The artefact under examination is a lignum vitae pot with a silver repoussé lid, speculated to potentially have belonged to Mary Queen of Scots. Purchased anonymously, its provenance raises questions, as the middleman provided limited details regarding its history. The pot features significant symbolism, including motifs that may connect to the Virgin Mary and allude to Mary Stuart's life and affiliations with the prestigious Talbot family. Despite its intriguing decorations, a definitive link to Mary or later figures like Arbella Stuart remains unproven. The analysis emphasizes the importance of provenance in antique acquisitions.
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And there were shepherds in the fields …
f157verso Ms M399 the da Costa Hours (c1515); Simon Bening (1483/4 - 1561). The Morgan Library, New York. Simon Bening has chosen to depict the moment the single angel visits the shepherds as told by St Luke and St Matthew in the New Testament and has set the announcement to these humble men in a… Continue reading And there were shepherds in the fields …
Food Fit for Kings
When you sit down to your Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners you may not realise it but you are about to enjoy dishes once presented and eaten at the court of Henry VIII and his queen, Katharine of Aragon. In America, according to popular belief, the Thanksgiving Dinner celebrates the survival of the first year the… Continue reading Food Fit for Kings
Louis XIV: The Real King of Versailles. Josephine Wilkinson
A Review. If you enjoyed the TV series Versailles, then I suggest you read Josephine Wilkinson’s biography of Louis XIV: The Real King of Versailles, published in 2019. Sketch of Louis XIV c1655. Charles le Brun (1619 - 1690). In anticipation of Dr Wilkinson’s forthcoming book, The Man in the Iron Mask (US. Pegasus, 6th July… Continue reading Louis XIV: The Real King of Versailles. Josephine Wilkinson
Renaissance Watercolours : From Durer to Van Dyck. By Mark Evans. A review.
This magnificent book by Dr Evans, senior curator of paintings and water colours at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, is a must for those interested in early modern and Renaissance art. Published in July 2020, this catalogue accompanied an exhibition. Sadly, I never made it to the museum in South Kensington due to the pandemic, but having… Continue reading Renaissance Watercolours : From Durer to Van Dyck. By Mark Evans. A review.
Melanie V Taylor 