Scott Macdonald
@scottmacdonald86.bsky.social
Seeking sanctuary here from the binfire formerly known as Twitter.
By the 16th century, this dubious practice was commonplace enough to attract the recurrent condemnation of Church reformers.
It could be really brazen: King James V made various of his illegitimate sons commendators in order to give them an easy income.
Anyway, the house in Melrose is pretty!
It could be really brazen: King James V made various of his illegitimate sons commendators in order to give them an easy income.
Anyway, the house in Melrose is pretty!
August 6, 2025 at 4:56 PM
By the 16th century, this dubious practice was commonplace enough to attract the recurrent condemnation of Church reformers.
It could be really brazen: King James V made various of his illegitimate sons commendators in order to give them an easy income.
Anyway, the house in Melrose is pretty!
It could be really brazen: King James V made various of his illegitimate sons commendators in order to give them an easy income.
Anyway, the house in Melrose is pretty!
I've developed a nerdy fascination for the role of commendators.
They were figures appointed by the Crown to manage (& spend) the considerable wealth & property of an abbey when its leadership fell vacant. Court favourites without any monastic or clerical nous could win these lucrative positions.
They were figures appointed by the Crown to manage (& spend) the considerable wealth & property of an abbey when its leadership fell vacant. Court favourites without any monastic or clerical nous could win these lucrative positions.
August 6, 2025 at 4:56 PM
I've developed a nerdy fascination for the role of commendators.
They were figures appointed by the Crown to manage (& spend) the considerable wealth & property of an abbey when its leadership fell vacant. Court favourites without any monastic or clerical nous could win these lucrative positions.
They were figures appointed by the Crown to manage (& spend) the considerable wealth & property of an abbey when its leadership fell vacant. Court favourites without any monastic or clerical nous could win these lucrative positions.
The gardens at Caserta made for a pleasant walk in February. The fountains had classical themes to them, though it felt for o e fountain that Nintendo had been awarded the contract to design the monstrous fish!
February 7, 2025 at 11:25 PM
The gardens at Caserta made for a pleasant walk in February. The fountains had classical themes to them, though it felt for o e fountain that Nintendo had been awarded the contract to design the monstrous fish!
The summer palace houses a curious Papal chapel.
Pope Pius IX took refuge at Caserta following his escape from Rome in 1849. In a matter of months, French forces had restored the Pope to power; until then he lived and worshipped at the palace.
The altar has a crisp elegance to it.
Pope Pius IX took refuge at Caserta following his escape from Rome in 1849. In a matter of months, French forces had restored the Pope to power; until then he lived and worshipped at the palace.
The altar has a crisp elegance to it.
February 7, 2025 at 11:25 PM
The summer palace houses a curious Papal chapel.
Pope Pius IX took refuge at Caserta following his escape from Rome in 1849. In a matter of months, French forces had restored the Pope to power; until then he lived and worshipped at the palace.
The altar has a crisp elegance to it.
Pope Pius IX took refuge at Caserta following his escape from Rome in 1849. In a matter of months, French forces had restored the Pope to power; until then he lived and worshipped at the palace.
The altar has a crisp elegance to it.
The Palatine Chapel (used for court religious ceremony, rather than for the Royal Family's private spirituality) was another ostentatiously Baroque highlight, but there is no shortage of elaborate rooms.
February 7, 2025 at 11:25 PM
The Palatine Chapel (used for court religious ceremony, rather than for the Royal Family's private spirituality) was another ostentatiously Baroque highlight, but there is no shortage of elaborate rooms.
Caserta's purpose certainly smacks of Versailles: to project the monarchy's power and prestige.
The Grand Staircase lives up to its name. The dome in the centre of the ceiling above it contained enough space to allow for an out of sight orchestra, who would play as the King ascended the stairs.
The Grand Staircase lives up to its name. The dome in the centre of the ceiling above it contained enough space to allow for an out of sight orchestra, who would play as the King ascended the stairs.
February 7, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Caserta's purpose certainly smacks of Versailles: to project the monarchy's power and prestige.
The Grand Staircase lives up to its name. The dome in the centre of the ceiling above it contained enough space to allow for an out of sight orchestra, who would play as the King ascended the stairs.
The Grand Staircase lives up to its name. The dome in the centre of the ceiling above it contained enough space to allow for an out of sight orchestra, who would play as the King ascended the stairs.
The disaster yesterday wiped out Herculaneum in 79 AD will ensure that there's always a sadness to it, but the presence of modern Ercolano right by - and also on top of - the lost city infuses it with a rather surreal sense of hope.
February 4, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The disaster yesterday wiped out Herculaneum in 79 AD will ensure that there's always a sadness to it, but the presence of modern Ercolano right by - and also on top of - the lost city infuses it with a rather surreal sense of hope.
The best bit for me was seeing the surviving mosaics and frescoes, almost two millennia after the volcanic disaster that destroyed the city. They are surprisingly vibrant.
February 4, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The best bit for me was seeing the surviving mosaics and frescoes, almost two millennia after the volcanic disaster that destroyed the city. They are surprisingly vibrant.
The disaster yesterday wiped out Herculaneum in 79 AD will ensure that there's always a sadness to it, but the presence of modern Ercolano right by - and also on top of - the lost city infuses it with a rather surreal sense of hope.
February 4, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The disaster yesterday wiped out Herculaneum in 79 AD will ensure that there's always a sadness to it, but the presence of modern Ercolano right by - and also on top of - the lost city infuses it with a rather surreal sense of hope.
The best bit for me was seeing the surviving mosaics and frescoes, almost two millennia after the volcanic disaster that destroyed the city. They are surprisingly vibrant.
February 4, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The best bit for me was seeing the surviving mosaics and frescoes, almost two millennia after the volcanic disaster that destroyed the city. They are surprisingly vibrant.
San Carlo was built by the Bourbons shortly after their seizure of the Kingdom of Naples.
To ensure that punters could observe the king's reaction to the performance - and react in kind - mirrors were fitted in the opera boxes, all allowing a view of the royal box.
#Napoli
To ensure that punters could observe the king's reaction to the performance - and react in kind - mirrors were fitted in the opera boxes, all allowing a view of the royal box.
#Napoli
February 3, 2025 at 6:15 PM
San Carlo was built by the Bourbons shortly after their seizure of the Kingdom of Naples.
To ensure that punters could observe the king's reaction to the performance - and react in kind - mirrors were fitted in the opera boxes, all allowing a view of the royal box.
#Napoli
To ensure that punters could observe the king's reaction to the performance - and react in kind - mirrors were fitted in the opera boxes, all allowing a view of the royal box.
#Napoli