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Category: Picture of the Week

Picture of the Week #826

Blacksmith demonstration at Mary Arden’s Farm, Wilmcote, near Stratford-upon-Avon. Photo May 2015.

This demo reminded me of going to the various renaissance festivals we have here in Texas. I haven’t been to any of them in a while, but this is making me nostalgic for them!

Picture of the Week #824

Passport for Dr. Valentine Dale, signed by Elizabeth I on December 27, 1563. Photo April 2016.

I wanted something Elizabeth-related today since yesterday was her 491st birthday. (Note to self: prepare to go to England again in 9 years for all of the 500th birthday special exhibits that are bound to be coming…)

This was on display at the exhibit for the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death at the Harry Ransom Center on my university’s campus. From the exhibit’s info card on the letter:

“The passport provided Dr. Valentine Dale (d. 1589) safe passage to the Low Countries where he attempted to convince Margaret, duchess of Parma, to lift an embargo on English cloth. Elizabeth’s seal on the letter communicated her authority to the recipient, but also kept the contents from being read in the pre-envelope sixthteenth century.”

Picture of the Week #818

Part of the front of Hampton Court Palace. Photo May 2015.

I believe this is the section that houses the Royal School of Needlework. Somehow or another I’ve never managed to actually visit the RSN on any of my three trips to Hampton Court. Must rectify that someday!

Picture of the Week #817

Tycho Brahe’s Astronomiae instauratae progymnasmata at the Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin. Photo January 2012.

Something a little different this week, since I’m in a bit of a ‘history of astronomy’ mood right now…

I’ve posted at least one other photo from this exhibit from my university’s Harry Ransom Center that was put on during the annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Austin in 2012. It was smaller than the exhibit they did during the International Year of Astronomy in 2009, but still showcased some of their impressive collection of historical astronomy works, including a lot of the papers of the Herschel family.

One of the works on display was Tycho Brahe’s Astronomiae instauratae progymnasmata that was published in 1602, shortly after his death. This page shows some of Tycho’s observations of De Nova Stella Anni 1572, i.e. the supernova that we now commonly call “Tycho’s Supernova”. And while this obviously occurred during Tudor times (which someday will show up in that Tudor-era astronomy book I keep threatening to write) there may be another connection between this supernova and English history – it may be referenced in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. If you’re interested in learning more (and don’t want to wait for me to write about it in that Tudor-era astronomy book I keep threatening to write), see the works of Texas State University’s Profesor Emeritus Donald Olson, especially his book Celestial Sleuth. (Fun little piece of trivia – Texas State University is the alma mater of both of my mom’s parents, although WAY back when it was called Southwest Texas State Teachers College!)

Picture of the Week #814

West front of Peterborough Cathedral. Photo May 2015.

Yeah, this is basically the same as Picture of the Week #364, but I took a gazillon photos of the front of Peterborough so there are going to be a few over the years that look very similar. (If you look at the clouds and the lighting, you can tell that is isn’t *exactly* the same view!)

Picture of the Week #809

Tudor Palace of Hampton Court. Photo May 2015.

This painting from c.1660 by an unknown artist shows the Tudor-era Hampton Court. Just a few decades later, much of the Tudor palace was pulled down as part of William III’s rebuilding efforts.