John McCafferty
@jdmccafferty.bsky.social
A historian of things before 1700, especially religion, friars and the ways of everyday life.
17th century woman's stomacher, #English: silk, weft-faced plain weave; embroidered with silk and metal threads in couched, satin and outline stitches.
(Art Institute Chicago)
(Art Institute Chicago)
January 23, 2026 at 11:03 AM
17th century woman's stomacher, #English: silk, weft-faced plain weave; embroidered with silk and metal threads in couched, satin and outline stitches.
(Art Institute Chicago)
(Art Institute Chicago)
Bishop's Ring
English
13th century
gold and malachite
Inscribed: "Ave Maria, Gratia Plena"
(Walters Art Museum, MD)
English
13th century
gold and malachite
Inscribed: "Ave Maria, Gratia Plena"
(Walters Art Museum, MD)
January 23, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Bishop's Ring
English
13th century
gold and malachite
Inscribed: "Ave Maria, Gratia Plena"
(Walters Art Museum, MD)
English
13th century
gold and malachite
Inscribed: "Ave Maria, Gratia Plena"
(Walters Art Museum, MD)
The only way to read, with angels afloat above you.
The Virgin Mary Reading
Antonello da Messina c. 1460-1462
(Walters Art Museum)
The Virgin Mary Reading
Antonello da Messina c. 1460-1462
(Walters Art Museum)
January 23, 2026 at 10:57 AM
The only way to read, with angels afloat above you.
The Virgin Mary Reading
Antonello da Messina c. 1460-1462
(Walters Art Museum)
The Virgin Mary Reading
Antonello da Messina c. 1460-1462
(Walters Art Museum)
Duck Cosmetic Box Egyptian 1550-1196 BCE (New Kingdom) hippopotamus ivory, elephant ivory, bone (Walters Art Museum)
January 23, 2026 at 10:55 AM
Duck Cosmetic Box Egyptian 1550-1196 BCE (New Kingdom) hippopotamus ivory, elephant ivory, bone (Walters Art Museum)
Some people stand or sit or walk neatly, compactly, with keen spatial awareness. Others expand out heedlessly with their gait, their limbs, umbrellas, rucksacks, coffee cups.
It fascinates me.
Sometimes it seems intentional, sometimes not.
It fascinates me.
Sometimes it seems intentional, sometimes not.
January 23, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Some people stand or sit or walk neatly, compactly, with keen spatial awareness. Others expand out heedlessly with their gait, their limbs, umbrellas, rucksacks, coffee cups.
It fascinates me.
Sometimes it seems intentional, sometimes not.
It fascinates me.
Sometimes it seems intentional, sometimes not.
Swans, Granard Bridge, Royal Canal, Dublin.
January 23, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Swans, Granard Bridge, Royal Canal, Dublin.
23 Jan 1644: Charles I makes Sir Richard Lane, Earl of Strafford, Lord Lieutenant of #Ireland’s defence counsel, a serjeant-at-law in #Oxford #otd (Inverness Museum).
Would you hire a brief whose previous client was decapitated?
Would you hire a brief whose previous client was decapitated?
January 23, 2026 at 8:24 AM
23 Jan 1644: Charles I makes Sir Richard Lane, Earl of Strafford, Lord Lieutenant of #Ireland’s defence counsel, a serjeant-at-law in #Oxford #otd (Inverness Museum).
Would you hire a brief whose previous client was decapitated?
Would you hire a brief whose previous client was decapitated?
23 Jan 1656: John Nolan #Dominican from #Kilkenny released from the Inquisition prison in #Rome #otd after interrogation about his views on grace & predestination - of the Jansenistic kind (BM)
January 23, 2026 at 8:19 AM
23 Jan 1656: John Nolan #Dominican from #Kilkenny released from the Inquisition prison in #Rome #otd after interrogation about his views on grace & predestination - of the Jansenistic kind (BM)
23 Jan: feast of Macarius Scotus early 12thC #Irish #Benedictine abbot of St. James Wurzburg, his relics translated to Marienkappelle in 1615 & claimed for #Scotland (Hajjathu) Those relics saved the eyesight of the Old Pretender as a child.
January 23, 2026 at 8:16 AM
23 Jan: feast of Macarius Scotus early 12thC #Irish #Benedictine abbot of St. James Wurzburg, his relics translated to Marienkappelle in 1615 & claimed for #Scotland (Hajjathu) Those relics saved the eyesight of the Old Pretender as a child.
23 Jan 1621: William Baffin #English explorer (of subsequent Baffin Bay fame) is fatally wounded by cannon ball fired from Qeshm Island #Portuguese Castle near Hormuz #otd (AlborzFakllah)
January 23, 2026 at 8:14 AM
23 Jan 1621: William Baffin #English explorer (of subsequent Baffin Bay fame) is fatally wounded by cannon ball fired from Qeshm Island #Portuguese Castle near Hormuz #otd (AlborzFakllah)
23 Jan 1600: d. John Case #philosopher & physician #otd (SJO) his commentary on Nicomachean Ethics was one of the first publications of Oxford University Press.
January 23, 2026 at 8:10 AM
23 Jan 1600: d. John Case #philosopher & physician #otd (SJO) his commentary on Nicomachean Ethics was one of the first publications of Oxford University Press.
James II gets cancelled, Chichester cathedral
January 23, 2026 at 8:07 AM
James II gets cancelled, Chichester cathedral
Friday 23 Jan, Dublin
January 23, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Friday 23 Jan, Dublin
22 Jan 1555: John Rogers biblical editor goes on trial before Bishop Stephen Gardiner and the Privy Council #otd He was burnt at the stake at #Smithfield on 1 Feb 1555 (BM)
January 22, 2026 at 10:25 PM
22 Jan 1555: John Rogers biblical editor goes on trial before Bishop Stephen Gardiner and the Privy Council #otd He was burnt at the stake at #Smithfield on 1 Feb 1555 (BM)
Ornament (perhaps a hand-warmer or flower holder), tin-glazed earthenware, moulded in the form of a book, 1658 from #Southwark (BM)
January 22, 2026 at 10:20 PM
Ornament (perhaps a hand-warmer or flower holder), tin-glazed earthenware, moulded in the form of a book, 1658 from #Southwark (BM)
22 Jan 1555: Rowland Taylor #Protestant minister & supporter of Jane Grey is condemned to death #otd (AndrewHill)
January 22, 2026 at 10:19 PM
22 Jan 1555: Rowland Taylor #Protestant minister & supporter of Jane Grey is condemned to death #otd (AndrewHill)
Shah Jahan on Horseback", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album c. 1630 Painting by Payag Jahan, 5th Mughal Emperor, died #otd 22 Jan 1666 (Met Museum)
January 22, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Shah Jahan on Horseback", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album c. 1630 Painting by Payag Jahan, 5th Mughal Emperor, died #otd 22 Jan 1666 (Met Museum)