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Alexandr Radayev
Archive · Art · Books · Science
In the historic Herzog August Library in the German town of Wolfenbüttel is kept a mysterious sixteenth-century manuscript with numerous watercolour drawings of solid geometric figures accompanied by small beasts and birds, and entirely without…
In the historic Herzog August Library in the German town of Wolfenbüttel is kept a mysterious sixteenth-century manuscript with numerous watercolour drawings of solid geometric figures accompanied by small beasts and birds, and entirely without text, save for a few inscribed words: “Geometry and perspective. Regular solids.” There are
Architecture · Faith · Observations
The stepped tower of St Mary's Church in Burgh St Peter and the crypt of Samuel Boycott
The tower of St Mary's Church in the Norfolk village of Burgh St Peter looks remarkably like a ziggurat. Its stepped form, so uncharacteristic of Georgian Gothic, is in fact connected with funerary architecture. The tower was completed in stages after a vault was built here in 1793
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Elderly man in a white suit with a kitten on a billiard table
NB! · Books · People · Nature
Mark Twain and Cats
Art · Museums · Observations · Paris
Exhibition “Degas in Black and White” at the National Library of France: 160 rarely shown works
Two in a box. My favourite drawing from the exhibition "Degas in Black and White", drawn from the collection of the Department of Prints and Photography of the National Library of France. In all, the exhibition presents 160 rarely shown works by Edgar Degas: etchings, lithographs, drawings in
NB! · Art · Pop Culture · Humour
A Meissen candelabrum of 1790 on seeing grocery prices in 2023
Books · London · Monarchies · Observations · Humour
Queen Camilla's book blog grows into a festival at Hampton Court near London
Queen Camilla's modest, not especially talented book blog has grown into a book festival of its own at Hampton Court, the English kings' country palace on the outskirts of London. It stands on the left bank of the River Thames. The festival bears the name of the
Faith · Art · Observations · Humour
Della Robbia relief of Adam and Eve, made in Florence in 1515
On first seeing Giovanni della Robbia's Adam and Eve, I was much amused to find that the serpent-tempter has, quite literally, Eve's face. This polychrome relief in glazed terracotta, illustrating the biblical parable of Adam and Eve, was made in Florence in 1515. Its details
The East · Books · Observations · Humour
Erika Fatland writes that in Uzbekistan the very first English-speaking person she met told her that Alexander the Great was an Uzbek
Erika Fatland writes that in Uzbekistan the very first English-speaking person she met told her that Alexander the Great was an Uzbek. I am immediately reminded of the tale that the Ark came to rest somewhere in the environs of the Kazakh city of Taraz, and, of course, of
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Valentin Serov at the Age of 8
Art · Monarchies · Museums · Nature
A Plant-Made Replica of Elizabeth II’s Coronation Robe Is on Show at Sandringham House
Sandringham House is displaying a replica of Elizabeth II's coronation robe made from plants. Twenty-four florists selected a variety of leaves and blooms so that they could be arranged into a robe and patterns closely resembling the royal originals. Pampas grass, a great many cereal grasses, ferns,