In an astonishing discovery, two exceptional paintings by the renowned Dutch artist Rembrandt were recently found in a private collection. These remarkable portraits, depicting relatives of Rembrandt himself, were completely unknown until now. The artworks, signed and dated from 1635, are expected to fetch a staggering sum of between 6.25 and 10 million dollars as they go up for auction. Let’s delve into the fascinating story behind these newly unveiled treasures.

The portraits, measuring a mere 8 inches in height, reveal the faces of an elderly husband and wife. The husband, Jan Willemsz van der Pluyn, was a prosperous plumber, while his wife was named Jaapgen Carels. Residing in the Dutch city of Leiden, they were a wealthy and well-known family during their time.

Jan and Jaapgen were related to Rembrandt through marriage, as their son, Dominicus, was married to Rembrandt’s cousin, Cornelia van Suytbroec. This familial tie established a close relationship between the two families. Rembrandt’s association with the couple is what makes these portraits all the more intriguing.

After being sold at an auction in 1824, the paintings found their way into the hands of a British family. For nearly two centuries, these masterpieces remained tucked away in their private collection, unbeknownst to the world. It wasn’t until recently that the significance of these artworks came to light.

Art experts and historians were astounded by the discovery. David Pettifer, an art consultant, expressed his amazement, stating, “What’s extraordinary is that the paintings were completely unknown. They had never appeared in any of the Rembrandt literature of the 19th or 20th century, so they were completely unknown.” This revelation adds a whole new chapter to Rembrandt’s oeuvre.

The portraits’ unique charm lies in their small size and intimate nature. They possess an air of spontaneity, revealing a close connection between the artist and the subjects. Unlike grand and formal commissioned paintings, these portraits offer a glimpse into the personal lives of Jan and Jaapgen.

For art enthusiasts eager to witness these extraordinary pieces, there is good news. The portraits will be exhibited in both New York and Amsterdam during June, offering a rare opportunity to admire them up close. Following the exhibitions, the paintings will be auctioned in July, where they are expected to fetch a substantial sum of money.

The recent discovery of two previously unknown Rembrandt portraits is nothing short of extraordinary. These small yet immensely significant artworks shed light on the artist’s personal relationships and highlight the connection between Rembrandt and the wealthy Van der Pluyn family. With their profound historical value and the intimate touch of the artist, these paintings are set to captivate art lovers and collectors alike.

Sofia Akel, a writer and cultural historian, has taken it upon herself to ensure that reading is not a privilege, but a right for everyone. Her non-profit organization, the Free Books Campaign, has given away over 6,000 books by authors of color to people who cannot afford them.

Akel’s love for books started at a young age when she would go to the library near her home to read. However, as she grew up, she realized that not everyone had the same access to books that she did. Many people couldn’t afford to buy books, and libraries in some areas did not have a wide selection of diverse authors.

This realization led Akel to form the Free Books Campaign in the UK in 2020. The non-profit organization collects books by authors of color and distributes them to people who cannot afford to buy them. The organization is funded by donations, and all the books are given away for free.

The Free Books Campaign has been a great success, having given away over 6,000 books so far. The non-profit’s website also allows people who cannot afford a particular book to email them with the name of the book they want. If the organization has the funding, they will buy the book and send it to the person for free.

Akel’s work with the Free Books Campaign has been recognized and appreciated by many people. She strongly believes that reading is a right and not a privilege and that everyone should have access to diverse authors and books.

The Free Books Campaign has also gained the attention of several organizations, and Akel has been invited to speak about her work at several events. She hopes that her organization will inspire more people to donate books and help spread the joy of reading to those who need it the most.

Amsterdam created an underwater parking garage for up to 7,000 bicycles – how cool is that? They are known for their innovative approach to urban planning and sustainable transportation, and the underwater bicycle parking garage is no exception. It was built near Amsterdam’s central railway station to meet the city’s ever-increasing demand for bicycle storage.

The underwater parking garage was created with the city’s many cyclists’ needs in mind. It’s secure and dry and also outfitted with cutting-edge security features such as cameras and electronic locks. Bike thieves will have to look somewhere else! The garage is also open 24 hours a day, allowing cyclists to get their bikes whenever they need them.

The city of Amsterdam has long prioritized sustainable transportation and reducing its carbon footprint, and this underwater parking garage is just one example of the city’s efforts to make cycling more accessible and convenient. With more than 60% of Amsterdam residents cycling as their primary mode of transportation, the need for secure and easily accessible bike storage is more important than ever.

This underwater parking garage is not only functional, but it is also an engineering marvel. The structure was built in a unique way that allowed it to be placed underwater without disrupting the local ecosystem. This was accomplished by employing an interlocking concrete block system that was filled with sand and gravel to form a stable foundation.

The underwater parking garage exemplifies Amsterdam’s commitment to sustainability and innovative urban planning. It provides secure and accessible bike storage for residents and visitors to the city, and it serves as a model for other cities around the world looking to reduce their carbon footprint and promote sustainable transportation.

Being a genuine book author, as in writing traditionally for a published piece of work, has never been an easy path towards success. For every successful author that makes it, there are probably 10,000 would-be authors that never see the light of day. That said, Chelsea Banning is not one of them. She managed to achieve the first big leap in getting her first book published.

