Barry A Parks
@barryaparks.bsky.social
Painter, Retired Architect and later Design & Construction Project Manager for a large college system.
I love to travel, and often attempt to recapture favorite moments in my paintings. Also some of my travel photos.
I love to travel, and often attempt to recapture favorite moments in my paintings. Also some of my travel photos.
A horse and dove compose a street scene along a Sienese street. #phtography #travel #tourism #siena #italy #graffiti #tuscany #streetart
January 17, 2026 at 5:07 AM
A horse and dove compose a street scene along a Sienese street. #phtography #travel #tourism #siena #italy #graffiti #tuscany #streetart
Wooden stall marquetry crafted by monk Fra' Giovanni da Verona (1503) wraps Siena Duomo's choir. These were moved here from their original abbey site in 1813 - magnificent Renaissance craftsmanship in the Gothic masterpiece. #travel #siena #duomo #photography #italy #renaissance #craft #marquetry
January 16, 2026 at 3:01 AM
Wooden stall marquetry crafted by monk Fra' Giovanni da Verona (1503) wraps Siena Duomo's choir. These were moved here from their original abbey site in 1813 - magnificent Renaissance craftsmanship in the Gothic masterpiece. #travel #siena #duomo #photography #italy #renaissance #craft #marquetry
Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini (Later Pope Pius III) sponsored this library within Siena's Duomo to honor his uncle Pope Pius II. Artist Pinturicchio (and perhaps Raphael) created 10 frescoes with scenes from Pius' II's life (1502-8). #travel #tourism #photography #siena #italy #piccolomini #italy
January 15, 2026 at 4:33 AM
Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini (Later Pope Pius III) sponsored this library within Siena's Duomo to honor his uncle Pope Pius II. Artist Pinturicchio (and perhaps Raphael) created 10 frescoes with scenes from Pius' II's life (1502-8). #travel #tourism #photography #siena #italy #piccolomini #italy
The north aisle of the Siena Cathedral is the Piccolomini Altarpiece (1481-5), commissioned by Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini (later Pope Pius III). Four of the sculptures were carved by Michelangelo (1501-5). #travel #toursim #siena #cathedral #piccolomini #photography #italy #michelangelo #altar
January 14, 2026 at 3:33 AM
The north aisle of the Siena Cathedral is the Piccolomini Altarpiece (1481-5), commissioned by Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini (later Pope Pius III). Four of the sculptures were carved by Michelangelo (1501-5). #travel #toursim #siena #cathedral #piccolomini #photography #italy #michelangelo #altar
Siena's Duomo interior is ringed with 172 plaster busts of the first popes beginning with St. Peter. These were produced between 1497 and 1503. Some faces are duplicated. The rondels below illustrate 36 Roman and Byzantine emperors. #travel #tourism #siena #duomo #sculpture #history #photography #it
January 13, 2026 at 5:37 AM
Siena's Duomo interior is ringed with 172 plaster busts of the first popes beginning with St. Peter. These were produced between 1497 and 1503. Some faces are duplicated. The rondels below illustrate 36 Roman and Byzantine emperors. #travel #tourism #siena #duomo #sculpture #history #photography #it
Hopi House was the first of eight structures designed by architect Mary Colter for the Grand Canyon National Park. It was erected (1904) by Fred Harvey Company contractors to create a marketplace for tourists to acquire crafts by Native Americans. #travel #tourism #grandcanyon #arizona #architecture
January 12, 2026 at 5:47 AM
Hopi House was the first of eight structures designed by architect Mary Colter for the Grand Canyon National Park. It was erected (1904) by Fred Harvey Company contractors to create a marketplace for tourists to acquire crafts by Native Americans. #travel #tourism #grandcanyon #arizona #architecture
The floor of Siena Cathedral is arrayed with 56 incised stone mosaics crafted by about 40 artists between the 14th and 16th centuries. This medallion (She-Wolf of Siena) with badges for confederate cities dates from 1373. #travel #tourism #siena #italy #sienacathedral #mosaics #tuscany #photography
January 11, 2026 at 4:26 AM
The floor of Siena Cathedral is arrayed with 56 incised stone mosaics crafted by about 40 artists between the 14th and 16th centuries. This medallion (She-Wolf of Siena) with badges for confederate cities dates from 1373. #travel #tourism #siena #italy #sienacathedral #mosaics #tuscany #photography
A blazing sun caps the top of the front face of Florence's Santa Maria Novella. The 15th-C architect Alberti was handed the job of masking a Gothic #church, whose front elevation was already underway, with a #Renaissance nod to a classical temple. #travel #architecture #florence #italy #history #art
