NB! · Geography · Maps

A map of the West Indies and North America, 1741, drawn by Henry Overton, bearing in mind that most of the continent remained unexplored at the time: it is labelled simply “unknown parts”

NB! · Archaeology · Heritage · Rome

An Ancient Roman Road in an IKEA Car Park in Rome

NB! · Art · London · Heritage · Humour

Banksy's graffiti has been scrubbed off, but the stain in the shape of a ferocious judge looks even more epic

Crystal jug with a wide cut body, tall neck, silver lid and curved silver handle against a black background.

NB! · Art

Crystal jug with silver mount, Russian work of the late 19th century

A jug of Russian workmanship, late nineteenth century. Crystal and silver

NB! · Cinema · Education · People · Humour

Hugh Grant turns 65 today; he took up acting, incidentally, after a failed attempt to obtain a doctorate in art history

Hugh Grant turns 65 today; he took up acting, incidentally, after a failed attempt to obtain a doctorate in art history. It must be admitted that humanity has lost a most artistic scholar

NB! · Art · Observations · Society Pages

At Alina Pinsky's gallery a solo exhibition of Evgeny Muzalevsky opened today, offering a fresh view of an artist who so often takes part in shows at Alina Pinsky gallery

At Alina Pinsky's gallery a solo exhibition of Evgeny Muzalevsky opened today, offering a fresh view of an artist who so often takes part in shows at Alina Pinsky gallery. I may write a report on the exhibition later, but today I want to share one interesting parallel

Detail of a painting showing the Sun as a youth with a radiant halo around his face, seated on a chariot.

NB! · Observations

Greetings for the new week and the Sun personified in a painting

Congratulations on the start of a new week in your life. For a change, try being a ray of sunshine.

Aerial view of a column of people in yellow shirts walking along a riverside road with flags and banners. A yellow banner reading “Holy Rus” is stretched in front; the river is on the right.

NB!

Procession with a yellow “Holy Rus” banner along the embankment

A woman in a dark patterned shawl sits in the snow with her head tilted back, her feet wrapped in yellow cloth. The background is in cold grey-blue tones.

NB!

Painting detail: a woman in a dark shawl seated in the snow

Old wooden shutters with carved ornament on a log wall. Green fan-shaped palm leaves fill the right foreground.

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Carved wooden shutters on a log wall with palm leaves

NB! · Art · Pop Culture · Humour

Literally any classical subject:

NB! · Archaeology · The East · Museums

Part of the great chain that guarded the approach to Constantinople from the sea

Part of the great chain that guarded the approach to Constantinople from the sea. Galata Tower Museum, Istanbul. A link just like this one, or this very one, was formerly displayed at the Archaeological Museum