Along with publication, authors traditionally have to help with marketing their books, which means attending book signings in person. So, Chelsea made it known she would be present at a given booksigning located in Ohio one recent weekend. At least 40 people online confirmed they would show up for support. However, even though she took that metric and both her and the bookstore owner expected a showing, only two people visited. It was the straw that broke her back mentally.

Chelsea worked tirelessly to get her book accepted, published and put in print, being the first one in her trilogy. With a concept of picking up the story of what happened after King Arthur’s death, she put in a decade and half to see the book come to fruition. The lack of anyone showing up then for the booksigning was the final insult in her mind.

So, after an embarrassing day of sitting and staring at the insides of a bookstore and basically being ignored, Chelsea closed up, apologized to the bookstore owner, and went home. Trying to sleep it off didn’t help. So, she vented on Twitter about the experience and her literary frustration. Then, the unexpected happened.

There were responses. And, more interesting, they were not just people she knows or average folks online. Instead, a slew of famous and well-known book authors threw in their opinions, some humorous, all sympathetic and some reminded Chelsea that poor book-signing attendance was normal for a book author’s life. Many of the comparisons were personal and illuminating, being in stark contrast to the fame of the authors today. The names included Margaret Atwood, Neil Gaiman, Jodie Picoult and more. In fact, Chelsea’s post response read a bit like a who’s who among modern famous authors in 2022.

The best part, however, was the fact that Chelsea’s confidence was restored. Hearing from all the big names that have come before her, she’s realizing she’s not alone. And, yes, Chelsea is definitely planning to attend another book signing, even if someone mistakes her for help and asks where they can find the bathroom.

Ramadas Kudala, a 61-year-old former GM at AP Dairy, dresses in a dhoti each day as he walks his little cows and his neighbor takes his Saint Bernard for a stroll around the roadways of Boduppal. The neighbor would tease Kundala, calling him a “cowboy,” while the livestock owner would call the dog’s dad a “saint.”

Kundala is home to a herd of Punganur cows, the shortest variety of humped cattle around the globe, which can be traced back to the Chittoor district. They’re on the brink of extinction, measuring in at just under 3 feet at their tallest (which is still shorter than a Saint Bernard). Fewer than 200 Punganur cattle are thought to still be alive today.

Kundala moved his family and his 40 Punganur cows from their original home on a 250 square-yard site in Boduppal to a more spacious ‘goshala’ in Maryala spanning two acres.

Kundala is very protective of his offspring and has given each one a name. As he takes you on a tour of the goshala, he stops at various stations to introduce you to everyone there.

“Every weekend I hang out with these Chinna who gush about Mahalakshmi.” After introducing Kamakshi, he pointed out Meenakshi and Chamundeshwari, who were also lounging around. “Here’s Gowri, by the way,” he said, “And next to her is Gowri’s son, the little Chidambareswar.”

Two younger cows dozed cozily nearby as Chidambershwar, the calf, was being licked thoroughly by his mother, the fawn gem Gowri. “Brinda is the peaceful, milky white one over there. Shambhavi is standing in front of her,” he added. The bulls, including Nishkalank, Mahakal, and Om Namah Shivaya, were given names associated with Shiva, the male spouse of Goddess Parvati.

They may be diminutive in stature, but their punch is tremendous. They can cost upward of Rs 20 lakh, while the milk is valued at roughly Rs 300 per liter.

They have a low caloric intake yet still manage to produce nourishing milk that is high in fat and has therapeutic value. About 25 years is the average lifespan for them. “There are no such things as small surprises.” While on his knees, Kundala stated this jokingly as he fed his “little ones” bananas, sprouts, and jaggery. In return, several of the animals licked his fingers.

“Free-range conditions benefit cows physiologically and psychologically. Kundala, a resident of Pulivendula in the YSR Kadapa district, remarked, “You can substantially prolong their lifespan by keeping them out of busy and congested locations.”

Kundala once approached the late Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, with an out-of-the-ordinary query while working in the management information systems unit at the AP Diary. A fellow Pulivendula native, Rajasekhar Reddy (YSR), has his sights set on some Punganur bovines.

According to rumor, the then-CM was so taken aback by this request that he exclaimed, “People are asking for deals, property, as well as a lot of other stuff. You’re looking for a cow!!”

Rajasekhar Reddy ordered his employees to transport cows from Punganur to Kundala, but the move was deemed unfeasible. The cows were handed to me a month later, and at that point, Kundala said his love for cows started. “Reddy Garu quipped, ‘What might he reckon if a CM could not even offer this man a cow?’

Kundala has such a deep and abiding affection for cows that when lawmakers and celebrities have asked to adopt one, he has gently denied it, citing the inherent unfairness of taking a mother away from her offspring.

The dairyman-turned-herder states he is in negotiations with the government of Telangana to have milk from his goshala used throughout Nithya Kainkaryams as well as “naivedyam” offerings to sections of Yadadri. That’s similar to milk from the same cow being used in Tirumala for Lord Venkateswara Swamy.