January 10, 2026 at 5:55 AM
A blazing sun caps the top of the front face of Florence's Santa Maria Novella. The 15th-C architect Alberti was handed the job of masking a Gothic #church, whose front elevation was already underway, with a #Renaissance nod to a classical temple. #travel #architecture #florence #italy #history #art
The Grand Canyon's South Rim Trial is paved and essentially flat as it extends along the upper rim for about 13 miles. It offers continuous and spectacular views to the North Rim 10 miles away. The park draws approximately 5M visitors a year. #travel #tourism #photography #grandcanyon #nps #arizona
January 8, 2026 at 10:10 PM
The Grand Canyon's South Rim Trial is paved and essentially flat as it extends along the upper rim for about 13 miles. It offers continuous and spectacular views to the North Rim 10 miles away. The park draws approximately 5M visitors a year. #travel #tourism #photography #grandcanyon #nps #arizona
The monumental painting, "Washington Crossing the Delaware" is one of three canvases painted in 1851 by Emanuel Leutze. This one dominates a gallery in NYC's Metropolitan Museum of Art. The rendering suffers from numerous inaccuracies, but has become iconic. #travel #tourism #art #nyc #met #history
January 8, 2026 at 4:16 AM
The Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, IT is lined with 6th-C mosaics. Here the named wise men lead a line of 22 female martyrs. They are finely attired in Persian clothing (those breeches and caps) reminding that they came from the East. #travel #tourism #ravenna #italy #wisemen #history
January 6, 2026 at 6:45 PM
The Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, IT is lined with 6th-C mosaics. Here the named wise men lead a line of 22 female martyrs. They are finely attired in Persian clothing (those breeches and caps) reminding that they came from the East. #travel #tourism #ravenna #italy #wisemen #history
An earlier post showed one wall of the Medici Chapel (1459-61) in Florence. The rear wall continues the expansive parade of Magi - casting the Medici family and close friends - traveling to the Madonna and Child behind the altar on the opposite wall. #travel #tourism #florence #medici #chapel #magi
January 6, 2026 at 3:16 AM
A fresco in Florence's Basilica di Santa Croce (Taddeo Gaddi) illustrates a soon-abandoned theological concept - an idea that the biblical nativity involved TWO Jesus: a human and a spirit of light. In this case, Light baby is the guiding star. #travel #florence #italy #theology #christmas #wisemen
January 5, 2026 at 1:15 AM
Lucien Bonaparte Maxwell once owned more US territory than any other person. The Maxwell Land Grant once totaled 1,714,765 acres, including 1,000,000 purchased for $2,745 (1858). Billy the Kid was killed at his home after it had passed to his son. #travel #tourism #cemetery #history #fortsumner #nm
January 3, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Billy the Kid's Grave near Ft. Sumner, New Mexico is marked with a well-traveled tombstone. It was stolen in 1951 and recovered in 1976, only to disappear again for four days in Feb 1981. When recovered, it was reset with iron shackles in a steel cage. #billythekid #fortsumner #nm #travel #grave
January 1, 2026 at 3:24 AM
Billy the Kid's Grave near Ft. Sumner, New Mexico is marked with a well-traveled tombstone. It was stolen in 1951 and recovered in 1976, only to disappear again for four days in Feb 1981. When recovered, it was reset with iron shackles in a steel cage. #billythekid #fortsumner #nm #travel #grave
This female American Kestrel (North America's smallest falcon, about the size of a Blue Jay) was spotted perched on the highest branches of a tree in Albuquerque's Los Ranchos Agri-Nature Center (See previous posts). #travel #tourism #bird #kestrel #albuquerque #nm #raptor #losranchosarinaturecenter
December 30, 2025 at 3:49 AM
This female American Kestrel (North America's smallest falcon, about the size of a Blue Jay) was spotted perched on the highest branches of a tree in Albuquerque's Los Ranchos Agri-Nature Center (See previous posts). #travel #tourism #bird #kestrel #albuquerque #nm #raptor #losranchosarinaturecenter
A major fall and winter attraction in Albuquerque are the migrating Greater Sandhill Cranes - up to 18,000 in the group - as they move to the Middle Rio Grande Valley between late Sept/Oct, before departing by mid-March. #travel #tourism #albuqueque #nm #nature #photography #sandhillcrane #birding
December 29, 2025 at 5:05 AM
