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NB! · Faith · Monarchies · Museums · People
Hat worn by Pius VII in 1814 during his captivity under Napoleon in Savona
Pius VII wore this hat in 1814 during his captivity in Savona: the pontiff was shut up in confinement for refusing to submit to Napoleon. In the end Pius not only returned to Rome, but outlived Bonaparte
NB! · Architecture · Faith · Rome
The Church of Saint Agnes and the legend of its construction on the site of a brothel
The Church of Saint Agnes, a twelve-year-old girl who was publicly stripped, tortured and consigned to a brothel. They say the church stands on the site of that very brothel, but most likely this is merely a legend
Observations · Heritage · Rome · Humour
A French guide in the Belvedere and the Napoleonic removal of treasures from Rome's palaces
In every room of the Belvedere the French guide cried: Vive la France! And why not, for nobody ever carried off so many treasures from the palaces of Rome as the French did under Napoleon
Humour
"Only I haven't had time to put my face on"
"Never mind, you really do look well."
NB! · Architecture · Faith · Art · Rome
Not all of Rome's obelisks are genuine: this 16-metre fake in Piazza Navona was raised by the family of Pope Innocent X to lend their house an air of importance
Not all of Rome's obelisks are genuine: this 16-metre fake in Piazza Navona was raised by the family of Pope Innocent X to lend their house an air of importance. Later Bernini built the Fountain of the Four Rivers here and saved the view
NB! · Archaeology · Architecture · Observations · Rome
Remains of Rome's first stone athletics stadium beneath Piazza Navona
From my window I observe the remains of the first stone athletic stadium in Rome, a building quite unique in the history of sport. Where the stadium once stood there is now a residential district, piazza Navona
NB! · Art · Monarchies · Museums · Education
Ivan Nikitin painted a portrait of Peter the Great in Florence, now in the Uffizi
Cosimo III de' Medici placed the Russian pensioner Ivan Nikitin in the academy of the painter Tommaso Redi. Here Nikitin painted a portrait of Peter I, who had sent him abroad to study; the picture is in the collection of the Uffizi
Books · Observations · Ethnography
Legend of the creation of the land by the Amur and of Kado, who shot two suns
I want you to read this ancient Nanai legend at bedtime and give it some proper thought:. “At the beginning of the world there lived three people: Shanvai, Shankoa and Shanka. One day the three people sent three swans to dive, to fetch stones and sand for the earth. The
NB! · Books · Observations
Painting of a woman and Death reminds us that decay will touch beauties too
Do you know what I meant to say? That decay will touch you too, fair ladies.
Aristocracy · Monarchies · Observations
Olga Nikolayevna's Marriage to Karl of Württemberg and the German Kinship of the Romanovs
On the question of how the Germans ruled Russia. Olga Nikolayevna, daughter of Nikolai Pavlovich, married her cousin, Crown Prince Karl of Württemberg. At the time of her betrothal she said rapturously to V. A. Zhukovsky: “May the Lord bless this step in my life and grant me the strength
NB! · Art · Observations
Wallpaper by artist Natalya Pivko with hares and winged dogs shown at a home visit
Dropped in on friends, and they are showing off wallpaper by the lovely artist Natalia Pivko. I cannot help sharing the beauty.