art
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Today is St Andrew’s Day, 30th November. St Andrew was one of Jesus’ apostles. and is also the patron saint of Scotland and other countries like Romania and Greece. His feast day celebrates him as one of Jesus’s first disciples and is marked by cultural celebrations in Scotland, whose national flag is the saltire, a…
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When a medieval craftsman was denied his wages, he turned to stone to exact his revenge in a way that would echo through centuries. Atop Freiburg Minster resides a notorious gargoyle that serves a dual purpose: not only does it effectively channel rainwater, but it also embodies a spirit of defiance. According to historical accounts,…
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Since most people were unable to read, mediaeval drinking houses/pubs used colourful pictorial signs, leading on from the ‘ale-stake,’ a vertical or horizontal pole hung outside such establishments to show that fresh ale was available. This was a continuation of a Roman practice of using ivy or vine leaves to indicate a place that sold…
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Imagine someone donating the above work of art to a charity shop, which then sells it for a mere £20. Then imagine finding out it could well have a strong connection to Robert the Bruce! This is where imagination is jettisoned, because it has really happened. You can read all about it at this link…
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by Maria Grazia Lucrezia Leotta I walked alone in the silence of my inner thoughts and touched the ancient castle’s walls. I heard the sound of my own footsteps echoing in the shadow of the Prince’s Tower. Laughs, voices, joy and grief, a child’s wooden sword, hooves on pebbles, rosemary and lily, grass and rose.…
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Joanne Larner: Please would you provide a short introduction for those who don’t know you. Andrew Jamieson: My name is Andrew Jamieson and for over 40 years I have been a fully trained and qualified painter of heraldry, calligrapher and traditional manuscript illuminator. In 2023 His Majesty the King asked me to design and paint…
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…the online edition of the Edward IV Coronation Roll (Free Library MS Lewis E201), after three years’ work. It is now fully interactive – with transcriptions, translations and annotations. They say: In the turbulent fifteenth century, rival claimants to the English throne presented their cases in elaborate genealogical rolls. One of the most colorful and…
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On Saturday afternoon we were treated to a fantastically interesting talk by Professor Caroline Wilkinson, she who had created the reconstruction of Richard’s head. It was the Isolde Wigram Memorial Lecture and she touched on the reconstruction but concentrated on the A Voice for Richard project, which she participated in. She described all the detailed…
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Many Ricardians know that there are just two churches in the world dedicated to St Alkelda, one is in Middleham and the other in Giggleswick, but very few are aware of a mysterious stained glass in the latter. The whole matter started with a parish fair. Parishioners from both churches were looking for items to…
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I’ve had the honour of reviewing and contributing to some of the Legendary Ten Seconds’ past output, and am delighted to have the chance to share my thoughts on this new album, which is entitled Ricardian Churchward. As Ian “Ricardian” Churchward’s lyrics relate in the opening track of his latest compilation, he writes and sings…