【明報專訊】The banknotes of the Swiss franc are very different from those in other parts of the world. Historians, writers, composers, painters, architects, and designers are on this set of banknotes, showing how much Swiss people treasure and want to preserve their artistic culture.

◆(picture 1)

LE CORBUSIER is an influential Swiss architect who is famous for his modern architectural designs in his times. His designs are famous for being both useful and fancy.

◆(picture 2)

GIACOMETTI is one of the outstanding artists in the 20th century. His masterpiece Pointing Man, a bronze sculpture which depicts a thin man standing upright and pointing, was auctioned (拍賣) for US$141.3 million in 2015. It is the most expensive sculpture ever sold!

■Do you know?

Giacometti was a close friend of Picasso (畢卡索), another influential artist. Yet, some historians claim that they were never comfortable with each other's works, and were actually rivals.

■Gear up

Villa Savoye is a renowned villa in Paris, France designed by Le Corbusier. It has influenced a lot of subsequent architecture. There are five differences between the pictures. Can you find them? (See photo.4)

(Answers on next text)

■Glossary

influential (adj) 有影響力的

depict (v) 描繪

rival (n) 競爭對手

renowned (adj) 著名的

[Smarties' Power English 第261期]