A major fall and winter attraction in Albuquerque are the migrating Greater Sandhill Cranes - up to 18,000 in the group - as they move to the Middle Rio Grande Valley between late Sept/Oct, before departing by mid-March. #travel #tourism #albuqueque #nm #nature #photography #sandhillcrane #birding
To create the vast ground for Vaux-le-Vicomte in France, three villages were purchased and demolished. The displaced residents were then employed by landscape architect Le Notre to create the gardens for the 1661 opening of the estate. #travel #tourism #france #vauxlevicomte #history #architecture
December 28, 2025 at 6:01 AM
To create the vast ground for Vaux-le-Vicomte in France, three villages were purchased and demolished. The displaced residents were then employed by landscape architect Le Notre to create the gardens for the 1661 opening of the estate. #travel #tourism #france #vauxlevicomte #history #architecture
Los Ranchos Agri-Nature Center is a 25 acre nature and agricultural area in Albuquerque. It offers a community garden, nesting area for migrating birds, a medicinal plant garden, walking trails, and this equestrian sculpture ready for New Year's. #travel #tourism #albuqueque #nm #nature #photography
December 27, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Los Ranchos Agri-Nature Center is a 25 acre nature and agricultural area in Albuquerque. It offers a community garden, nesting area for migrating birds, a medicinal plant garden, walking trails, and this equestrian sculpture ready for New Year's. #travel #tourism #albuqueque #nm #nature #photography
In keeping with the season, here is a variation of the Christian Christmas story placing the Holy Family in a version of a car stable during the US Depression era. They are, of course, identified by a star and the arrival of shepherds and sheep. #christmasstory #painting #art #acrylic #christianart
December 26, 2025 at 5:28 AM
In keeping with the season, here is a variation of the Christian Christmas story placing the Holy Family in a version of a car stable during the US Depression era. They are, of course, identified by a star and the arrival of shepherds and sheep. #christmasstory #painting #art #acrylic #christianart
Here's one last (for now) photo from December in Vaux-le-Vicomte where a few years ago the decorations turned the interior dome room into an exterior forest filled with trees and forest creatures. Stunning! #tourism #travel #vauxlevicomte #france #chateau #christmas #decoration #photography
December 25, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Here's one last (for now) photo from December in Vaux-le-Vicomte where a few years ago the decorations turned the interior dome room into an exterior forest filled with trees and forest creatures. Stunning! #tourism #travel #vauxlevicomte #france #chateau #christmas #decoration #photography
Landscape architect Le Nôtre's vast formal gardens at Vaux-le-Vicomte - the greatest 17th century example - were carved from 100 acres of woodlands and were laid out along a nearly two-mile axis to create a stunning setting for the château and outbuildings. #travel #tourism #vauxlevicomte #france
December 24, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Landscape architect Le Nôtre's vast formal gardens at Vaux-le-Vicomte - the greatest 17th century example - were carved from 100 acres of woodlands and were laid out along a nearly two-mile axis to create a stunning setting for the château and outbuildings. #travel #tourism #vauxlevicomte #france
Vaux-le-Vicomte is located 55 km outside of Paris. It is the predecessor of Versailles and the largest privately-owned chateau in France. An amazing transformation takes place each year with elaborate Christmas decorations. Fantastic! #travel #tourism #france #vauxlevicomte #christmas #architecture
December 23, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Vaux-le-Vicomte is located 55 km outside of Paris. It is the predecessor of Versailles and the largest privately-owned chateau in France. An amazing transformation takes place each year with elaborate Christmas decorations. Fantastic! #travel #tourism #france #vauxlevicomte #christmas #architecture
St. Mary's Church of the Assumption is located in Praha, Texas. In 1895 Swiss-born Gottfried Flury painted much of the interior using a combination of stenciling, infill painting, and freehand techniques to mimic stone vaults and Gothic tracery. #travel #tourism #church #architecture #Czech
December 22, 2025 at 4:32 AM
St. Mary's Church of the Assumption is located in Praha, Texas. In 1895 Swiss-born Gottfried Flury painted much of the interior using a combination of stenciling, infill painting, and freehand techniques to mimic stone vaults and Gothic tracery. #travel #tourism #church #architecture #Czech
