Happy 152nd birthday to (Ra-Ra-)Rasputin, born on this day in 1869. Immortalised as “Russia’s greatest love machine” by Boney M in 1978, Rasputin has been an enigma ever since he first appeared in St Petersburg and managed to find his way to the top of society and into the circles of Tsar Nicholas II and…
Born on the day in 1773, Cassandra Austen was the most beloved elder sister of Jane Austen.The affection between the two sisters, according to their relation Anne Lefroy, "passed the common love of sisters; and it had been so from childhood". They went to school together, were immersed in a clever and artistic family, and…
Construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge on this day in 1933. The entrance to San Francisco Bay received the name the “Golden Gate” in 1846 by Captain John C. Fremont. He was inspired by the “Golden Horn”, a great harbour in the Byzantine Empire. San Francisco’s population grew due to the Gold…
Welcome back to winter in art with this beautiful and serene landscape by Japanese artist Keisai Eisen (1790-1848).
Today’s winter in art post is from the collection of Telfair Museums: Brooklyn Bridge in Winter, by Childe Hassam, from 1904. Hassam was from the Boston area and spent the years 1886 to 1889 studying in Paris, where he became enamoured with French Impressionism. He joined his French colleagues in portraying modern life in his…
Continue reading ➞ Mini-Post | “Brooklyn Bridge in Winter”, Childe Hassam
On this day in 1815, the Prince Regent, the future George IV, received a specially bound copy of Jane Austen’s novel “Emma”, which had been dedicated to him. The Prince Regent was definitely not a favourite of Austen’s – she once wrote that she supported his estranged wife, Caroline of Brunswick, against him – which…
Continue reading ➞ Mini-Post | Austen, “Emma” and the Prince Regent
On this day in 1817, Jane Austen’s final two novels, “Northanger Abbey” and “Persuasion”, were first advertised for publication posthumously. They were published together, along with a Biographical Notice of the Author, written by Austen’s brother, Henry Austen. Throughout her writing career, Austen had published anonymously, so this was the first time her identity had…
Continue reading ➞ Mini-Post | “Northanger Abbey” and “Persuasion”
On Wednesday (16th December), it’s Jane Austen's 245th birthday. To commemorate, I’ve been exploring portraits of Austen at the National Portrait Gallery in London, and I have three to share! (This originally appeared on my Instagram in July, but I'm excited to share these beautiful portraits here too!) Jane Austen, by Cassandra Austen, c.1810, NPG…
Winter Landscape, c.1811, oil on canvas. (Copyright National Gallery London, NG6517). And here is one of the snowiest, most wintery scenes I could find for my December Winter in Art series. This is Winter Landscape by Caspar David Friedrich, which I think is as dramatic as it is seasonal! Friedrich was a key member of…
Continue reading ➞ Mini-Post | “Winter Landscape”, Caspar David Friedrich
Solvang - a Danish town in… Southern California?! Founded in 1911 in the Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang was founded by a group of Danish-Americans who travelled from Iowa out west, attempting to get away from the harsh Midwestern winters. They bought 9,000 acres worth of land, formerly of Rancho San Carlos de Jonata, and began…
