Shenanigans at the Louvre and cute Chicks

Yesterday, I already presented you with some pictures I took in my Ever been so extra ...? post. In my opinion, that one was already borderline shitposting, but there were still pictures left I wanted to show. So this time, you get them on my ... shitposting account.

Of course, I didn't just go to Versailles, I also visited the Louvre. There, I took some amazing pictures, like the one of the painting across from the Mona Lisa.

It's so big! How did the artist even paint it? Do you make a sketch and then start painting it in one corner, slowly creeping across the canvas, as if you're painting a floor? Did he put himself in some kind of sling hanging from the ceiling, hovering over the canvas lying on the floor? Did he use a ladder (which would be the boring explanation)?

No, I did not take a picture of the Mona Lisa. But in the same room, I found this guy:

Look at this face. Like, really look at him. He's so proud of himself. So fucking proud. This painting is the "Portrait of Francis I", by Tizian Vecellio. To quote the web gallery of art:

Titian never saw Francis I, the king of France (1494—1547). He nonetheless succeeded in painting an impressive portrait of a ruler. The model for his portrait was a medal made by Benvenuto Cellini, showing the king in profile. The erect posture, broad torso and magnificent garments give the portrait a regal air. The flat hat with its delicate feathers, together with his fine hair, which is brushed across his face in a similarly feathery way, give a certain lightness to the otherwise very proud royal portrait.

Bold move, painting someone you've never seen. Can't say if he did a good job, as I wasn't alive in the 15th/16th century and thus never saw king Francis I either.

What I really liked was the painting of Jeanne D'Arc.

Finally, some sensible female armor (although the waist seems a bit overly slim)! Properly covering everything, as nobody would want to go and fight with their tits out!

Nevermind.

But the absolutely best thing I saw wasn't at the Louvre. Oh no. It was back at Versailles. It was ...

Adorable, fluffy baby birds! Eurasian coot (Fulica atra) chicks, to be precise. Although I somewhat hesitate to call them "cooties" ...

Language is weird.

I shouldn't have read the wikipedia article I linked though, because there they say that

Chick mortality occurs mainly due to starvation rather than predation. Most chicks died in the first 10 days after hatching, when they are most dependent on adults for food. Coots can be very brutal to their own young under pressure such as the lack of food. They will bite young that are begging for food and repeatedly do this until it stops begging and starves to death. If the begging continues, they may bite so hard that the chick is killed.

And you thought your parents are bad!

That's it, that was the rest of the pictures I wanted to show you, the rest is rather boring. For those who read this so far, have an actual photograph of me.

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Images all taken by me, or containing me.