That is Priceless by Steve Melcher for September 19, 2012

Mt. Etna, about to spoil the queen’s day.

It’s a white cloud, they must have elected a new pope.

“Why, you surprised me. Hello, and welcome to my little cookery show. Today, I’m cooking Neapolitan style peasants in the ashes of their own homes.”

The curtains do not match the carpet.

hat?i thought it was her hair…

Queen Caroline of Naples, unable to balance the load on her head.

Great eye. Neither does the tablecloth.

Back in 1981, 1982 or 1983, I cracked up from this new comic in the SF Chronicle. Every day I would cut them out of the newspaper. I still have them. Do you think these original Far Side clips will ever be worth anything except a chuckle? I’ll bet there are not many people who have any of these. : )

Click-to-enlarge image can be found here or at Mr. Melcher’s blog entry.Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, 1814 (click link for her Wikipedia page, for Naples link, etc.) is privately owned. A different coloration image can be found here, another one can be found here, and another one can be found here.She was Napoleon Bonaparte‘s youngest sister. The artist’s Wikipedia page and collection (many more under Subcategories at each level).Sixth of the 10 works by this artist, that have, so far, appeared in Mr. Melcher’s blog, to also appear here.P.S. I doubt Mt. Etna is visible from Naples; it’s probably Mt. Vesuvius.

WTH is that black thing above her head? The “doomsday ball” that drops if the the volcano blows?.“I don’t know where I’m a gonna go when the Volcano blow!”

Now i don’t knowI don’t knowI don’t know where i’m a gonna goWhen the volcano blow

But i don’t want to land in new york cityDon’t want to land in mexico (no no no)Don’t want to land on no three mile islandDon’t want to see my skin aglow (no no no)

Don’t want to land in commanche sky parkOr in nashville, tennessee (no no no)Don’t want to land in no san juan airportOr the yukon territory (no no no)

Don’t want to land no san diegoDon’t want to land in no buzzards bay (no no no)Don’t want to land on no ayotollahI got nothing more to say

Can you imagine the artist saying, “Just stay there don’t move.” While a volcano was erupting right outside your window?

This babe is SMOKING!!!

Le chapeau tout eroiqueBlows off in a fit of piqueTout le monde a peurQuand Napoleons soeurVoit sa portrait – et devrait volcanique!

Here is a repeat of another work by this artist.

Here is another work by this artist.