Category Archives: History

More Cats in Art …

Posted on 16/05/2018 by carolinemmurray

Just a quick couple of additions to the genre after a visit to the Prinsenhof in Delft. In addition to the legendary bullet holes in the wall (embedded after they had passed through the body of William the Silent (alas!) … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, History, Museums and Galleries | Tagged , , , | 4 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 Bells, the Bells …

Posted on 10/05/2018 by carolinemmurray

As the website of Save Venice, Inc. tells us: ‘Venetian noble Pietro Gradenigo (1695–1776) commissioned Giovanni Grevembroch, a Venetian artist of German descent, to record Venetian clothing, artworks, occupations, collections, buidlings and daily life through a series of watercolor drawings … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, History, Italy, Museums and Galleries, Venice | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 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

When It’s Gone, It’s Gone …

Posted on 11/04/2018 by carolinemmurray

I was slightly disconcerted to note that a small new display which opened yesterday at the Fitzwilliam Museum is available only until 22 April; and even more so that an exhibition opening at the Chelsea Physic Garden on 15 April … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Biography, Cambridge, History, Italy, Museums and Galleries | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hans Hoffmann

Posted on 05/04/2018 by carolinemmurray

One of the benign prerogatives of the University of Cambridge is that department and faculty librarians needing to de-access duplicate or redundant books are required to offer them first to the University Library, then to other department libraries. What is … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Biography, Botany, History, Museums and Galleries, Natural history | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Preferences

Posted on 01/04/2018 by carolinemmurray

Or are they prejudices? Did I not warm to Bologna because of the oppressive feel of the red stone buildings and the gloomy arcades, or because I don’t much like the paintings of the Bolognese school, or because I lost … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Biography, Botany, Gardens, History, Italy, Natural history | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Plant of the Month: March 2018

Posted on 27/03/2018 by carolinemmurray

The primroses are out in splendid fashion this year – two severe blasts of snow appear not to have cramped their style (let’s see what the third, allegedly due later this week, will do). Quintessentially plants of woodland and hedgerow, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bibliography, Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, History, London, Natural history, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Holwood Oaks

Posted on 22/03/2018 by carolinemmurray

It’s a complete truism that London used to be a relatively small place, with a great deal of naturally occurring ‘green belt’ both between the City and Westminster, and also between London and the surrounding villages, often used for market … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Biography, Botany, Gardens, History, London, Natural history, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments