Albert Weale

This very interesting, and revealing that Bolsonaro chose to use the ‘nine fingers’ insult in the TV debate. Seems to have fired Lula up and showed Bolsonaro’s arrogance.

A Girl of the Sixties, c. 1900 by Bessie MacNicol, Scottish painter #Womensart

Our next general funding application deadline is January 5, 2027 (for projects taking place from April 2027 onwards). Applications for Vaughan Williams Postgraduate Scholarships reopen in December 2026. Find out more about what we fund and the level of grants we make via our website.

Sebastian Münster (1488–1552), Warhaffte contrafehtung der Statt Bourdeaux (“True depiction of the city of Bordeaux”), from the Cosmographia, Basel, 1544. This hand-colored woodcut shows the Palais Gallien amphitheater ruin, the Château Trompette, and ships on the Garonne, with a German key beneath.

Bouillie Barousse advertising poster, France c 1920. An eagle drops copper powder over a vineyard under the slogan “La marque qui plane sur le monde viticole.” After the Bordeaux mixture proved effective against downy mildew in the 1880s, copper sprays became routine in vineyards, applied generously

Rubens’ last works included two monumental, pendant landscape views of his manor house Het Steen, oil on panel, c 1636: morning, autumn view with mackerel sky, later influenced Constable; evening ‘Rainbow landscape’ after haymaking, inspires hope. ALT ⁦‪National Gallery London | Wallace Collection

”It was the best of times; it was the worst of times...” Charles Dickens, Victorian novelist born in 1812; George Orwell noted “no English writer has written better about childhood...” Portrait by Daniel Maclise, 1839, National Portrait Gallery, London | Cartoon Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social

Formidable champion of women in medical profession: Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (1836-1917) Britain's first qualified woman physician & surgeon, co-founder & Dean of London School of Medicine for Women, first female Dean of British medical school. Portrait: John Singer Sargent 1900, NPG London

Gerrit Rietveld, Dutch designer & architect, born in Utrecht #OTD 1888, known for his distinctive Red & Blue Chair of 1917 and De Stijl design of Rietveld Schröder House of 1924 (Utrecht) Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Köln | UNESCO World Heritage

In one day, two politicians - Bolsonaro in Brazil and Vucic in Serbia - with ties to Trump have lost surprise elections thanks to high turnout. The rise of the international far-right is not inevitable.

“Feldgrau und Goldgelb” (field gray and golden yellow): a German WWI postcard by H. Heilemann, meant to lift spirits at the front and at home. A soldier and a woman bring in the grape harvest, a picture of the peaceful life soldiers hoped to return to. #winehistory #WWI

The Arnolfini Portrait, 1434, masterpiece of Northern Renaissance, oil on oak panel, by Jan van Eyck (1390-1441); richly detailed interior defined by red canopied bed, brass candelabra, convex mirror reflecting artist; oranges on chest, small dog, two pairs of slippers. National Gallery London 1/4

”I believe that everyone ought, in duty, to do any good they can.” The man who saved children: Thomas Coram, English sea captain, philanthropist & founder of London’s Foundling Hospital, world’s first incorporated charity. Portrait 1740 by William Hogarth, died #OTD 1764. Foundling Hospital ALT

Meanwhile saying nothing about Tory policy to quit ECHR which would also kick off a massive constitutional debate about Europe. It's the lamest argument.

Given what's just happened, this one should be more than timely. link.springer.com/book/9783032...

as.ft.com/r/7f1b7cb8-5... Serbia’s ex-president Vučić concedes defeat to Student List in parliamentary poll

One of Aristotle’s fallacies @henrymance.ft.com was ‘post hoc, ergo propter hoc’.

And Harston.

Blimey, I wonder WHY? Mysterious. www.ft.com/content/2770...

This is excellent!

Two postdocs at the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at UCanberra. This is a fab opportunity: a great project team and a vitally important topic. uctalent.canberra.edu.au/cw/en/job/50...

“And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche.” Geoffrey Chaucer, ‘father of English literature’, author of The Canterbury Tales, died #OTD 1400; buried at Westminster Abbey. British Library

Beached vessels and a wagon near Trouville, 1825, oil on canvas by Richard Parkes Bonington, English Romantic artist who worked in France, born #OTD 1802; known for atmospheric watercolours & oil paintings of Normandy coast; admired by Delacroix. Yale University Art Gallery, Centre for British Art

Guernica, powerful, monumental antiwar masterpiece, oil on canvas, painted in 1937 by Pablo Picasso, most influential artist of 20th Century; born #OTD 1881. Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid

Yes, but your two big ideas so far have been police and crime commissioners and Brexit. Shall we check on them first?

