Lady Agnew of Lochnaw by John Singer Sargent

John Sargent was one of the most prominent portrait painters during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.   Sargent was born in Italy to American parents that moved constantly throughout his childhood.   Perhaps painting portraits allowed him to get close to individuals since he did not during his childhood.  Ã‚   There is no denying that Sargent was observant in the physical details as well as the details of the subject’s personality because the subjects look as if they are ready to step out of the painting and join the world of the living.   This is especially true of Lady Agnew of Lochnaw painted in eighteen ninety-three. The subject of the painting Lady Agnew of Lochnaw is Gertrude Vernon, the wife of Andrew Noel Agnew.   He commissioned the painting soon after he inherited the barony in France.   In the painting, Lady Agnew seems to be staring out into the eyes of the viewer and even though she is in a relaxed pose, she is dressed formally.   From her intense gaze, one can tell that Lady Agnew is a strong person who is not afraid to look someone straight in the eye. Blue green silk fabric was used for the background in the painting.   Even though Sargent uses more green near the shadows, blue is the predominant color.   At first glance one does not notice the tiny peach and white flowers that are scattered throughout the fabric.   However, they lend an elegant quality to the fabric because they give an oriental look to the silk which also comes from the orient. It is also expensive so it makes a statement of wealth.   Sargent achieves the texture of silk in the background with his use of lights and darks which shows quality of his talent.   The blue green color also compliments the soft white chiffon dress with the sheer sleeves.   The lilac colored satin sash blends with the faint hint of pink used in the peach flowers.   The lightness of the color of Lady Agnew’s dress gives an ironic contrast of freedom and innocence. The Chair in which Lady Agnew is sitting is reminiscent of the furnishings of Marie Antoinette which is symbolic of her and her husband’s new titles.   The wood of the chair is painted in a cream and gold colored French provincial style.   The elegance of the furniture is displayed in the light cream background with light blue and deep mauve colored flowers giving the fabric the style of country French.   The cream of the chair contrast the white of the dress, but the blue and pink still bring the colors together by complimenting the lilac sash. Lady Agnew wears very little jewelry, but the pieces she has chosen are sophisticated.   Around her neck she wears a deep rose colored undefined cameo necklace suspended from a gold chain.   The cameo is encircled with jewels that appear to be diamonds.   Again the wealth of the Agnews is displayed with the quality of the jewelry. She also wears a wide yet delicate gold bracelet on the wrist that is slightly draped over the arm of the chair.   The gold in the bracelet blends so well with the colors of the chair that it is barely noticeable.   The understatement of the jewelry symbolizes the taste of the titled Agnews. When one gazes on a John Sargent portrait, such as Lady Agnew of Lochnaw, it is easy to see how he was such a renowned artist in this area.   The realistic portraits and his use of color brought to life those who sat before him.   Sargent could also present the subject’s social status of his subject without being ostentatious. References Sargent, J. (1893).   Lady Agnew of Lochnaw. Wallace, N. (2005) Lady Agnew of Lochnaw.   JSS Virtual Gallery. Retrieved April 29, 2008 from http://www.jssgallery.org/Paintings/Lady_Agnew.htm

Southeast Asia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Southeast Asia - Essay Example Therefore, Southeast Asia stands as typical case for examining the effectiveness of the theoretical models of democratic transition. In addition, the ethnically diverse countries of Southeast Asia are noted for their rapid economic development and corresponding political upheavals. In acknowledging the possibility of sustainable alternative regimes to democracy, this literature appears to significantly depart from modernization theory's linear conception of political development that was implicit in earlier transition theory. But how adept is this work in explaining, as opposed to characterizing, regimes that don't seem to conform to prevailing ideal types of authoritarianism or democracy What light can it shed on the particular paradox mentioned above And just how far has it shifted from the primary assumptions of modernization theory In part this is due to the persistent preoccupation with understanding how to achieve democratic transition. This tends to steer analysis away from a full understanding of the forces behind different regime directions in favor of prescriptions to correct democratic institutional deficiencies. A related problem is the narrow framework within which analysis is conducted, whereby institutions loom large but their relationships to wider power structures are either ignored or under-theorized. For this reason, much of the debate about preferred institutional design to promote or improve de mocracy within this literature may be informed by idealist, liberal optimism rather than a realistic assessment of the foundations and dynamics of regime power. This is not to deny attempts have been made to incorporate socio-economic and structural factors into analysis, but these have not been linked to any wider analysis of capitalist development and its implications for the exercise of power and related conflicts. Revisiting the Theories of Democratic Transition There are many contesting theoretical perspectives which attempt to explain the intricacies of political transition. It has been generally observed that theories of democratic transition are not really successful in explaining the process of political development in the postcolonial societies. However, the relationship between economic development and political transition against the experiences of third world countries could be explained using the existing theoretical frameworks of democratic transition with adequate alterations and modifications. Both Marxist and Weberian approaches are useful for this purpose as "the modern effort to relate changes in political regimes to changes in the underlying economic structures takes off largely from the grand theorizing of late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, particularly that done by Karl Marx and Max Weber" (Crouch and Morley, 1993, p. 313). It does not mean that both Marxist and Weberian schools of thought are equally useful i n all the social contexts. Generally speaking, Marxist theories are more effective for analyzing the cases of developing countries which are locked in the mirage of war and imperialism. On the other hand, Weberian theories are commonly used for analyzing the political process of advanced industrial societies of the west as liberal democracy attained almost divine status in the West vis--vis the development of communism in the east. Lipset was a pioneering figure in bringing in the ideas of Weber for the analysis

