As long as I love beauty I am young
Claude Monet (Richard Armitage) contemplates the Gare St-Lazare before painting it in The Impressionists, episode 2. Source: Richard Armitage Central Gallery
The folder on my computer with all of the Armitage pictures is called “Beauty.” The password to the folder is “mustardseed.” As the semester winds to a close, I have to keep looking for beauty but Mr. Armitage, watching your work is a reminder that it is there. At the end of a long day these pictures are balm for the weary soul. That you can give this to me, to us, Mr. Armitage, is a tremendous gift. Please don’t ever forget that beauty, too, can be a kind of redemption.
Me + Richard Armitage 
Gosh, he was really incandescent as Monet, wasn’t he? Forget the manky hair and the dodgy squirrel on his face. That is beauty I behold, Servetus. And I suspect it will shine through even in the guise of a stern bearded dwarf. It lives within and embraces the exterior.
We all need beauty in our lives; we hunger and thirst for it because we do need it. Sometimes it comes in unexpected places. But when it comes, what a wonderful thing it is. Thank you for this post.
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Thanks for your kind words. That was exactly what I was thirsty for when I posted this.
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Glad I could oblige. It’s a win-win situation.
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Angie, he does “stern” so well, I look forward to Thorin.
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Oh, agreed, Mary Lou. Stern, commanding, take-no-prisoners—ahhhhhh.
I just know a lot of people are still looking askance at our tall, strapping, devastatingly handsome fellow playing a rather aged, hairy dwarf, but I say, “Bring it on!” Same thing with Heinz Kruger. I always relish what RA will do with each new role.
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So true.
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I love this picture of him too. “Incandescent” is a wonderful way to describe him! I admire his beauty no matter what kind of facial hair is covering him or even if him hair is unkempt and stringy. I always hated tattoos but not on him… He always looks beautiful to me, because his beauty shines from within. I am in awe…!
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Same with me, Phylly3, he is always beautiful to me; whether thin or muscular, with or without facial hair, tresses long, medium or short, brown hair, black hair, clean-cut and dressed to impress, or dirty and disheveled–and as I remarked at another entry, never did I care for tattoos until lovely Lucas came staggering into my life out of that car boot.
That spirit, that essence within–it just always shines through no matter what the “look.” So I expect I’ll find a certain evil Nazi henchman and old hairy dwarf quite lovely, too. ( :
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Me too! Bring it on! 😛
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shines from within is exactly right.
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And I just don’t think that can be manufactured or faked or what have you, that inner light he has. What an amazing and marvelous quality. How can we not celebrate it?
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To me it’s completely bewitching. Somehow he has bewitched me! Hmmm, never thought that I would say something like that (I am a PhD, and am supposed to be level-headed and scientific). Grin….
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I am starting to think that he’s a msytic!
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The interesting thing about beauty is that our perception of it is as unique as we are. Beauty can be a balm to a weary soul, uplifting to a despairing heart, a feeling that infuses us with a warmth and glow. We have just entered into a miraculous time during which we are often wished the joy and beauty of the season. I resolve to appreciate the many varied aspects of beauty that my lovely Mr. Armitage and each of you lovely people bring to me and my life. Thank you.
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Amen, Ann Marie. Amen. *grin*
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Nice point, Ann Marie, and gets back to my earlier feeling that we need to focus on the beauty all around us as much as we can in this dingy world. Thanks for the reminder.
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Speaking of the beauty around us–
While I was home the first couple of days this week, working from my bed, my darling little calico cat was my constant companion. She is a symphony of chocolate, cream and caramel, amazingly soft for a short-haired cat, with a gentle steady purr and musical voice, big, inquisitive hazel eyes and the ability to fit so snugly against my hip.
She is a thing of beauty, my Callie, and she helped bring me comfort and peace, sweetness and humor, during the frustrating hours dealing with the pain.
I hope in her little cat mind she has some idea of just how much I love and appreciate her. Little wonder Harry loves her, too. ( :
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love the picture painted here 🙂
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I do not know how you do it, Servetus, but you always lift my spirit when I am low. Your post just did that again. Thank you for that!!!
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Thanks, CDoart — was in need of some uplifting myself on that day. Glad I could share it with you.
