Dr John Davies

25 Oct 1647: d. Evangelista Torricelli, physicist and mathematician, student of Galileo #otd in Florence. Best known for his invention of the barometer.

Last month we were closed for a week in order to work on our collections. We posted daily progress on social media but after a couple of weeks reviewing our overall progress, we wanted to let you know what the team were able to achieve that week. buff.ly/G5R8B2B

On this day in 1942, a 7 year old Dutch Jewish girl arrived at Auschwitz with her mother and brother (5) where they were murdered after selection. Her father was placed in a work camp but escaped, went into hiding and survived. Her name was Rita Krammer Support @auschwitzmemorial.bsky.social

Wealthy Anton Fugger, sometimes referred to as the Prince of Merchants. Painted by Hans Maler zu Schwaz whose day has been today.

🧵May Sybil Leslie, born in 1887 in Woodlesford, overcame significant barriers as a woman in science. From a working-class background, she won scholarships to study at the University of Leeds, graduating with first-class honours in chemistry. She later worked with Marie Curie in

Bridgnorth diary 26/10/1866

”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

The redoubtable Mary of Hungary as a teen-ager, sporting really A+ headgeer in 1520. Painted by Hans Maler, whose day is today.

Anne of Bohemia, wearing an A+ outfit w/ super pendant hat ornament (distracting when walking!). Also fine lapdog. By Hans Maler, whose day is today.

Anne of Hungary & Bohemia, wearing a truly fine bejeweled hat (as was her wont) in 1519. By Hans Maler. It’s his day.

📢New on the blog! Eleanor Peters celebrates the Highland Folk Museum's ninetieth anniversary by exploring the history of the museum, and motivations and practices of its founder, Dr Isabel Grant 🐈‍⬛️🐐 🔗 womenshistoryscotland.org/2026/10/18/n...

Washing line, Bolton, 1937, photo by Humphrey Spender.

The bear, the stork and the lute player. missal, Bologna ca. 1389-1404. LA, The J. Paul Getty Museum, Ms. 34, fol. 172a. #medieval #MedievalArt

Picasso, having a Delacroix moment. He did love the Old Masters! And we’re loving him back today.

”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

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

On this day in 1924, a British newspaper published the Zinoviev letter. It’s a study in disinformation that led to a landslide victory for England’s Conservative Party. 🧵 #Disinformation #Political #Chicanery #History but not relegated to history #OTD

Portrait of a Lady c. 1577-1580 Attributed to El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos) (Philadelphia Museum of Art)

Great news towards the reopening of our brilliant county museum, Amgueddfa Ceredigion 🥳 @carriecanham.bsky.social www.tivysideadvertiser.co.uk/news/2666347...

Psalm 1 with initial-word including image of King David playing a harp Bodleian Library MS. Bodley Or. 621; Book of Psalms; 1226 CE–1275 CE; England; f.1v @bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Love this picture, there’s so much to see. I particularly like the lady on the right - for what she is wearing and, for what she is knitting. 🧶 #knit

Bridgnorth diary 25/10/1866

Cliffs of Donegal, north-west Ireland, photo by Hannes Becker, German landscape photographer.

It's World Kangaroo Day! I've always loved George Stubbs' bizarre and unsettling yet beautifully painted 1772 misfire The Kongouro from New Holland. He did the best he could based on "an inflated skin" and some scattered drawings:

Bridgnorth diary 23/10/1866

M ultitool death. Poncher Hours, Paris c. 1500. LA, Getty Museum, Ms. 109, fol. 156r. #medieval #MedievalArt

Bridgnorth diary 24/10/1866

Stunning painting of an old man. Just perfect -- sensitive, moving, beautiful, human. By Jan Lievens, who was born OTD in 1607.

Man Writing a Letter, 1662-65 Woman Reading a Letter, 1665 Gabriel Metsu (Two jewels from the National Gallery of Ireland #Dublin ) Metsu was buried #otd 24 Oct 1667 in the Nieuwe Kerk #Amsterdam.

🧵Extending over 2,280 feet over the town of Yarm and across the River Tees the viaduct is constructed of 43 arches most of them in red brick. It opened in 1852 carrying the then Leeds Northern Railway. The bridge cost £44,500 and was designed by Thomas Grainger and John Bourne.

It was on this day in 1861 that – for the first time – people on the U.S. East Coast could communicate almost instantly with people on the West Coast. The transcontinental telegraph line was the conduit and that line started working on October 24, 1861. 🧵 #Communication #Connected #History #OTD

More reader comments on THESE ISLES: 'This is a brilliant read folks .. much recommended.' 'A great book.' 'I have all three books and have found them interesting informative and entertaining.'

It is time for my annual defence of the humble mangel (Mangelwurzel), lost in the root veg storm that is #Turniptober from @guinevereofmason.bsky.social The photograph is from WWI and shows three young women at Manor Farm, near Garforth in Leeds. They

Born this day in 1607: Jan Lievens. Here, a self-portrait from around 1629: young, handsome, intense. Historical hottie du jour material.

The famous - and very impressive - lantern at Ely Cathedral 🤩

A most learned lady (& artist): Anna Maria van Schurman, painted in 1649 by Jan Lievens. Today is his day.

Sheela-na-gig, County Tipperary, Ireland, found at the ruins of Kiltinan Church near Fethard, County Tipperary. It was stolen in the 90s. #druidsky /|\ #pagansky #witchsky #occultsky #archaeology #goddess #Sheela-na-gig

It’s a dark and stormy night here, with weather warnings for the weekend, but I’m happy to be stuck indoors with my rather battered copy of The Fossil Woman A Life of Mary Anning and the just arrived, crisp, clean (for the time being) proofs of Mary Anning The Companion Guide, due out spring 2027.

24 October 2005. American civil rights activist Rosa Parks died (aged 92). Her refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger during the 1955 Montgomery Alabama segregated bus protest was a pivotal moment in the history of the American civil rights movement.

Raminou, c.1920 by Suzanne Valadon #womensart

Austin Spare was something of an  l'enfant terrible, revered and scorned. In 1956 he persuaded this cat burglar who dropped in one night through his skylight, to stay and have his portrait drawn.

Pippa Dyrlaga is a paper cutting artist and print maker based in England #womensart

Manchester Art Gallery, Opened in 1835. Designed by the young Charles Barry for the Manchester Institution for the Promotion of Science, Literature and the Arts founded twelve years earlier. It would remain the only Grecian building by Barry who is best known for the Palace of Westminster.

Achey and feeling sorry for herself. Mum doesn't look too worried so I think a happy ending is in sight for The Sick Child. Touching & unique painting by Gabriel Metsu, whose day is today.

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

Sing a song of England, Shuddering with cold, Doomed to slow starvation, By the gods of gold, See her famished children, Hunger-marked, and mean, Isn't that a dainty dish, To lay before the Queen? A New Nursery Rhyme,' Tom Maguire 1893 I came across this in Chris Nickson's novel Gods of Gold

By the way, if you've been enjoying our colourful illustrations you can see them in their full glory in the scrapbook of young Laura Catherine Hannam, c 1819, which has been fully digitised and can be viewed online ---> discover.york.ac.uk/collections/...

Lady at home, reading a letter from her sweetheart. But what does it say? Is he overseas, as painting on the wall suggests? Or is that seascape about the turbulence of love? By Gabriel Metsu.