Category Archives: Biography

Aqila and Prisila

Posted on 11/10/2018 by carolinemmurray

I have mentioned before the excitement of spotting something new in the display cases at the Fitzwilliam Museum (either because of a change-around, or simply because I’d never observed it before). The other day I noticed this ceramic dish showing … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Biography, Cambridge, History, Literature, Museums and Galleries, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Small-Coals and Concerts

Posted on 30/09/2018 by carolinemmurray

Looking something up in the ODNB, it’s terrifyingly easy to get distracted. Who could resist the siren call of this entry heading: ‘Britton, Thomas (1644–1714), concert promoter, book collector, and coal merchant’? And, as you read on, the story of … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, History, Literature, London, Music, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sister of the More Famous Tycho

Posted on 10/09/2018 by carolinemmurray

When I wrote a valedictory piece in another place, before starting my Vita Nuova, I mentioned that one of the many books I might never now read was a biography of Tycho (properly Tyge Ottensen) Brahe (1546–1601), by John Louis … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Botany, History, Natural history | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Object of the Month: August 2018

Posted on 10/08/2018 by carolinemmurray

I was recently trying to find out who in Cambridge (apart from the Polar Museum) has any scrimshaw, and was most intrigued to discover – as well as, naturally, bone and ivory carvings – Jane Scrimshaw, immortalised by John Faber … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Bibliography, Biography, Cambridge, History, London, Museums and Galleries, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Plant of the Month: July 2018

Posted on 27/07/2018 by carolinemmurray

I had vaguely hoped that during my recent sojourn in Florida I might see a catalpa in (almost) its native habitat. Its usual southernmost range is further north in the state, but I had plans to visit botanic gardens, until … Continue reading →

Posted in Bibliography, Biography, Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, History, London, Natural history, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Emperor Diverts Himself At Tennis

Posted on 18/06/2018 by carolinemmurray

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

Mariana Starke

Posted on 27/05/2018 by carolinemmurray

Miss Starke (sometimes given the ‘courtesy’ title of Mrs) had the great good fortune to have relatives who needed nursing in a benign climate abroad. (Less good luck for the relatives, obviously.) As a consequence, instead of staying in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Biography, France, History, Italy, Museums and Galleries, Uncategorized, Venice | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Good Intentions of Lady Mico

Posted on 14/05/2018 by carolinemmurray

Fate, in the form of a house move, has brought the grand-daughter (and her parents, naturally) to another neck of the London woods, which I look forward to exploring on those occasions when grandmotherly duties take me down. My first … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Gardens, History, London, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

The Chelsea Physic Garden

Posted on 25/04/2018 by carolinemmurray

Well, I made it to the one-day exhibition on Philip Miller at the Chelsea Physic Garden, and it rained only at the end of our stroll around, and then not much. We were greeted at the entrance by welcoming staff, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bibliography, Biography, Botany, Gardens, History, London, Natural history, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Fool’s Gold

Posted on 19/04/2018 by carolinemmurray

The other day, I came across the name of Giambattista Angello, described as a Venetian alchemist in London. Always keen to follow the path of the legendary all-purpose cure, theriaca, around Europe, I pursued him, though I was slightly puzzled … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Exploration, History, Italy, Natural history, Printing and Publishing, Venice | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment