Mark Shepheard
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shepm.bsky.social
Mark Shepheard
@shepm.bsky.social
Art historian working on musicians, artists & portraiture: mainly Italian & 17-18C. Producer of the Early Music Experience for 3MBS Melbourne: https://omny.fm/shows/the-early-music-experience/playlists/podcast
"From time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need." Acts 34-35
November 28, 2025 at 10:32 PM
"Che gelida manina...!"
The mayor of Pesaro has apologised after a statue of the legendary Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti was “caged in” by an ice rink. The mayor added that his call for skaters to ‘high-five’ the statue was an attempt to play down the controversy.
Italian mayor sorry after city installs ice rink around statue of Pavarotti
Tenor's widow angry as Pesaro mayor urges skaters to 'high-five' Pavarotti statue. The mayor of the Italian city of Pesaro has apologised after a statue of the legendary operatic tenor Luciano Pavarot...
www.wantedinrome.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:17 PM
The art historian's burden: making a trip to campus just to collect one book that's too heavy to carry except by itself...
November 19, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Hilda Rix Nicholas, 'Figures on a Moroccan street', c. 1912. Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney.
November 18, 2025 at 10:15 AM
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and God was a chatbot...
www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08...
Dressed in a hooded brown-and-white robe, 'Chatbot Jesus' is here
Jesus has been portrayed in many different ways, but no one has called Jesus an internet guru — that is, until now, writes Joseph L. Kimmel.
www.abc.net.au
November 15, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Wish me luck....
October 25, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Charles Conder, 'Departure of the Orient, Circular Quay', 1888.

Mark Shepheard, 'Departure of the Crown Princess, Circular Quay'. 2025
October 24, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Reposted by Mark Shepheard
Today's marginal #musicians are playing the #lute and singing from partbooks.
Detail from Cipriano de Rore's Da pacem Domine, in a lavish #choirbook from 1559.
BSB Mus. ms. B(1.
#earlymusic #marginaliamonday #manuscriptmonday #earlymodern #16thCentury #illuminatedmanuscript
October 13, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Enfin achevé...
September 17, 2025 at 5:23 AM
"To Mandelson": to take on a role and then be fired from that role due to egregious behaviour
September 11, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Knives out at ANU. New leadership by the end of the teaching break, I wonder...
September 5, 2025 at 11:00 AM
'Cézanne to Giacometti' at the NGA, Canberra. Bit of a curate's egg, as exhibitions go, but I did like this 'Still Life with a Pipe' by Braque.
August 2, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Lisbet's pilates game is A+
July 7, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Called it...
July 4, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Chopin's private response in 1831 to Friedrich Wieck's gushing and OTT review of Chopin's "Variations on 'Là ci darem la mano', Op. 2.
July 4, 2025 at 4:31 AM
I'd avoid any upper-storey windows at ANU once the Chancellor gets back
June 30, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Reposting (slightly belatedly) this delightful cartoon for the 161st anniversary of Richard Strauss' birth on June 11 1864
A Beginner's Guide to Drawing Richard Strauss:

"First, a pear ... Then the brows ... Curly hair - Richard Strauss"
June 11, 2025 at 11:00 PM
He turned down offer of the Order of the Garter saying that 'unlike a garter, I don't hold a hose, mate'
www.crikey.com.au/2025/06/06/s...
Scott Morrison is getting Australia's highest honour despite a laundry list of scandals and embarrassments
Media have been circulated a list of every Australian set to get a King’s Birthday honour. Scott Morrison — whose legacy includes robodebt, multiple ministries and habitual lying — is the latest polit...
www.crikey.com.au
June 6, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Reposted by Mark Shepheard
May 12, 2025 at 7:55 AM
$3 million in consultancy fees at 'Their ANU', misleading the senate and potentially manufacturing a financial crisis that doesn't exist. This week's Saturday Paper.
May 10, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Could it be "God has given us the papacy; let us enjoy it"? Asking on behalf of Leo X

www.bbc.com/news/article...
Pope Leo XIV: What is behind the name Robert Prevost has chosen?
Due to a longstanding tradition, newly-elected popes are asked to change their names.
www.bbc.com
May 9, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Your Pope name is the last thing you ate and number of letters in your first name:

Martini IV

(And in choosing drink rather than food I inadvertently start a schism...)
Your Pope name is the last thing you ate and number of letters in your first name:

Pope Tiramisu IX
Your Pope name is the last thing you ate and number of letters in your first name:

Pope Snickerdoodle VI
May 9, 2025 at 9:01 AM
'The election of Maffeo Barberini as Pope Urban VIII in 1623': Fabio Cristofani's cartoon and Maria Maddalena della Riviera's tapestry from the 'Life of Urban VIII' series of tapestries made in the Barberini workshop in 1667.
May 8, 2025 at 5:07 AM