Category Archives: History

Saint Pantaleimon

Posted on 04/04/2022 by carolinemmurray

We’re recently back from a week in Venice, where the weather was glorious, and we spent a lot of time in churches, not least because some seem to be open now which never, ever, were in the last twenty years … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, History, Italy, Museums and Galleries, Venice | Tagged Ruskin, San Pantalon, St Pantaleimon, Venetian churches, Venice, Veronese | 1 Comment

Déjà Vu All Over Again

Posted on 01/03/2022 by carolinemmurray

Sadly, the moment has arrived. Yesterday, I packed up my mug, my spoon and my jar of decaffeinated coffee and left my lovely workplace for the last time. This, as my devoted followers (I can dream, can’t I?), will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Cambridge, History, Museums and Galleries | Tagged Fitzwilliam Museum, retirement | 5 Comments

Brother of the More Famous Jan

Posted on 24/02/2022 by carolinemmurray

One of the treasures of the Fairhaven Bequest at the Fitzwilliam Museum is the series of twelve flower paintings, one for each month of the year, by van Huysum. Until a few days ago, I had assumed that the artist … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Bibliography, Biography, Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, History, London, Museums and Galleries, Natural history, Printing and Publishing, The Netherlands, Uncategorized | Tagged flower paintings, Jacob van Huysum, Jan Van Huysum, John Martyn, Robert Walpole, South Sea Compnay | Leave a comment

Two Graven Stones

Posted on 04/02/2022 by carolinemmurray

I had a Grand Day Out in London this week, not the least of its grandeur being my success in walking from Pimlico (where the plane trees have suffered remarkable pruning) to the Garden Museum at Lambeth, then back past … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Biography, Gardens, History, London, Museums and Galleries, Natural history | Tagged David Bingham, Garden Museum, memorials, philanthropy, St Mary's Lambeth | Leave a comment

Jane Dormer

Posted on 23/01/2022 by carolinemmurray

Back in the autumn, I had the happy experience of wandering around the Palazzo Ducale at Mantua, drooling over the Mantegnas, though rather less appreciative of the efforts of Giulio Romano. More rooms are open than the last time we … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Biography, History, Italy, Museums and Galleries | Tagged Catholic church, duke of Feria, Elizabeth I, Jane Dormer, Mary I, Philip II of Spain | 2 Comments

The Nuremberg Hesperides

Posted on 05/01/2022 by carolinemmurray

This blog was going to be called ‘The Hand of Buddha’, but, as so often, one thing led to another. The inspiration was found in the Chinese herbal garden at the Hortus in Leiden, which was in good autumnal form … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Bibliography, Biography, Botany, Gardens, History, Italy, Museums and Galleries, Natural history, Printing and Publishing, Venice | Tagged Citrus fruit, Hand of Buddha, history of gardening, J.C. Volkamer, Nuremberg | 9 Comments

Edward of Windsor

Posted on 20/11/2021 by carolinemmurray

I have written before (twice) about the tombs inside SS. Giovanni e Paolo in Venice, but on our visit a few weeks ago, Him Indoors pointed out something we had missed on many previous occasions – on the wall of … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Biography, History, Italy, Museums and Galleries, Venice | Tagged Bordesley Abbey, Edward Lord Windsor, recusancy, SS. Giovanni a Paolo, Tardebigge, Venice | 2 Comments

Dawson Turner

Posted on 29/10/2021 by carolinemmurray

I have just discovered, down the side of the metaphorical sofa, another large piece in the fascinating jigsaw of who knew whom in the Victorian artistic and scientific community. Dawson Turner (1775–18580 was a Great Yarmouth man, his father being … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Bibliography, Biography, Botany, France, History, Natural history, Printing and Publishing | Tagged botany, Brompton Cemetery, ceramics, Dawson Turner, Lewis Dillwyn, seaweed, Yarmouth | 5 Comments

Plant of the Month: September 2021

Posted on 15/09/2021 by carolinemmurray

At this time of year, the colchicums are at their best, spreading out (usually under trees) in Cambridge University Botanic Garden in an apparently effortless, though brief, display. Come to think of it, I am not sure if I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, History, Natural history | Tagged Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Catherine Wilson poisoner, Colchicum, taxonomy | 2 Comments

Titian in the Malverns

Posted on 08/09/2021 by carolinemmurray

We recently had a very few days in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and a tiny bit of Shropshire, a lovely wallow in nostalgia for me, and a bit of a revelation of the counties’ beauty for Him Indoors. (A further revelation was … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Biography, History, Italy, Museums and Galleries, Venice | Tagged Ledbury, Ronald Moore, St Katherine of Ledbury, The Last Supper, Titian | 1 Comment