emerging from months of book-finishing isolation just in time for my boy (and his boys), putting the pizzazz into the boat race since 2022

It’s the start of the Wars Of The Roses today. And the end of the 100 years war. On my podcast. Not in real life. Also - listen to the fantastic Helen Castor talk about Joan of Arc. Unbelievable! shows.acast.com/willy-willy-ha…

The most wonderful time of the week AND the year (happy birthday to me) so get your listening ears on, why don’t you?

Blimey. 🥇❤️ #proudmum

❤️ 🇬🇧 #proudmum

News in from peopleof1381 reported to Historical Assoc - Clement Paston, farmer and ancestor of more famous, higher status Pastons, was part of the attack on the abbey of St Benet's Holme Ian Dawson we thought of you! And the current abbot! Graham Usher

New episode of my podcast ‘drops’ tomorrow. Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine, with my special guest the very excellent Helen Castor who writes so well about interesting/strong women in history. Don’t miss it! shows.acast.com/willy-willy-ha…

Descubre a cuatro grandes mujeres que reinaron en un mundo dominado por los hombres y abrieron el camino para las futuras soberanas 👑

No te pierdas 'Lobas' de Helen Castor ✨

Consíguelo en: ow.ly/wEgN50OHwSg

Tiny surprise tucked away in a Register of Writs: a portrait of a lawyer (the coif gives him away). #MedievalManuscripts #Manuscripts #LegalHistory #HistoryOfLaw #Law

Now trying to deal with the conflict inside Henry IV’s government in 1411-12, which turns out to be

Henry, Henry and Thomas
v
Thomas, Thomas and Henry

*head/desk*

Recommending this to my friends (and not just because I’m in it, a bit)

The proceedings of the trial of Joan la Pucelle, known to posterity as Joan of Arc

Just one of the manuscripts digitised for our Medieval and Renaissance Women project

blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanus…

My son’s best friend from school is in this picture… so once again switching allegiance! Go Luca!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼Helen Castor

❤️ (proud mum)

The famous portrait of Federico da Montefeltro (1422-82). Ever wondered about his distinctive nose? He lost an eye and broke his nose in tournament accidents. Paranoid of assassination attempts, he had a surgeon remove a section of his nasal bridge to improve his field of view

Tomb of Sir John Harsick and his wife. He died in 1384. Unusual as his hand is not in his gauntlet - but holding the hand of his wife. Utterly lovely and a beautiful declaration of love that speaks to us across the centuries.

Fresh off the easel..

Windows 1 - oils on panel, 25cmsq

Finished with this detail study - a little everyday urban composition. Interesting to find the subtle shifts in tone within what seems, at first look, a simple image, and to give it life.
#OilPainting #UrbanArt #Windows

Ooh, almost forgot! It’s Paul Cezanne’s birthday—it’s my birthday. You can read about it here: brickmag.com/self-portrait/