On April 4th, 1888, a prostitute named Emma Elizabeth Smith was admitted to the London Hospital by the deputy keeper of her common lodging house. The keeper told the house surgeon that Emma was allegedly assaulted by three men, but…
This is Eleonora di Toledo, wife of the famous Cosimo I de’ Medici (Grand Duke of Tuscany) and her son Giovanni (Agnolo Bronzino, Eleonora of Toledo with Son Giovanni, c. 1544-5, http://library.artstor.org.prox.miracosta.edu/library/iv2.html?parent=true#). She was a member of one of the…
A smock is an undergarment that is worn between the skin and the outer garment (s) and, “over the centuries and across geographical and cultural terrain, smock, chemise, or shirt styles maintained basic similarities, while varying from excessively plain to…
The Portrait of a Lady in a Green Dress painted by Bartolomeo Veneto sometime between 1502-1531 shows the wide, high-waisted voluminous gown complete with contrasting colors and slashed sleeves which expose the blackwork embroidered chemise or smock underneath that are…
The Metropolitan Body of Works (MBW) was the primary institution of local governance for the city of London until 1889. After a series of scandals, the MBW lost its jurisdiction and was replaced by the London County Council (LCC). This…
My past three blog posts have been short biographies of the people involved in the East End census project following the Ripper murders. This week, I hope to take a more in-depth approach to their research and published results. There…
The specific beads that are often found on the beaded apron and beaded hip drape distinguish Upper Egyptian pharaohs from Lower Egyptian pharaohs. Upper Egyptian royalty typically donned the lotus flower while Lower Egyptian royalty sported the papyrus. When both…
Recent Comments