Faith · Mores · People · Rome · Humour

Pope Paul II, born Pietro Barbo, his collections, nickname and death at 54

Pope Pietro Barbo wished to take the name Formosus II, from formosus, "beautiful, handsome". On the advice of older friends, however, he chose the more neutral Paul II. Long before his papacy Pietro Barbo had earned the nickname Our Lady of Mercy (Maria Pietissima) for weeping when he

Full-length portrait of a woman in a black dress with a white lace collar holding a black feather fan, in a gold frame.

NB! · Art · Humour

Feather fan in a portrait of a lady in a black dress resembles a ping-pong bat

A true lady of the ping-pong club. Just joking, it is a fan, of course

NB! · Observations · Mores · Humour

Don't Forget Your Little Drawers, It's Freezing Out There

Silk embroidery on a waistcoat pocket: two monkeys with fruit among grasses, with a floral border above them.

NB! · Art · Museums · Ethnography · Humour

Eighteenth-century men's waistcoat with embroidered monkeys gathering fruit on the pocket

An eighteenth-century man's waistcoat, with monkeys gathering fruit embroidered on the pocket. And you talk of Gucci!

NB! · Art · Observations · Humour

Rubens's Second Wife Walks a Child on a Lead

Rubens's second wife walks a child on a lead. One can see at once what a good mother she is; I would trust her with my own children

Aristocracy · Mores · People · Humour

Scottish aristocrat Jean Johnston Buchan, 80, married a fourth time in 1732, to an 18-year-old

Jean Johnston Buchan claimed that she owed her longevity to changing husbands. In 1732 the 80-year-old Scottish aristocrat married for the fourth time, her husband being an 18-year-old youth

NB! · Art · Humour

It is not what you thought, but Odysseus deceiving the Cyclops

Faith · Books · Humour

Agnellus of Ravenna wrote biographies of bishops he knew nothing about

Agnellus of Ravenna composed biographies even of those bishops about whom he had no information whatever. In his view, men set so high by the Lord could not but have been zealous in faith, virtuous and compassionate. "And I think that I have told no lie," he said.

NB! · Faith · Observations · Society · Humour

As You Can See, the Pope Was in Serious Dependence on Napoleon

As you can see, the Pope was in serious dependence on Napoleon. Not that much has changed in relations between Church and state since, mind you

NB! · Archive · Art · Books · Monarchies · Observations · Humour

The Genealogy of Henry II from the Nuremberg Chronicle: An Example of Naïve Graphic Art

The genealogy of Henry II from the Nuremberg Chronicle is an example of naïve graphic art. The generations are joined by some thick, unpleasant yellow umbilical cord, and I quite understand the fellow who is about to sever it

NB! · Art · Mores · Humour

Elaine of Corbenic, Daughter of the Fisher King, Seduces Lancelot

Elaine of Corbenic, daughter of the Fisher King, seduces Lancelot. Be careful in matters of the heart

1834 caricature “A Point of Taste”: two bishops with huge white sleeves converse near two priests in golden vestments and mitres.

NB! · Archive · Faith · Mores · Humour

Anglican bishops mock the vestments of Catholic priests at Dublin Castle

An incident at Dublin Castle: Anglican bishops in absurd attire mock the flamboyant vestments of Catholic priests. Or why there is no disputing about tastes