It’s Renoir’s 180th birthday tomorrow (but I have another on this day post to share too!) so here is an early post on him and my favourite of his paintings, The Umbrellas… (all those shades of blue are so wonderful!)
Mini-Posts
Mini-Post | John Keats & Fanny Brawne
Two hundred years ago today, the poet John Keats passed away in Rome.
Mini-Post | Mary W. Jackson (1921-2005)
Sixteen years ago today, Mary W. Jackson passed away. She was the first Black female engineer at NASA, and was an important advocate for women engineers, scientists and mathematicians.
Mini-Post | “Dear Jane: A Comedy of Manners”
On 14th November 1932, a play entitled “Dear Jane: A Comedy of Manners” opened at the Civic Repertory Theatre in New York. Staged by British-born Eva Le Gallienne and written by Eleanor Holmes Hinkley, it was the first dramatization of the life of Jane Austen.
Mini-Post | William John Bankes (1786-1855)
William John Bankes, by Henry Bone, after George Sanders (Saunders). Pen and Ink, 1821 (1812). Creative Commons licence, image courtesy NPG London (NPG D17608). William John Bankes was once described as “the father of all mischief” by his friend Lord Byron: the traveller, collector and draughtsman was an MP before he inherited his family estate…
Continue reading ➞ Mini-Post | William John Bankes (1786-1855)
Mini-Post | “I Want To Hold Your Hand”, the Beatles
On this day in 1964, the Beatles got their first number one hit in the US with "I Want To Hold Your Hand" - the song that kicked off Beatlemania in America. (Also one of my favourites by them!) Written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon in the basement of Jane Asher's parents' house (McCartney's…
Continue reading ➞ Mini-Post | “I Want To Hold Your Hand”, the Beatles
Mini-Post | Rasputin
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…
Mini-Post | Cassandra Austen
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…
Mini-Post | The Golden Gate Bridge
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…
Mini-Post | “Winter Landscape”, Keisei Eisen
Welcome back to winter in art with this beautiful and serene landscape by Japanese artist Keisai Eisen (1790-1848).
