Monthly Archives: June 2018

Object of the Month: June 2018

This fire screen, standing 104 cm (3 ft 5 ins) tall, must in the summer have graced fireplace of a well-to-do eighteenth-century individual, probably in France. When I first noticed it, I thought it was embroidered, perhaps by a daughter … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Cambridge, France, History, Literature, Museums and Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Emperor Diverts Himself At Tennis

One tends not to think of Charles V as a jolly type. Admittedly, it would have been difficult for him to have been as gloomy as his son, and heir to the Spanish Empire, Philip II (‘horrible, and holy’ as … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Biography, History, Italy, Museums and Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Slow Venice

I’m not sure that I would choose to visit Venice in June again – though I can imagine a few compelling reasons, such as a once-in-a-generation exhibition of all the known Carpaccios in the world (she said hopefully). The main … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Botany, History, Italy, Museums and Galleries, Venice | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments