fuzzysparrow

[fuzzysparrow]

Forgotten Women

Susannah-Penelope Rosse A Woman, presumed to be a self-portrait of Susannah-Penelope Rosse Susannah-Penelope Rosse (1652-1700) was an English painter famous for her portrait miniatures. She was the daughter of painter Richard Gibson (1650-90) and is best known for her portrait of Gilbert Burnet (1643-1715). Born in 1652, Rosse was the eldest child of Anne (née Sheppard; 1625-1707) and Richard…

[fuzzysparrow]

Deaf: Ferdinand Berthier

Ferdinand Berthier (1803-1886) was a French Deaf educator, intellectual, and political advocate in 19th-century France. He was one of the world’s first advocates for Deaf identity and culture. Born on 30th September 1803 in Louhans, Saône-et-Loire, France, Ferdinand Berthier joined the Institut National de Jeunes Sourds de Paris (National Institute for Deaf Youth of Paris) in 1811, then led by…

[fuzzysparrow]

A Grace for beauty, and a Muse for wit

Anne Killigrew, self-portrait, Berkeley Castle Described by contemporaries as “A Grace for beauty, and a Muse for wit, Anne Killigrew (1660-1685) was an English poet and painter involved in literary and court circles. Her poems were distributed in manuscript form and published posthumously in 1686 after she died of smallpox at age 25. John Dryden (1631-1700) eulogised Killigrew in his poem To…

[fuzzysparrow]

Age of Elegance

The Edwardians: Age of Elegance at the King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, demonstrates the artistic tastes and collections of two generations of the British royal family: King Edward VII (1841-1910) and King George V (1865-1936). Covering the years 1863 to 1920, the items on display are acquisitions that sat within the settings of their private residences and the formal court, often documenting…

[fuzzysparrow]

A View of Mexico

José María Velasco (1840-1912), Mexico’s leading landscape painter in the late 19th century, focused on the Valley of Mexico, the volcanic region surrounding Mexico City. He aimed to capture its beauty and connection to history, nature, and industry. José María Velasco: A View of Mexico is the first major exhibition of Velasco’s work in the United Kingdom and the first at the National Gallery…

[fuzzysparrow]

Cartier

Until 16th November 2025, the Victoria and Albert Museum is hosting a significant Cartier exhibition featuring over 350 items, including jewellery, gemstones, and iconic timepieces that illustrate the development of Cartier’s design and craftsmanship since the early 20th century. With brothers Louis (1875-1942), Pierre (1878-1964), and Jacques (1884-1942) joining their father Alfred Cartier…

[fuzzysparrow]

Two Brazilian Artists

Roberto Burle Marx (1909-94) was a renowned Brazilian landscape architect, painter, printmaker, ecologist, naturalist, artist, and musician. He gained fame for his park and garden designs and for bringing modernist landscape architecture to Brazil. Anita Catarina Malfatti (1889-1964) was a Brazilian artist who played a key role in introducing European and American Modernist art to Brazil. Her…

[fuzzysparrow]

Simeon's Mayfair Mission

I spy, with my little eye, somewhere beginning with ‘M’. Yes, it’s Mayfair, an area full of spies! Ann Onymous, a local inhabitant, has worked at GCHQ for many years, but she disappeared following comments on Flutter about her flash cars and regular holidays to redacted locations. Rumours were not helped by the fact, as some bright spark pointed out, that even her name makes her sound like a…

[fuzzysparrow]

Forgotten Artists: Joan Carlile

Joan Carlile (c. 1606-79) was an English portrait painter and one of the first British women to paint professionally. Before her, most professional female painters in Britain were born in other parts of Europe, such as the Low Countries. Carlile, born Joan Palmer, was the daughter of William Palmer, an official in the Royal Parks, and his wife, Mary. She started her art career by copying works…

[fuzzysparrow]

The Father of American Literature

Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910), better known as Mark Twain, was a famous American writer celebrated as one of the greatest humorists in US history. Author William Faulkner (1897-1962) called him “the father of American literature,” and his most famous works include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884). Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)…

[fuzzysparrow]

Artemisia Gentileschi

Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-c.1656) was an Italian Baroque painter and one of the most accomplished artists of the 17th century. She began producing professional work by age 15, despite the limited opportunities for women in art. She also became the first woman to join the Accademia di Arte del Disegno in Florence. Her paintings typically feature women from myths, allegories, and the…

[fuzzysparrow]

Brasil! Brasil! Lasar Segall!

The Royal Academy of Arts is displaying works of art by ten Brazilian artists from the 20th century in the exhibition Brasil! Brasil! The Birth of Modernism until 21 April 2025. Amongst these artists is Lasar Segall (1891-1957), a painter, engraver, and sculptor from Lithuania who later lived in Brazil. His artwork was influenced by impressionism, expressionism, and modernism, often highlighting…

[fuzzysparrow]

She-Wolf of France

Isabella of France (c. 1295-1358), commonly referred to as the She-Wolf of France, was the Queen of England through her marriage to King Edward II (1284-1327). She was involved in overthrowing her husband and is often portrayed in literature and theatre as a captivating yet ruthless and cunning “femme fatale.” Isabella, born in Paris, was the daughter of King Philip IV of France (1268-1314) and…

[fuzzysparrow]

Siena: The Rise of Painting

In the early 14th century in central Italy, artists like Duccio and Simone Martini, amongst others, began to redefine painting. Their work introduced emotions and vibrant narratives. Featuring over a hundred exhibits from artisans in Siena, Italy, the current exhibition, Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300-1350, at the National Gallery presents some of Europe’s earliest and most significant…

[fuzzysparrow]

Christine de Pizan: First Woman of Letters

Christine de Pizan (born Cristina da Pizzano; 1364-1430) was an Italian-born writer who resided in France. She became a court writer for King Charles VI (1368-1422) and various French nobles, such as Louis I of Orleans (1372-1407) and Philip the Bold of Burgundy (1342-1404). Christine is recognised for contributing to some of the earliest feminist literature through her novels, poetry, and…

[fuzzysparrow]

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens (1812-70) was a prolific English novelist, journalist, short story writer, and social critic. He created some of literature’s most famous characters and is considered one of the greatest Victorian novelists. His works were very popular during his lifetime and have remained widely read today. Dickens was born on 7th February 1812 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, the second of eight…

[fuzzysparrow]

Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc, or Jeanne d’Arc, a patron saint of France, is famed for her execution and role during the siege of Orléans. At roughly seventeen years old, she approached Charles VII (1403-61), claiming that visions from archangel Michael, Saint Margaret, and Saint Catherine inspired her to assist him in his struggle against the English. In 1429, Charles sent her to the siege of Orléans, where her…