The World's fair, Paris 1900

(Image source here)

Already to begin with, the poster art is incredible

And this was the entryway (source here )

Above is rare footage, courtesy of YouTube, MetalDrake channel

and below is the WONDERFUL documentary series People's Century, (uploaded by Jack black, no copyright infringement intended)

In the first half of the documentary, there is wonderful footage from the world's fair and people who remembered it talk about it (and its magical moving footpaths) the footage is enchanting! the whole of  People's century is brilliant.

(Image source here )

 the Eiffel tower and its lights display (image source here)

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Witch trials

Witch trials are a particularly fascinating historical topic. We can look back now and think how un-scientific and ridiculous this must have been, this is the great thing about history, undoubtedly there will be things in our time that we find completely normal that future generations will look back on in wonder, asking why we bothered.

Below is a scene depicted in a pamphlet from the witch trials of Trier in Germany. They ran from 1581- 1593, and were one of the biggest witch trials in all of Europe.

Over 300 people died, but many guess that as many as 1000 people perished in these paranoid trials.

(Image source here)

And below is a monument in Vardo, Norway. in 1621, 91 people were killed. This memorial was opened in 2011. 

(Image source here)

What monuments to the pass shall our descendants erect for their ancestors I wonder

I freaking love history

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EDIT: LAPHAM'S QUARTERLY (a wonderful treasure trove!) had this graphic, a brilliant way to make history fun and relevant: So you've been accused of witchcraft?! (click to enlarge)

Heavenly Bodies- Paul Koudounaris

AMAZING!

All pics Tumblr

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Napoleon crossing the Alps

The Jacques-Louis David shows a strongly idealized view of the real crossing that Napoleon and his army made across the Alps through the Great St. Bernard Pass in May 1800. 

Napoleon was known to have crossed the Alps on the back of a 'sure-footed mule'.

Pic courtesy of wiki commons

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Van Gogh sketchbooks

Pages from Van Gogh's sketchbooks taken from Pinterest

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Mont St Michel

If ever I return to France, Mont St Michel is at the top of my must see list, apart from Guedelon castle of course!

Just last week this magnificently beautiful flood happened which turned it into a temporary island, what a stunning feature.

I have since found out about an intentional medieval commune near my house, only a short drive away, I shall have to investigate it much further!

All pics from Tumblr, last one from link above

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Phases of the moon chart

from the Codex Palatinus 833 Germanicus

Pic from Tumblr

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Wheel of Fortuna

Studying a lot of Machiavelli in class (and how oft the term is misused/ misunderstood)

One thing that struck me is the idea of fortune (Fortuna) and luck

It ties in with many disciplines and a very ingrained modern day thinking that "you make your own luck". But I feel that is fundamentally at odds with the reality of what a 'bad stroke' of luck can deal us.

In our world if something 'fails' we are perceived as 'losers' (I strongly recommend the Alain de Botton documentary: Status Anxiety, it helped quell a few of my thoughts and fears) but we rarely see the system itself as the problem and blame things on providence. When things go well we see that as the system working, our hard work rewarded, but when things that we cannot possibly have anticipated eg: the death of a loved one, the effects of war on a populace, even something as everyday as bad weather and the effects it has on farmers, we perceive ourselves as losers, not having tried hard enough.

Enough of my ramblings, I really enjoyed the search and uncovering of many medieval illustrations of "the wheel of fortune". Considering the role of religion at the time, good faith was just expected. Then someone like Machiavelli comes along and espouses somewhat unpopular views.

Anyhoo, I was pondering the nature of luck and fortune, and wondering what it can really mean, particularly for world events.

We even have game shows with the same title which are a long departure from the ideas vested in the wheel of fortune, and the religiosity that comes along with it too. The idea of the wheel of fortune is strongly rooted in astrology and tarot. I just love history!

All the pictures are from Wikipedia and Pinterest.

Some are from the Codex Buranus, a great medieval manuscript.

The Hortus Deliciarum was another trove.

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The town that pretended to be mad

C.1200 in England, when King John was going to visit the nearby town of Nottinghamshire, the town of Gotham realised this would make them part of the King's Highway, which would introduce new taxes to them. At the time madness was considered contagious, so the whole town pretended to be mad to drive away the King's procession, and the new taxes too!

As learned from Terry Jones' medieval lives documentary series, episode one: The Peasant 

Pic from BBC

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Neuschwanstein castle: inside!

What I wouldn't do to be back in Europe! 

Though I missed Neuschwanstein when I was in Germany, I have always been curious as to the castles interior, as well as its magnificent exterior! What a sumptuous kitschy delight!

 It reminds me of Liberace sans bedazzler ;)

Saint George slaying the dragon detail

Wikipedia IS a scholarly resource! Poncy university rules be damned!

 What rich details, you can live and breather history here, I visit many places on Google maps, alá street view for when I haven't had the chance to see them yet! 

Imagine waking up in corridors like these, a unicorn rounding the corner wouldn't be out of place

Pics from Wikipedia and Pinterest

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There is magic in our world

And it exists in places and moments

Cesky-Krumlov

Unknown!

Fermette Marbeuf link here

Pics from National Geographic, link above and Green Renaissance

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Luisa Casati

An eccentric Italian heiress, the Luisa Casati cemented her place in dandy and eccentrics history with the otherworldly tales that are still told about her, such as keeping wax figures as permanent guests at her table and her firm friendships with many people in exile, among them many artists.

The Marchesa was famed for using live snakes to wear as jewellery and for walking around with leashed cheetahs whilst herself naked under a fur coat. Artists were captured by her, and still to this day she is cited as an inspiration for many, read more about her here

Pics from Tumblr

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