Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 August 22

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Today's featured article
The Magdalen Reading is one of three surviving fragments of a large mid-15th century oil-on-oak altarpiece by the early Netherlandish painter Rogier van der Weyden. Completed some time between 1435 and 1438, it has been in the National Gallery, London since 1860. It shows a woman with the pale skin, high cheek bones and oval eyebrows typical of the idealised portraits of noble women of the period. The woman is identifiable as the Magdalen from the jar of ointment placed in the foreground, which, according to the Gospels, she used to clean Christ's feet. The background of the painting had been overpainted with a thick layer of brown paint. A cleaning between 1955 and 1956 revealed the figure standing behind the Magdalen and the kneeling figure with bare feet protruding in front of her, with a landscape visible through a window. The original altarpiece was a sacra conversazione known only through a drawing, Virgin and Child with Saints. The panel was purchased by the National Gallery from a collector in Paris. It is described by art historian Lorne Campbell as "one of the great masterpieces of 15th-century art and among van der Weyden's most important early works." (more...) Recently featured: Red-necked Grebe – Metacomet Ridge – 766th Independent Infantry Regiment Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that Pierre-François Palloy (pictured) began the demolition of the Bastille on the same day that it was attacked? ... that the American adaptation of the BBC cooking show MasterChef was hosted by famous British restaurateur Gary Rhodes for two series? ... that sportswriter Bill Farnsworth teamed with Damon Runyon in promoting boxing bouts that raised more than $1 million for Hearst's Free Milk Fund for Babies? ... that there is little wildlife and game in Isangano National Park due to subsistence hunting practiced by those living in the park? ... that the first industrial robot, the Unimate, was installed in 1961 by General Motors at its Inland Fisher Guide Plant in Ewing Township, New Jersey? ... that the Royal Commission on Opium, set up at the instigation of anti-opium campaigners, set back the anti-opium cause by 15 years? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Jack Layton (pictured), Canadian Leader of the Opposition, dies of cancer at the age of 61. Fighting in the Libyan civil war intensifies as rebels enter Tripoli. Hamas and Israel end a de facto truce after Israel responds to attacks in southern Israel with air strikes on the Gaza Strip. Indian social activist Anna Hazare agrees to leave his jail cell after Delhi police allow a 15-day hunger strike against corruption. Astronomers announce that TrES-2b has the lowest known albedo of any planet, reflecting less than 1% of the starlight falling upon it. Google announces an agreement to acquire Motorola Mobility for US$12.5 billion. In golf, Keegan Bradley wins the 2011 PGA Championship. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
August 22 1138 – English forces repelled a Scottish army at the Battle of the Standard near Northallerton in Yorkshire. 1791 – A slave rebellion erupted in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, starting the Haitian Revolution. 1851 – The yacht America won the first America's Cup race near the Isle of Wight, England. 1864 – The Red Cross movement led by Henry Dunant (pictured) officially began when twelve European nations signed the First Geneva Convention, establishing the International Committee of the Red Cross. 1910 – Japan annexed Korea with the signing of the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty, beginning a period of Japanese rule of Korea that lasted until the end of World War II. 1944 – World War II: Wehrmacht infantry carried out an assault operation against the civilian residents of nine villages located in the Amari Valley on the Greek island of Crete. More anniversaries: August 21 – August 22 – August 23 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now August 22, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured list

Seventy-six of the longest rivers and creeks of the U.S. state of Oregon run for at least 50 miles (80 km). All of these streams originate in the United States except the longest, the Columbia, which begins in the Canadian province of British Columbia and flows 1,249 miles (2,010 km) to the sea near Astoria. The Snake River—second-longest at 1,040 miles (1,670 km)—is the only other stream of more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) to pass through Oregon; the Snake begins in Wyoming and also flows through parts of Idaho and Washington. Some of the other streams also cross the borders between Oregon and California, Nevada, Idaho, and Washington, but most flow entirely within Oregon. (more...)

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Today's featured picture

A female koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) with her joey clinging to her back. At birth the joey is hairless, blind, and earless, and only about 20 mm (0.79 in) long. It remains hidden in the pouch for about six months, feeding only on milk. During this time it will grow ears, eyes, and fur. The joey will remain with its mother for another six months or so, riding on her back, and feeding on both milk and eucalypt leaves until weaning is complete at about 12 months of age.

Photo: Benjamint444

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