Hi everyone!
Those of you who follow me on Twitter and Facebook know that I post any 17th-century-related news. As this is something I haven’t been sharing here on the website, I thought (given 2015 has just started) that I could begin doing a weekly compilation of all news, highlights, and links. Let me know what you think!
My dear mum, who visited me for Christmas and New Year, sadly had to go back home to Florida on Saturday. We had a wonderful time together, and I was very pleased to show her around Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace, the Banqueting House, and more. You can see more photos on my Instagram page.
I will be dedicating my first book with Amberley, 100 Facts About the Stuarts, to my mum! The book should be in bookstores this autumn! (I don’t know if I told you all about that – but Amberley signed me up to write two history books about the 17th-century! Eeeeeee!).
Next up, the National Gallery (London)’s “Picture of the Month” is a 17th-century work! That’s right! Here is a detail from Ruben’s ‘Peace & War’, 1629-30. Learn more by clicking the image below:
Peter Paul Rubens, ‘Peace and War’, 1629–30
The Telegraph article, French Baron Saves Crumbling Jacobean Manor From Ruin, states that: “Jean Christophe Iseux, Baron von Pfetten – a French professor and diplomat dubbed the ‘Red Baron’ for his links to the Chinese Communist government – has paid £2.5 million for Apethorpe Hall, near Oundle, Northamptonshire. The Grade I stately home was originally built in the 15th Century before being turned into a Royal palace by James I in the 17th century.”
The 6th of January marked Twelfth Night:
Elisabetta Sirani, Italian Baroque painter, was born 8 January 1638. Relatively unknown, her work, as shown below is very skilled – and I think she deserves to be known more! What say you?
Portia Wounding her Thigh
1664
Oil on canvas, 101 x 138 cm
Stephen Warren Miles and Marilyn Ross Miles Foundation, Houston, via Web Gallery of Art.
I posted the trailer to the upcoming Alan Rickman/Kate Winslet film (Set in the 17th-century!) entitled, A Little Chaos. I told people on Twitter and Facebook about this film at least a year or two ago and now we have the trailer! I’M SO EXCITED! Andre Le Notre is a main character in this, so that’s interesting in itself.
Next, Christies claims “Baroque is Back!“, naturally my response was:
I spent a rather lot on this goodly pile of books from Windsor’s Oxfam shop. Funny thing was the lady on the till laughed because apparently a man had Gift Aid donated exactly the same books that I bought. She thought it was quite a coincidence. Thanks, Mr. Donation! 🙂
My goodly haul…
This week, we saw some truly horrendous events take place, and I would like to pass on my sincere condolences to the family and friends of those who were barbarically murdered in France. This is what I posted on Facebook regarding those incidents plus a history-related anniversary: 
And last but not least, (trying to leave it on a nicer note!) I just bought this album on Amazon. I will review it when I get a chance!
A wonderful idea … I learned so much! Thank you. and wonderful news about Apethorpe Hall.
Thank you, Sarah! Yes, wonderful news about Apethorpe Hall, though English Heritage had been looking after it well in between owners. I forgot to mention that!
BRAVO! on your purchases. Especially that gem by Christopher Hill. Try for a better edition of Miltonic selections. Find the Complete Poems and Major Prose (Ed. Merritt Y. Hughes). Old, but useful. (You probably have a copy in your library.) For study purposes, The Life of John Milton (that Cromwellian supporter!), by Barbara K. Lewalski.
Thanks so much for the movie trailer! It is put on my list.
Hi! Thank you – rest assured this is not the only Milton book I own! As a matter of fact, I do have that edition you mentioned. I have this rather silly desire to amass a personal library with good (and not so good) books on the 17th-century. I have not yet read The Life of John Milton, thanks for that – I will put it on my TBR list.