his move to Naples around 1620 he was known as Lo Spagnoletto (the little Spaniard) and followed in the Caravaggisti manner of painting, which meant that the Italian painter Caravaggio had an enormous impact on his style.  Caravaggio painted with extreme darks and lights in a style known as tenebrism, and was known for painting subjects taken from life who were never shown as idealized figures.  Caravaggio lived in Naples for a brief time in the early 17th century and after his stay much of Neapolitan painting followed his lead in both style and subject matter.

Ribera took Caravaggio's techniques a step further and became well known for portraying figures in an extremely naturalistic style.  Rather than idealizing his models Ribera focused on things such as wrinkles, sagging flesh or grotesque figures.  He was influenced also by Caravaggio's use of tenebrism; painting compositions with dark backgrounds and a strong contrast between light and dark. Ribera always created figures that were highly individualized, such as his portrait representing the Greek mathematician Archimedes. 

 Archimedes, Jusepe de Ribera, 1630, Museo del Prado, Madrid

As we can see in a detail of this painting below, Ribera emphasizes every deep wrinkle in the face of the older model that he uses for Archimedes.  He was less interested in painting the idealized faces associated with the Italian Renaissance and instead was interested in his sitter's character, personality and individuality.

A

 detail of Archimedes, Jusepe de Ribera, 1630

While he painted many Biblical scenes and Catholic saints, Ribera was also the first Spanish painter to take up subjects derived from classical mythology such as his Drunken Silenus (below) and Apollo Flaying Marsyas (not shown) among others.

Drunken Silenus, Jusepe de Ribera, 1626, Museo Nazionale de Capodimonte, Naples

The Drunken Silenus was one of Ribera's first signed and dated works and is characteristic of his early style in the manner of Caravaggio.  In Greek mythology Silenus was the son of Pan and the foster father of Bacchus.  Both Bacchus and Silenus are known for their enjoyment of wine and merriment.  However unlike the regal god Bacchus, Silenus is shown as someone to be loathed or pitied and could be used as an allegory for gluttony.  

In mythology Bacchus granted the king Midas the wish to turn objects to gold after Midas treated his drunken foster father Silenus with kindness.  In Ribera's painting the obese Silenus is shown nude and is surrounded by figures with grotesque features.

 Ixion, Jusepe de Ribera, 1630, Museo del Prado, Madrid

Another example of Ribera's classical subject is in his work Ixion.  In Greek mythology, Ixion spawned the centaurs.  After Ixion tried to seduce Juno (the Queen of the Gods), his punishment was to be tied to a wheel and be turned for eternity. In this painting a cruel looking Satyr has just chained Ixion to the wheel.  As in Drunken Silenus  and Apollo Flaying Marsyas  Ribera paints every detail of these gruesome scenes and creates a compelling image filled with drama.  Here (as in his other work Titus) the main figures are shown being turned upside down which adds to the dramatic feeling of the overall composition.

While best known for his powerful religious paintings created in Catholic Italy and Spain after the Counter-Reformation, the viewer can see that the Classical themes of Jusepe de Ribera are every bit as emotional and dynamic.