Malcolm Glazer's Acquisition Of Manchester United Case Study

Malcolm Glazer's Acquisition Of Manchester United - Case Study Example As we know that the finance department plays a vital role in every organization and ensures that the organization has enough resources and liquidity to meet its legal obligations as well as facilitate its shareholders. The primary goal of the finance manager is to ensure that his company has adequate supply of capital and sufficient statutory reserves. The ultimate goal of every organization is the same "to increase the surplus". But the question is; how the finance manager becomes the part of the success story and how they can maximize the value of their organization The financial manager or the chief financial officer (CFO) is responsible for financing the enterprise and acts as an intermediary between the financial system's institution and markets. While on the other hand, the business manager is responsible for a different kind of work like investing in plants and equipments, undertake research, hire staff and sell the firm's product. Major financial decisions made by the managers of a business are either investment decisions or financing decisions. In investment decisions, managers consider the amount invested in the assets of the business and the composition of that investment. Investment in assets are more beneficial because it produces cash flows for the entity that are needed to meet the operating expenses, pay interest to lenders and taxes to government. In addition to the amount and composition of investment, managers have to decide how to finance them; it pertains to the financing decision which involves generating funds internally or from sources external to the business. Dividend decisions also affect the financing decisions (Bossaerts, 2006). Successful companies have skilled people at all levels inside the company, including (1) leaders who develop and articulate sound strategic visions; (2) managers who make value-adding decisions, design efficient business processes, and train and motivate work forces and (3) a capable work force willing to implement the company's strategies and tactics. Before going

Machiavelli and the novelty of its political though Essay

Machiavelli and the novelty of its political though - Essay Example Machiavelli returned back to Florence where he observed how the Medici family was expelled, the oligarchic tyrants who had been in power for decades. He also witnessed the rise of Savanorola Girolamo, a firm religious believer who took over the power in Florence for a short period after the Medici Family. At that period, Italy was under severe political clashes. States were in a scramble for power over Italy, and so did Spain, France, and the Holy Roman Empire. Each state engaged in a battle of outdoing the powers of their opponents which amounted to less worthy activities as violence and blackmail (Herbert, 2007). That same year of the return of Machiavelli, the French attacked under the leadership of Charles VIII. This flow of events during Machiavelli’s time pressured Machiavelli’s thoughts about governance. This formed the basis of his later heartfelt appeal for the Italians to unite. Machiavelli in his farm wrote a controversial book called The Prince which is term ed as a realistic guide for ruling. Machiavelli uses this book to expose his thought on political power. However, this piece of art and Machiavelli’s tool of conveying his thought on politics has received criticism from various scholars that it only guides on how not to rule and not how to rule. Machiavelli uses a simple style and logic for the reader to understand, and this is due to his bid to provide political advice (Ryan, 2013). He evidently exposes his purpose of writing the book from the beginning of the book where he devotes the book to the ruler of Florence, Lorenzo de’ Medici. In his beginning two chapters of the book, The Prince, Machiavelli less talks about republican regimes and puts more of his concern on the autocratic regimes. He sets up the outline of the entire book in the first chapter by delineating the different princes’ and categories of principalities. According to Machiavelli’s book, he talks about warcraft and statesmanship where he considers that superior laws are track naturally from a superior military. He demonstrates this when he says â€Å"the presence of sound military forces indicates the presence of sound laws†. He tries to elaborate how a sound military system is related to the formulation of sound laws for the state. Machiavelli has a rather contradicting perspective on the war; he believes that triumphant states are built after a war has been won. This is contrary to the conventional understanding that successful states are those without war. His thought about war is fundamentally on how to make a city or state much stronger, how to handle citizens on newly acquired regions, and how to avoid internal rebellions that may be a hindrance in overcoming external adversaries. Machiavelli in his political thought gives emphasis not only on making use of the military but he also includes global diplomacy, calculated strategy, understanding geographical regions, understanding history, and domestic politics. This kind of political thinking be Machiavelli was timely novelty at the period when Italy was facing attacks from principalities neighboring them. Machiavelli also highlights how the human nature has impacts on politics. He says â€Å"|Love endures by a bond which men, being scoundrels, may break whenever it serves their advantage to do so; but fear is supported by the dread of pain, which is ever present†. He believes that various political traits are intrinsic in individuals’

