Albert Anker, Hector Berlioz - La Folia, Robert Browning - A Face

There's something sweet and charming about this painting by Albert Anker.  A print of this painting would make a nice cover for a commonplace notebook or a handwriting journal.  I like how he looks like he's taking such care with his writing and his little sister looks on admiringly.

I found this lovely guitar piece by Hector Berlioz I don't know what the title means but I like the music....  Hope you do, too.  La Folia Hector Berlioz.

Our poem this week by Robert Browning


                          A Face

If one could have that little head of hers
Painted upon a background of pure gold,
Such as the Tuscan's early art prefers!
No shade encroaching on the matchless mould
Of those two lips, which should be opening soft
In the pure profile; not as when she laughs,
For that spoils all: but rather as if aloft
Yon hyacinth, she loves so, leaned its staff's
Burden of honey-colored buds to kiss
And capture 'twixt the lips apart for this.
Then her little neck, three fingers might surround,
How it should waver on the pale gold ground
Up to the fruit-shaped, perfect chin it lifts!
I know, Correggio loves to mass, in rifts
Of heaven, his angel faces, orb on orb
Breaking its outline, burning shades absorb:
But these are only massed there, I should think,
Waiting to see some wonder momently
Grow out, stand full, fade slow against the sky
(That's the pale ground you'd see this sweet face by),
All heaven, meanwhile, condensed into one eye
Which fears to lose the wonder, should it wink.