I met Ian earlier this year when he presented a paper at the conference, Maritime Animals, held at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich in April. That paper was a fascinating insight into how an 18th century midshipman in His Majesty's Navy supplemented their diet with rats. In this article Ian is looking at a particular… Continue reading Guest Post: The Case of the ‘Mad Middie’ – August 1796.
This article first appeared in July on http://www.QueenAnneBoleyn.com as part of the series of articles commemorating the execution of Sir Thomas More (6th July 1535). The face of Sir Thomas More (1478-1535), faithful servant of Henry VIII first as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1525-1529, then as Lord Chancellor from 1529-1532, is known… Continue reading Sir Thomas More – how we know him & his family
In simple terms, the who is easy – Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) and George Braques (1882-1963) are credited with ‘inventing’ this style of art. When? 1907 is the first year a work in this style is exhibited. The why and what is cubism are questions that are not so easy to answer. The 19th century saw rapid… Continue reading What is Cubism, who invented it, when did they do it and why?
Below is the outline for the paper I will be presenting at the international conference titled Maritime Animals being held at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, between 25-27th April 2019. This paper will discuss just one element of my research into the visual evidence of trade with the Far East that is evident in surviving… Continue reading Hidden in Plain Sight :Visual evidence of travellers’ tales & trade in birds & other marvellous beasts
Mell. Heather, welcome. As an art historian, I am interested in the various portraits of Anna and the iconography used by the family. I remember when we both attended the 500th anniversary celebratory conference of Corpus Christi College, Oxford and you disappeared for a morning. What were you doing while I was listening to the… Continue reading An Interview with Heather Darsie: Author of Anna Duchess of Cleves, The King’s Beloved Sister.
As an art historian part of my research is into the derivation and power of images. No matter how many articles are written, a single image can say much more than written words. This week saw the departure of two senior Facebook executives. Evidently, their reason for leaving is ‘creative differences’ with FB’s founder, Mark Zukerberg. I… Continue reading Remembering personal responsibility when posting on social media
Nicholas Hilliard was England’s first English artist to become internationally famous. His self portrait (© Victoria & Albert Museum, London) is a mere 41mm in diameter (1.6 inches) and it is for these exquisitely delicate and miniature images of Elizabeth I and her court that he becomes famous. I fell in love with Hilliard’s miniatures… Continue reading Nicholas Hilliard (1547-1619) & Isaac Oliver (1565-1617): Painters to the Elizabethan and Jacobean courts
