Zagreb and a little history from lots of museums

Before our day even got started we came upon a gaggle of TV reporters and TV cameras aimed at a small set of demonstrators.  

They were behind the historic St Marks Church which is on a square surrounded by legislative buildings.

And in front of the legislative building demonstrators were demonstrating in SUPPORT of the Agriculture Minister's presentation that morning about new regulations on animal protections. A TV reporter said it was unusual to have demonstrations in support of things (and that this law was far reaching). Who knew an administration could cause public outcry in a positive manner?

We went to several museums, in one there were parts of a Cathedral that had been preserved when it had been remodeled. Here with one of the door front pieces.

There were lots of military paintings and uniforms. The Croatians have made a history of fighting the Ottomans and various other neighbors.

And of course landscapes. This one pretty good I thought.

 Note the detail from lower left above.

There were tons of portraits, mostly of staid old men and women, this one was a bit out of character.

And lots of religious art too.  This one by Antonis Van Dyck of Mary Magdalene, I especially liked.

And among the rooms of art in one of the museums we heard faintly at first then louder the sounds of Beach Boys music, sung by a choir, a surprise find, but quite pleasant and well done.  

And from the depression era of Modern Art two pieces that actually I rather liked — and simply named too. 

Feeding

\

Horse

In both the above pieces of art, the difficulties of the depression era of the 30's is apparent.

A most interesting find in the iron age section, photo below, was this somewhat the worse for wear war helmet. Made 8,000-3,000 years ago it would have fit one of us brothers!!! Yes a size 7 3/4 or even an 8 head. Right here!  or else he used a lot of fur liner.

Also of interest to me were the sections of World War I and II.  World War I in which Croatia (as a part of Yugoslavia in II) was a willing and early aggressor as a part of the Austria-Hungarian Empire in starting the war was notably short and actually included mostly a few romanticized postcards.

World War II was even skimpier, as Croatia participated on about every side you can think of. Nazi supporter, Croatian Nationalist, Communist, German nationalist, Anarchist, and so on, so the World War II section settled on anti-Soviet propaganda posters.

Learning other nations' history from their point of view is awesome fun. Gives you a new view of your own, and theirs, and sort of why nations and peoples may have attitudes like they at times illustrate.  

The days and evenings here have been beautiful.