Acuarelas de Turner.

Lago Lemán, con el Dent d´Oche, desde lo alto de Lausana,

1841

Grafito y acuarela sobre papel. 

Todos alguna vez hemos podido percibir una sensación de sobrecogimiento al contemplar alguna de las grandes obras del ingenio humano. No hay duda de que estar frente a frente de las Pirámides de Egipto o de un gran rascacielos, por ejemplo, nos produce ese tipo de emoción. Sin embargo, para los amantes del arte, resulta incomparable la emoción de contemplar de cerca una obra maestra, fruto del trabajo y de la inspiración de alguna mente brillante. 

The French and Indian War (part 5).

James Wolfe. Portrait attributed to Joseph Highmore.

Photo by: Bonhams {{PD-US}}

What could be crossing James Wolfe´s mind, while he sailed to Quebec, on June 1759? His health was not one his strenghts, everybody knew that. Even, is quite posible that between his men were crossing bets on his death. Would he die on combat… or of disease? He sure knew that, but it was not something to keep him sleepless. After all, since he was sixteen, he knew very well the risks of combat. Not for nothing he earned to be Liutenant Colonel, being twenty one years old (1748). He just seemed to compete with himself. The only thing that mattered was to fulfill his duty, and to do it soon.

The French and Indian War (part 4).

Lake George. Photo: Daderot.

Albany Institute of History and Art, New York, USA. 

It sure was quite a view, to stare at the Lake George, on that summer evening, with all its warm shades. Across the mirror of the surface, a myriad of canoes, with thousands of Red Skins, dressed and painted for war. Next, to fill the scene, hundreds of sailing or rowing boats slowly plowed through. They were the regular forces and militians of New France. All they came for a date which would end in drama: the assault of Fort William Henry, over the south coast of the lake.

The French and Indian War (part 3).

Physical Map of the World. Source: CIA, 2004.

Geopolitics at the present, is a very complex matter, without any doubt. Sometimes, the international equilibrium may seem more and more fragile. Nonetheless, this troubled present, for sure is the result of centuries of learning. Among several factors, diplomacy has played one of the most important role, along history. To find good allies in the right moment, often has been the difference between a victory, or annihilation. There have been many reasons for establishing alliances… from economics, to family ties; even for revenge! One thing is clear: not always it was for noble causes, sometimes very dark alliances have occurred.