Human Resource Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Human Resource - Essay Example Current paper focuses on two particular aspects of Human Resources Management: Acquisition and Development of employees. Reference is made to a major competitor in the UK market: TESCO. The recruitment and selection process of the organization has been examined and evaluated. At the same time, the training and development programs of the firm are presented and analyzed in order to understand their contribution in the growth of the organization. It is concluded that the organization’s plans in regard the Acquisition and Development of its employees are unique, at the level that highly emphasis is given not just on the attracting of highly qualified staff but also on the continuous development of employees, according to their needs and potentials. 2.0 HRM – overview and presentation of key aspects 2.1 Role of HRM in modern organizations HRM is considered as a key sector in organizations operating in all industries. In the literature the elements of HRM have been extensive ly analyzed in order to understand the role of the above framework as a critical element of organizational environment. According to Sims (2007) the term HRM is used for describing ‘the rules, the principles and the processes used in organizations for managing their human resources’ (Sims 2007, p.5). In other words, the contribution of HRM in organizational growth can be vital, securing the high employee performance, as related to high organizational profits. It should be noted that HRM focuses not only on the management of the relationship between the organization and its employees but also on ‘employees’ needs and employees’ development’ (Sims 2007, p.5). In this way, the potential of employees to respond to the needs of the organization is increased. Considering employees not only as units supporting organizational processes

Sales and marketing PROJECT 213 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Sales and marketing PROJECT 213 - Research Paper Example ilities around the area like dawn beach, on the beach, Saint Maarten Zoo, Museum of Saint Maarten, Guana Bay Beach and the University of Saint Marten. The property is well situated, and it provides a good place to spend holidays and honeymoon in St. Maarten. People visiting the hotel have fun at the white sand beaches and the blue-green waters (Westin Hotel and Resorts, 2015). The property is located alongside other properties that offer recreation and education services. Some people visiting recreation centres in the area end up spending their nights at the hotel. Dawn beach is adjacent to the hotel about 0.4 km away. The beach is usually busy with people from the area and others from other places of the world. Dawn beach is advantageous because most of the people visiting the beach end up spending at the hotels rooms. On the other hand, people who visit Dawn Beach pollute the environment making most of the people not willing to spend in the hotel. Another property in the areas is Guana Bay Beach, that has the same value with the Dawn Beach. The Museum of Saint Maarten is another property that is important to the hotel. People visiting the museum include students, families, couples and business people. Most of the people visiting the museum spend time at the hotel, eating, drinking and spending at the hotel rooms. The University of St. Maarten has increa sed the population of the area providing more customers to the hotel. The university is located 4.9 km from the hotel. Most of the students at the university come from different countries and spend their free time at the beaches. Students from the University visit the hotel for drinks and launch. The lecturers and staff also use the hotel for the conference and special meeting. The university visitors spend their nights at the hotel (Westin Hotel and Resorts, 2015). In Saint Maarten, there are many hotels that compete direct with the Westin Dawn Beach Resort. The managers and the directors value and rate the

Budge and Financing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Budge and Financing - Essay Example mains that by giving up control of the city’s water and sewer network to such an entity, a level of community sovereignty is given away for an indeterminate amount of time. Furthermore, the complexities of contract length and term also further complicate the issue. Additionally, the citizens are likely to question our overall commitment to this community if we are willing to sell our infrastructure to a foreign owned provider. Furthermore, the loss in shareholder trust will likely have a profound effect on the coming election and may even lead to certain elements within the community calling for the dismissal of the city manager. In this way, I believe the needs of the community can be better served by seeking domestic solutions to the price constraints and needs that our current budget grapples with. The main differences between visions of the budget process between chief executives, operating agencies, and legislatures can be described as a function of what each entity desires to obtain from the process. Starting with the operating agencies, the main concern is to ensure that the operating expenses for the coming fiscal year are met. Additionally, any pertinent policy needs/changes and/or expansions must also be raised. Similarly, the legislature has a vested interest in the process as they are trying to appease special interests that exist within their constituents as well as within certain operating agencies with which their particular political stance or platform has forged a special commitment to support (Kostyaev 5). Likewise, other entities within the legislature will be most concerned with denying funding in the most substantial way to reduce the overall budget to appease their own party/platform or constituents (Hale 368). Lastly, the chief executive is responsible for approving the budget, making any necessary amendments or suggestions and finally signing the budget into law. Most of the action with regards to this process occurs from