Category Archives: History

Ruskin Relics

Posted on 24/06/2020 by carolinemmurray

I came across a reference to this 1903 book last week, and was fortunate enough to find a copy (on Abebooks), which arrived a few days ago. It was presented by ‘Miss Hutchinson’ to Alexandra Hall in 1905. Alexandra Hall … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Bibliography, Biography, History, Italy, Literature, Museums and Galleries, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

SPAB

Posted on 29/05/2020 by carolinemmurray

Anyone with even a transient acquaintance with the life and works of William Morris will probably know that, inter multa alia, he founded the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in 1877, saying that ‘We are only the trustees … Continue reading →

Posted in History, London, Museums and Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Pliny of Switzerland

Posted on 09/05/2020 by carolinemmurray

I vaguely knew of Conrad Gessner (often spelled Gesner) as a botanist, but it wasn’t until I was tracing the taxonomy of the bluetit a few days ago that I became aware of his wide-ranging work across the fields of … Continue reading →

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Plant of the Month: April 2020

Posted on 19/04/2020 by carolinemmurray

Greifswald, now in the province of Vorpommern-Mecklenburg in Germany, is one of those coastal cities in the Baltic which have always been part of the Debatable Land of north-central Europe. It is closer to Malmö and Copenhagen than to Berlin, … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Botany, Gardens, History, Natural history, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

W.P. Milner

Posted on 31/03/2020 by carolinemmurray

Last autumn, I wanted some new/different narcissi for my pots. (Tulips were already organised via the annual terrifying over-spend at Chelsea: many thanks, Mr Blom, they are looking wonderful!) So I went off to the local garden centre, where I … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Botany, Gardens, History, Natural history, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Naturalists of the Three Counties

Posted on 23/03/2020 by carolinemmurray

It is an article of (my) faith that the ‘Three Choirs Counties’ – Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire – are the most beautiful and amazing part of England. Imagine my delight, therefore, when I discovered quite by chance all sorts of … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Botany, Gardens, History, Museums and Galleries, Natural history, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Deacon Also Paints

Posted on 18/03/2020 by carolinemmurray

The Flowers Gallery at the Fitzwilliam Museum (currently closed, alas, because of COVID-19) is one of my favourite places – I can’t get enough of the botanical paintings, the glorious jumble of blooms which you would never find (even in … Continue reading →

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

Epiphanius Evesham

Posted on 07/03/2020 by carolinemmurray

Being very definitely an on-trend kind of person, I am self-isolating at home at the moment. This is mostly because my friends and colleagues are none too keen on meeting up with my coughing, snivelling, snotty self. No, I don’t … Continue reading →

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In Ghent

Posted on 22/02/2020 by carolinemmurray

Him Indoors and I are partial to the Flemish Primitives (and indeed to the Flemish in general), so the opportunity of the current exhibition in Ghent, ‘Van Eyck: An Optical Revolution’, offering ‘the largest Jan van Eyck exhibition ever’ and … Continue reading →

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Plant of the Month: February 2020

Posted on 20/02/2020 by carolinemmurray

Looking back, I discover that I have never written a ‘Plant of the Month’ piece about clematis, which is very odd, given that they are my favourite plants and by far my worst botanical extravagance. At the present count, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Gardens, History, Natural history | Tagged , , | 5 Comments