PM Carney sharply criticized the decision to restrict Ukraine’s satellite access: “I search for the right adjective to describe whoever took this decision or group of people took this decision against a country that is literally fighting for the lives of the citizens against naked aggression.”

Portrait of Eleanora di Toledo & her son, c. 1545, by Bronzino, leading Florentine mannerist painter (1503-1572); pupil of Pontormo, working under the patronage of Cosimo I de’ Medici, his polished style influenced development of European court portraiture. Gallerie degli Uffizi 1/3

Vigour of genius, refinement of taste: Robert Adam, pre-eminent Scottish Neoclassical architect (1728-1792) redefined English country house & influenced late 18th Century classical taste in Europe and North America. Syon House Entrance Hall | Kenwood House Library | National Portrait Gallery ALT

Piet Mondrian, Dutch abstract painter (1872-1944), co-founder of De Stijl, who sought 'the pure reflection of life'; his distinctive works composed of verticals, horizontals & primary colours influenced 20th Century design. Tate | Rijksmuseum

Today at 1pm! A Road All Paved With Stars, a symphonic synthesis of themes from RVW's A Poisoned Kiss, which was partially funded by the Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust some years ago, will be broadcast on Radio 3's ‘Classical Live’: Details here 👇

We are relieved to announce that Borthcat is now back online! Thanks to the tireless efforts of @artefactual.com (and maybe the threat of the poky sticks, who knows...) borthcat.york.ac.uk

Stop Talking' by Martha Rich, contemporary US painter and illustrator based in Philadelphia #womensart #FridayFeeling

Today we remember Ursula Vaughan Williams, who died on October 23, 2007. Ursula was a writer, poet, editor and devoted custodian of her husband's legacy. The Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust was established under the terms of her will and was merged with RVW Trust in 2022 to create the VWF.

Francesco Primaticcio (1504-1570), influential Italian Mannerist architect, painter & sculptor trained under Giulio Romano, known for complex decorative schemes at Fontainebleau (Fontainebleau school), under patronage of François I, Henri II, François II. Château de Fontainebleau ALT

The Ambassadors, by Hans Holbein the Younger, dated to Good Friday 1533 (annus horribilis). Painted in London, it portrays French envoys Jean de Dinteville & Georges Selve. Known for vanitas anamorphic skull, array of celestial & terrestrial objects & lute with broken string. National Gallery 1/2

We hope the music makers among you enjoy any opportunities that come your way to perform this week! 🎶

So inspiring and thrilling to watch and hear these young musicians. Well done #BBC4 for the production: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Great to see Leo's Homage to Jakub Segar on BBC Young Musician of the Year performed by Nirvana Che-Lai! You can stream the full episode on BBC iPlayer, and read more about the piece on the Constella publications section of our website. Thanks Nirvana! www.constella.org.uk/product-page...

Watching BBC young musician of the year last night and a reminder that within the UK cultural excellence continues to exist. A joy to witness the talent and dedication of youngsters that we can be proud of. #BBCFour

One of the last remnants of "what exactly is the point of the licence fee" clings on. BBC Young Musician of the Year on BBC Four ...

Woman with a Double Bass (1908) by Suzanne Valadon #WomensArt

Obviously it would be really childish if loads of Oxford students booked out this event and then didn't attend it. I might ping my kids to see if they have friends at Oxford who would agree with that sentiment. It's important not to be childish, even though it's a form of free speech.

We're sorry to report that our online catalogue Borthcat has also fallen foul of the PHP vulnerability and is currently unavailable. We will continue to poke it with sticks until it revives and when it does we'll let you know!

Château d’Anet, known for distinctive chapel, with diagonal coffered dome reflecting the floor, designed c.1550 by foremost French Renaissance architect Philibert de l’Orme (1514-1570), innovator, humanist, author of Le Premier Tome de l’Architecture (1567). Monument Historique, Eure-et-Loir

Prince of bibliophiles, Jean Grolier de Servières, Treasurer-General of France, humanist & scholar, died #OTD 1565; patron of Aldine press & collector of 3,000 distinctively bound volumes, with Latin supralibros - for sharing with his friends. @bodleian.ox.ac.uk | Bibliothèque Municipale de Nantes

The importance of knowing perspective: satirical engraving of perspective absurdities; by William Hogarth, innovative English painter, engraver, satirist (1697-1764).

Father of modern art: Paul Cézanne, French post-impressionist artist, died #OTD 1906; his master works in landscape, genre, still life & portraiture rejected art as imitation; his use of colour & abstraction inspired Picasso, Matisse, Klee. Courtauld Institute | Musée d’Orsay | MOMA | Musée d’Orsay

Plate, c.1928 by Grete Marks (1899-1990), ceramic artist and a Bauhaus student #womensart #BauhausWomem