Archive · Art · Moscow · Museums · Observations

At last, I have made it to Yury Zlotnikov's exhibition "Signal Systems" at the New Tretyakov Gallery

At last, I have made it to Yury Zlotnikov's exhibition "Signal Systems" at the New Tretyakov Gallery. It is most gratifying that Zlotnikov's personal notes are on show, explaining his method and offering a glimpse of his reflections on what a point is, for

Archive · Faith · People · Rome

The Execution of Giordano Bruno at Campo de' Fiori in 1600 in Contemporary Accounts

Before being burned, Giordano Bruno said to his judges: “You pronounce this sentence upon me with greater fear than I receive it”. These words were recorded by Count Ventimiglia, a pupil of Bruno who was present at the burning. Count Ventimiglia reports that before his death Bruno urged him to

Archive · Faith · Rome

Opera: the plural of opus, which in Latin means “work” or “labour”

In the present case we are dealing with an apostolic letter of John Paul II on the transfer of the parishes of the Diocese of Rome to the jurisdiction of the Cardinal Vicar General of Rome, whose residence stands in the Lateran Palace, which is precisely where this document was

NB! · Archive · London · Mores · Humour

A Mockery of Modern Hairstyles, Daily Mirror, 13 July 1931

NB! · Archive · Faith · London · Monarchies

John Paul II, Elizabeth II and Prince Philip

Aristocracy · Archive · Mores · People · Rome

The duels of Benito Mussolini, including the fights with Chiccotti and Count Calvi

Benito Mussolini Fencing with Swords, Rome, 23 November 1936. In all likelihood, the photograph captures a jocular, exhibition duel, attended by a great many spectators, journalists and even cameras. But Mussolini really was a duellist: at least five of his duels are known, beginning in 1915. It is generally held,

NB! · Archive · In the Press

Italian Front Pages on Russia

NB! · Archive · Architecture · Heritage

Ruins of the American Embassy in Berlin, 1957

Archive · The East · Geography · Heritage

The 390 obelisk of Theodosius the Great in Istanbul and the inscription on its pedestal

The Obelisk of Theodosius in Constantinople in 1855 and in 2024. The inscription on the pedestal, in several languages, tells the story of the obelisk raised under Theodosius the Great, Emperor of the Roman Empire, in 390: "This is a four-sided column that lay upon the ground, whose

Four bearded men in bright robes with a spear, shield and bow stand by a stone relief of figures on a throne. Sandy hills rise behind them.

NB! · Archive · The East · Monarchies · Heritage · Society

Four men in ancient Persian costumes before a relief of an enthroned figure

Sepia photograph of 1865: a woman and a girl in a hat sit before the huge stones of Stonehenge, with a man in a hat behind them.

Archaeology · Archive · Heritage · Humour

The oldest photograph of Stonehenge, taken in 1865, and the monument today

Stonehenge in 1865, in its oldest photograph. And Stonehenge today. Someone took the proverb about a time to gather stones rather too literally

Archive · Faith · Art

A reminder that the prophet Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the whale and did not lose his faith that God would save him

Illustrations from a twelfth-century Bible