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I adore the Joie De Vivre that gleens out of his
eyes and I adore him with longer hair. I’m
surprised no mention of youth? (since we’re
being poetic..)This Armitaging is like a potion of youth, there is a spring in my step, a beat in my heart. And if I could *burst* out in song:
Courtesy of the amazing Delicate Blossom.
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This is gorgeous. *swoons*
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I think he is truly a man who appreciates life and celebrates all aspects of it through his characters–the joys, the sorrows, the pleasures, the pains, the ridiculous and the sublime. And thus shares it with us.
It’s ridiculous how sublime I do find him. Yes, iz4blue, Armitaging makes this 50-year-old lady feel young and hopeful and full of possibilities again. Surely that is a public service of sorts?
Love the video. DB has such lovely ones . . .
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Armitage and the Fountain of Youth …
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And the benefits of the Armitage Effect are considerably less expensive than some of those high-end youth elixirs out there on the market. And provide much more enjoyment to the user.
(Hmmm. But I am considering flying to London to see him . . . maybe not as inexpensive as I thought . . .( 😉
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it’s possible to do it fairly reasonably unless you’re going at a high volume time of year 🙂
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Such a seemingly simple post, Servetus, and yet so profound. Being able to appreciate beauty where we find it is one of the joys of human experience!
@angie, Ann Marie and everyone else, you all express this so well.
His inner beauty illuminates his outer beauty and shines through all his roles.
I say that he stirs my blood and makes my heart sing! And I have never been anything approaching a fangirl before so this is still a new and quite puzzling experience!
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For me too. Still trying to understand.
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Richard Armitage: The Gorgeous Geek, the Thinking Woman’s Sex Symbol, a Walking, Talking Fountain of Youth and the Man Who Will Transform Sane and Sober Women Into Swooning, Thudding, Squeeing Fan Gurlz . . .
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Well said, Angie 🙂 You really made me chuckle. It’s late here, and I am having some port-wine with nice cheese. And I am in Armitage-world, so I am happy!
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Cheese. Balm for the troubled heart.
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I must admit that I started Mr. Armitage adore relatively recently. I still wonder what exactly it is, what a magic that I was attracted to him so that I am having 38 years behaving like a teenager. And here I found the answer, just like said MillyMe: “His inner beauty illuminates his outer beauty and shines through all his roles,” However I admire, and also what he says in interviews. How is an incredibly humble man, full of humility, and yet he is so great man ( and actor)
Ania from Poland
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Ania,
I am 50 and I don’t think I was ever this giddy over an actor when I was a teenager, so you are in good company, my dear. It is certainly more than his outward good looks; it is his personality, his character, his lovely soul. All combine to make him something very special. And it makes me happy to be his admirer.
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Thank angieklong, now being here (at this website) will be easier for me. People surrounding me, family, friends do not understand my fascination with Mr. Armitage, so thanks:)
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You’re welcome, Ania. It’s hard when you feel you are going it alone in your appreciation for RA, so know there are many like-minded women out there who feel as you do. We hope you’ll enjoy your time here.
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we’ll do our best to provide an Armitage – family 🙂
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Welcome to the site, Ania, and thanks for the comment.
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Never liked him as Claude.
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Richard’s eyes were so luminous and beautiful as Claude. Claude was also portrayed as a joyful individual and not just a struggling artist. I enjoyed seeing Richard grin widely and laugh uproarously. I also enjoyed seeing him as a kind and faithful friend and husband.
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The first thing I noticed about him as Claude was that glorious smile. Many of his roles don’t give him many opportunities to smile and laugh. He does angst and brooding beautifully, but surely it must be nice for him as an actor not to have to go about all day “with a face like thunder.” And such for treat for us to see him looking happy.
I enjoyed him as Monet, and I think his eyes have indeed never been more luminous and, as I said, incandescent, than in that role. He seemed very “right” as an artist.
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I mentioned a while back to someone from the UK that I really like a British actor. Of course that person wanted to know who it was. When I mentioned his name, the other person came back with: ”Oh, that broody guy”. At least the person knew who I was talking about right away 🙂
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Oh, good, someone whose not caught up in the wave of euphoria 🙂
I don’t like Claude Monet much — but I think like Armitage as Claude. This has been troubling for me.
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I like John Mulligan, and he is a very bad boy. I’ll probably like Heinz Kruger and I LOVE Guy. Richard makes you feel things that surprise you about these characters.
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God yes, he’s beautiful. Always.
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In saecula saeculorum Amen. 🙂
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