Category Archives: History

Lucca

Posted on 14/04/2017 by carolinemmurray

I never quite understood what was so great about St Martin slicing his cloak in two and giving half to a beggar: why didn’t he just hand over the whole cloak and be done with it? He was a soldier … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Exploration, Gardens, History, Museums and Galleries, Natural history | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

William Cobbett, Nurseryman

Posted on 03/04/2017 by carolinemmurray

Though the constant thread running through his adult life was radical journalism (for which he spent most of the years 1810–12 in Newgate prison), William Cobbett (1763–1835) had many careers: farmer, soldier, grammarian, language teacher, author, economist, printer, publisher, Member … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Gardens, History, Natural history, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Madonnas and Miracles

Posted on 01/04/2017 by carolinemmurray

I’ve recently had the pleasure and privilege of not one but three ‘private views’, with talks, of the new exhibition, ‘Madonnas and Miracles’, on at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, until 4 June. I’ve also popped in several times for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Art, Cambridge, History, Museums and Galleries, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Plant of the Month: March 2017

Posted on 26/03/2017 by carolinemmurray

I have to confess that I had hoped that the Persian ironwood tree, Parrotia persica, had obtained its botanical name (first applied by C.A. von Meyer in 1831) because it was observed to be a favourite perch for parrots, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Cambridge, Exploration, Gardens, History, Natural history | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

First Catch Your Unicorn

Posted on 18/03/2017 by carolinemmurray

After reading a depressing story about the number of songbirds illegally netted on the British RAF bases in Cyprus, in order to create a dish sanctified (as the hunters claim) by centuries of Cypriot ‘culture’, I was thinking back to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bibliography, History, London, Natural history, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Object of the Month: March 2017

Posted on 12/03/2017 by carolinemmurray

Would you give a home to one of these things (assuming always that you had the space)? I used to think that I wouldn’t – overblown, grotesque, quite unsuited (except in the most utilitarian terms, i.e. they have holes and … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Cambridge, History, Museums and Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Pompeiana

Posted on 02/03/2017 by carolinemmurray

The first edition of Pompeiana by Sir William Gell and J.P. Gandy was published in parts between 1817 and 1819. As is remarked in the preface: ‘Pompeii was begun upon in 1748; and it may at first excite our surprise, … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Art, Classics, History, Museums and Galleries | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Object of the Month: February 2017

Posted on 27/02/2017 by carolinemmurray

Back in my student days, I was much more interested in Greek history, culture and archaeology than I was in that of the Romans. As a consequence that I am almost too embarrassed to admit, although I now spend a … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Art, Classics, History | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

In Chancery

Posted on 20/02/2017 by carolinemmurray

Bleak House is my favourite Dickens novel. I don’t propose to defend the assertion now, but I mention it because recent rummagings in the library in which I spend my Friday mornings have brought to light a rather sad tale … Continue reading →

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

The Last Medici

Posted on 07/02/2017 by carolinemmurray

A few days ago I attended a lecture by Professor Tim Blanning on the subject of the European context of Viscount Fitzwilliam’s stupendous bequest to the University of Cambridge in 1816. Bearing in mind Fitzwilliam’s continental travels and his long … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Biography, History, Museums and Galleries | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments