In the decades between the end of the Habsburg-Burgundian Netherlands and the rise of the Dutch Golden Age, the Low Countries saw a generation of war, politics, and culture leave its mark. Here are some of those stories.
Need a quick momentary distraction from tonight’s US presidential debate? How about some cool lithographs? These are four sheets from a much larger collection of illustrations of historic costumes by Albert Kretschmer published in the early 1880s. The German edition…
#OTD in 1547: The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh was a key clash during the “Rough Wooing,” where England sought to force a marriage alliance with Scotland. It was the first pike-and-shot battle in the British Isles, marking a shift toward…
🗡️ This is Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma (1545-1592), who in the 1580s nearly squelched the Dutch rebellion. Son of Habsburg regent Margaret of Parma (half-sister to Philip II), Farnese used both military acumen and political savvy recover cities and…
☠️ On a summer morning in June 1568, Brussels’ Grand Place was shrouded in tense silence. The air was thick with dread as two of the most powerful noblemen in the land were marched through a wall of heavily armed…
🤔You may have seen your history-minded friends getting excited for the US-release of the movie Fireband (which is out now in the US). Here’s why. 🎬 The film, starring Alicia Vikander and Jude Law, delves into the intriguing life of…
Nestled in picturesque Belgian hills near Namur, Crupet Castle (also called Carondelet Castle, for reasons I’ll explain shortly) is one of the greatest standing examples of a fortified medieval tower – or donjon. — — 📖 History, 🎨 art, &…
Paul Delaroche (1797-1856) was a renowned French painter known for his dramatic depictions of historical events. Here we see his version of a pivotal moment from the French Wars of Religion that spanned the late 1500s. — — 📖 History,…
Consider the important characters of the Dutch Revolt. It’s quick to think of figures like Prince William of Orange, Philip II, a cartoonish villain like Cardinal Granvelle, or even Queen Elizabeth and the Earl of Leicester. But what of other,…
This is nothing else than a swag appreciation post for the costume and set design in Roland Emmerich’s 2011 film Anonymous. The plot itself is a load of conspiracy theory drivel, but I can overlook it to get my 1500s…
This piece by Giuseppe Aureli (1858-1929) is all about the mood than any attempt at historical accuracy in costuming or weaponry. And wow, it delivers on mood. 🤩 That’s why I like it so much. One of the elements of…
