Comments on: Testing your eye on the Van Dycks

By: Emile de Bruijn

Emile de Bruijn — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:01:14 +0000

Yes I completely agree with you – the pictures should really be taken off the wall and photographed to a professional standard. The reason that hasn’t happened in all cases as yet is simply a backlog issue. Ditto for the objects where we haven’t got an image on the website yet. National Trust Collections is very much a work in progress, and all those issues are being gradually addressed, within the limits of the manpower and resources available.

By: columnist

columnist — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:45:51 +0000

Oh I do have one comment about how the images are displayed – can they be from the front, and not the side. I know this is not always easy, because some of the pictures hang in narrow corridors, but a different technique needs to be found to achieve this. Vide: http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/1175932 to get an idea of what I’m talking about.

By: Emile de Bruijn

Emile de Bruijn — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:42:49 +0000

Columnist, yes I found the Economist article very interesting in that it showed how respectable blogging now is in the field of economics.

HRH, thank you, I am glad you are finding both facts and beauty here – exactly what I am trying to provide.

Parnassus, yes this database opens up a whole new world of research and discovery – which is why we at the NT need to keep improving and augmenting the data – with your help.

By: Parnassus

Parnassus — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:50:05 +0000

Thanks for this link. I took a quick look and right away found two cool ophicleide mouthpieces.

You are right in pointing out the importance of looking closely at objects. For example, with early musical instruments, the exact number of keys is often of great importance, yet many times I have found the actual number misstated in printed catalogs.

Putting collections on-line will make it easier for people in different fields to examine collections. This is especially valid for house museums which might have a small number of many type of objects, perhaps a rare dish or antiquity, which would otherwise be not locatable.

–Road to Parnassus

By: HRH The Duchess of State

HRH The Duchess of State — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:47:20 +0000

I so enjoy your posts dahhling they are both beautiful & educational. Not to mention always interesting. How true that by means of this wonderous medium, so many people can be reached, educated & amused!

By: columnist

columnist — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:51:05 +0000

The Economist comment is really quite valid. Blogging means we’re all invited to a salon to discuss a topic and to hear others’ views on it too. Interesting post. Thanks!