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- Ganymedes
Pride month! Let’s look at Ganymedes, a most beautiful hero from Greek mythology and a major symbol of homosexual love in the visual and literal arts. - Saint Lazarus
“The Walking Dead” Today July 29 is the official celebration day of two sisters and a brother: Martha, Mary and Lazarus. They are from Bethany, a city on the West Bank close to Jerusalem. And it’s the place where Lazarus … Continue reading Saint Lazarus - Saint Christopher and Atlas
“The World On Your Shoulders” Today July 25 is the day of Saint Christopher, since the dark Middle Ages the patron saint of travellers and nowadays also the protector of motorists. He is a popular saint, but there is no … Continue reading Saint Christopher and Atlas - The Olympian Gods
This is a 101 crash course in Greek and Roman gods. In ancient Greek mythology, twelve Olympian gods and goddesses ruled over the affairs of mankind from their palace on Mount Olympus. Besides this canon of major deities, many other … Continue reading The Olympian Gods - Saint Joseph
“Carpenter from Nazareth” Today March 19th is the day dedicated to Saint Joseph. Who is he? Joseph is one of the three members of the Holy Family, together with the Virgin Mary and her child Jesus. He is a carpenter from Nazareth and a widower, who married … Continue reading Saint Joseph - March and the god Mars
March is the month named after Mars, in Roman mythology the God of War. He is also an agricultural guardian. The month March, opening the year of farming, is considered the start of the year for the Roman calendar, which had … Continue reading March and the god Mars - Gerard ter Borch (1617 – 1681) and writing letters.
Gerard ter Borch, 1617 – 1681, was a highly skilled Dutch Golden Age painter, who influenced his fellow Dutch colleagues Metsu, Dou and certainly also Vermeer. Ter Borch painted men and women, mistress and servant, soldiers and civilians, in the sanctum of guard … Continue reading Gerard ter Borch (1617 – 1681) and writing letters. - Asparagus in Art
The end of the traditional asparagus season is June 24th, which is the day of the Christian celebration of the nativity of John the Baptist. Asparagus, the “White Gold”, is nowadays available much longer, but traditionally it’s a real season-vegetable. … Continue reading Asparagus in Art - Herring in Holland
The Herring Season 2020 starts tomorrow June 12th and from that day on, the “Hollandse Nieuwe” (New Dutch Herring) can be eaten everywhere, mostly as a street-food snack with finely sliced onion and pickles. A whole herring is consumed raw and often eaten by lifting the herring by … Continue reading Herring in Holland - Thomas de Keyser (c.1596 – 1667)
Thomas de Keyser (c. 1596–1667) was a Dutch painter, stone merchant and architect. His father was the famous Amsterdam architect and sculptor, Hendrick de Keyser (1565 – 1621). Thomas was buried on this day June 7th, 1667, in the family vault in the Zuiderkerk … Continue reading Thomas de Keyser (c.1596 – 1667)
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Danube; four Capitals
Original antique engravings with views of the Danube and the capitals of four countries along the river. From “The Danube, its History, Scenery, and Topography” by William Beattie, London, 1844. Splendidly illustrated from sketches taken on the spot drawn by W.H. Bartlett; and engraved by J. Cousen, J.C. Bentley, R. Brandard and other eminent artists. … Continue reading Danube; four Capitals
Count of Hoorne
Original antique engraving with the portrait of Philip de Montmorency (1524 – 1568) also known as Count of Hoorne. He was a famous victim of the Inquisition in the Spanish Netherlands. His name and title on the object are: “Filips van Mommeranci, Graaf van Hoorne.” Around his neck he is wearing the symbol of the Order … Continue reading Count of Hoorne
VOC – Negapatnam on the Coromandel Coast
Original antique engraving with a view on the Dutch fort Vijf Sinnen (Dutch for “the five senses”) in Negapatnam, now Nagapattinam, a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu on the Coromandel Coast. Nagapattinam was settled by the Portuguese and later by the Dutch under whom it served as the capital of Dutch Coromandel … Continue reading VOC – Negapatnam on the Coromandel Coast