NB! · Art · Books · Mores

The girl with a squirrel is no accident in the engraving illustrating the tale from the Canterbury Tales of decrepit January and his young and faithless May, who cuckolds the old man under his very nose

Engraving of a woman in a lace and ribbon-trimmed dress holding a squirrel with a bushy tail on her arm.

NB! · Art · London · Science · Mores · Nature · Humour

The squirrel in women's portraits of early modern England and the spread of leprosy by rodents

In Early Modern England the squirrel symbolised prostitution, so this rodent in a woman's portrait augurs nothing good. Though it has recently been proved that squirrels also spread leprosy

Archive · Mores · Society · People

Suicide of Londonderry, Foreign Secretary of Great Britain, in 1822

Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh and from 1821 Marquess of Londonderry, had been British Foreign Secretary since 1812 and in 1822 was to have represented his country at the Congress of Verona, had it not been for an unfortunate incident. One of the minister's ill-wishers learned of his

A two-storey black-and-white timber-framed house with clipped topiary shrubs in front and a wooded hill behind.

NB! · Architecture · Monarchies · Mores

Queen Charlotte and the pension for the Ladies of Llangollen, who lived at Plas Newydd

The Ladies of Llangollen's house, known as Plas Newydd, drew the attention of Queen Charlotte herself to the married couple. Charmed by the story of these modern ladies, the Queen prevailed upon the King to grant them a pension

Aristocracy · Books · Mores · People

Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, who settled in Llangollen in Wales

The women met in 1768, when Sarah was 13 and Eleanor 29. Ten years later they left their native parts together, setting off on a journey through Wales and, a little later, settling in Llangollen. They turned their house into a veritable pearl of local architecture and, given their way

NB! · Aristocracy · Mores · People

Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby were for most of their lives known as the Ladies of Llangollen

Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby were for most of their lives known as the Ladies of Llangollen. The romantic friends lived together in the Welsh backwoods for 50 years; today their union would be called a same-sex marriage

Black and white engraving of a horseman in a top hat on a galloping horse, firing a pistol with his arm outstretched.

NB! · Mores · People · Humour

Ghost of an Old Woman He Tortured Is Said to Haunt Dick Turpin, Executed Horse Thief

The famous English highwayman of the 18th century, Dick Turpin, hanged for horse-stealing, is said to be haunted to this day by the ghost of an old woman whom he tortured over the gold she had hidden. Does it remind you of anyone?

A laid table with a white cloth, a porcelain plate with floral decoration, a tureen topped by a cherub, glasses, silver cutlery and salt cellars.

NB! · Art · Monarchies · Museums · Mores

Condition of the royal family's service and salt cellars as a mark of hosts' status in the 18th century

The service has survived beautifully, though the royal family used it for more than 200 years! Note the number of salt cellars: in the eighteenth century this was an important indicator of the status of those presiding at the table

Books · Observations · Mores

Bastardy in “King Lear” and Ostrovsky’s “The Snow Maiden” and in real life

Allow me to say a few words on the widespread condemnation of bastardy in culture. One recalls the play “King Lear”, which is, in essence, about bastardy. It all begins with an illegitimate son. The Earl of Gloucester has two sons: one legitimate, one illegitimate. The illegitimate son seduces Lear’

Aristocracy · Art · Monarchies · Mores · People

Lady Hertford, mistress of the Prince of Wales, in caricatures and in Reynolds's portrait

Lady Hertford was one of the best-known mistresses of the Prince of Wales, the future George IV. She was the wife of his friend, and the prince was a frequent guest at their house. It was joked that not a day passed without George calling on Lady Hertford. Although

Art · London · Monarchies · Mores · Humour

Satirical image of the Prince Regent George with a gouty sandal and a hint at Lady Hertford

In the background, Frederick, Duke of York, has gone down as well, having tripped over a stone inscribed "darling from Windsor". Georg's depiction contains several curious details, the enormous backside aside: on his right foot, for instance, one can spot a strange piece of footwear, a

NB! · Art · Monarchies · Mores · Humour

High-Life Mishaps, or the Royal Hobby Goes Awry

High-life mishaps, or the royal hobby goes awry. Look closely at this caricature, especially at the arrangement of the figures: it appears that the Prince Regent is wedged between the thighs of his mistress, Lady Hertford