Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
@kirsteenmm.bsky.social
Historian PhD FHEA FRHistS. Wars of the Three Kingdoms, 1638-1660 and the Jacobities. Book on Covenants and Cromwell out now. http://routledge.com/9781409418696
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
Fine, fierce leopard, painted by Maerten de Vos, who died on this day in 1603. With maybe a little idol-worship happening beyond his tail.
December 4, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Fine, fierce leopard, painted by Maerten de Vos, who died on this day in 1603. With maybe a little idol-worship happening beyond his tail.
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
Good morning! Gathering for the hunt in front of an inn within the ruins, because that's just how it was in 1650s Italy. Or so we are assured by Jan Miel, whose day is today.
November 29, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Good morning! Gathering for the hunt in front of an inn within the ruins, because that's just how it was in 1650s Italy. Or so we are assured by Jan Miel, whose day is today.
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
Sunlight falls through windows, adding to the geometric pattern on floor. A woman is playing music. And a man listens from the shadowed bed. Painted by Emanuel de Witte, whose day is today.
November 25, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Sunlight falls through windows, adding to the geometric pattern on floor. A woman is playing music. And a man listens from the shadowed bed. Painted by Emanuel de Witte, whose day is today.
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
Kids and dogs alike enjoy desecrating columns in Delft's Oudekerk,1652. Church graffiti was a popular children's hobby, shown by many artists; here by Emanuel de Witte, whose day is today.
November 25, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Kids and dogs alike enjoy desecrating columns in Delft's Oudekerk,1652. Church graffiti was a popular children's hobby, shown by many artists; here by Emanuel de Witte, whose day is today.
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
Maid flirts with her fellow, cat steals the dinner, housewife escapes boring party upstairs to enjoy the disorder of her own household. Great scene from 1657 by Nicolas Maes, whose day is today.
November 24, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Maid flirts with her fellow, cat steals the dinner, housewife escapes boring party upstairs to enjoy the disorder of her own household. Great scene from 1657 by Nicolas Maes, whose day is today.
The second book in the La Garde Écossaise #historicalfiction series is now underway...
November 22, 2025 at 7:51 PM
The second book in the La Garde Écossaise #historicalfiction series is now underway...
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
The Goldsmith
Rembrandt, 1655
(Yale University)
Rembrandt, 1655
(Yale University)
November 20, 2025 at 11:42 AM
The Goldsmith
Rembrandt, 1655
(Yale University)
Rembrandt, 1655
(Yale University)
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
View of Delft, 1661. Sunlight splashes through soft clouds onto weathered hardness of brick & stone. Breathtaking. Vermeer, born OTD 1632.
October 31, 2025 at 3:49 PM
View of Delft, 1661. Sunlight splashes through soft clouds onto weathered hardness of brick & stone. Breathtaking. Vermeer, born OTD 1632.
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
One of Hendrick's favorite painting venues: the Oude Kerk in Delft, here in 1670. Kids playing. Dog waiting for some action. Today is Hendrick van Vliet's day.
October 28, 2025 at 11:57 AM
One of Hendrick's favorite painting venues: the Oude Kerk in Delft, here in 1670. Kids playing. Dog waiting for some action. Today is Hendrick van Vliet's day.
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
Today's MEMOries post from the archives from team member Mohammad Hossain asks the question: could the early modern Ottomans have established a colonial empire in the Americas?
memorients.com/articles/cou...
memorients.com/articles/cou...
Could the early modern Ottomans have established a colonial empire in the Americas? | MEMOs
The question is not of whether the Ottomans knew about the Americas, but why they did not sail towards them.
memorients.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Today's MEMOries post from the archives from team member Mohammad Hossain asks the question: could the early modern Ottomans have established a colonial empire in the Americas?
memorients.com/articles/cou...
memorients.com/articles/cou...
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
Achey and feeling sorry for herself. Mum doesn't look too worried so I think a happy ending is in sight for The Sick Child. Touching & unique painting by Gabriel Metsu, whose day is today.
October 23, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Achey and feeling sorry for herself. Mum doesn't look too worried so I think a happy ending is in sight for The Sick Child. Touching & unique painting by Gabriel Metsu, whose day is today.
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
Lady at home, reading a letter from her sweetheart. But what does it say? Is he overseas, as painting on wall suggests? Or is that seascape about turbulence of love? By Gabriel Metsu.
October 23, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Lady at home, reading a letter from her sweetheart. But what does it say? Is he overseas, as painting on wall suggests? Or is that seascape about turbulence of love? By Gabriel Metsu.
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
How insanely beautiful can sunlight on a cloud be? This insanely beautiful. The Maas at Dordrecht, 1650, by Aelbert Cuyp, whose day is today
October 20, 2025 at 4:28 PM
How insanely beautiful can sunlight on a cloud be? This insanely beautiful. The Maas at Dordrecht, 1650, by Aelbert Cuyp, whose day is today
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
Born on this day in 1595, in Antwerp, my colleague Lucas van Uden. Painter of landscapes. Here, his portrait as drawn by Anthony van Dyck.
October 18, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Born on this day in 1595, in Antwerp, my colleague Lucas van Uden. Painter of landscapes. Here, his portrait as drawn by Anthony van Dyck.
NEW FEATURE ARTICLE Early Modern Public Libraries in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain and Germany (with links to virtual resources) la-garde-ecossaise-historical-fiction.beehiiv.com/p/la-garde-e...
La Garde Ecossaise Historical Fiction and Early Modern Studies Newsletter
No 17. Early Modern Public Libraries: England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain and Germany.
la-garde-ecossaise-historical-fiction.beehiiv.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:26 PM
NEW FEATURE ARTICLE Early Modern Public Libraries in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain and Germany (with links to virtual resources) la-garde-ecossaise-historical-fiction.beehiiv.com/p/la-garde-e...
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
Born on this day in 1571, in Milan, the incomparably brilliant Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. Here (more or less) by himself. Shocked at being dead.
September 29, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Born on this day in 1571, in Milan, the incomparably brilliant Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. Here (more or less) by himself. Shocked at being dead.
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
Born on this day in 1622, in Amsterdam, Karel Dujardin. Painter of landscapes, peasants, portraits... Here one of himself, looking v. handsome in his excellent shirt, in 1662.
September 27, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Born on this day in 1622, in Amsterdam, Karel Dujardin. Painter of landscapes, peasants, portraits... Here one of himself, looking v. handsome in his excellent shirt, in 1662.
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
Died (alas!) on this day in 1624, in Rotterdam, painter & printmaker Willem Buytewech. Depicted lives and amusements of the Bright Young Things of the early Dutch Golden Age. Here, a worldly group in 1620.
September 23, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Died (alas!) on this day in 1624, in Rotterdam, painter & printmaker Willem Buytewech. Depicted lives and amusements of the Bright Young Things of the early Dutch Golden Age. Here, a worldly group in 1620.
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
Making music in 1631. Man's hat seems to be miraculously hovering above the table. A miracle! By Jan Miense Molenaer of Haarlem, whose day has been today.
September 20, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Making music in 1631. Man's hat seems to be miraculously hovering above the table. A miracle! By Jan Miense Molenaer of Haarlem, whose day has been today.
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
Not just another Dutch guardroom scene: Peter, trying to sneak out, denying Christ. And the cat, bored with it all. From 1633 by Jan Miense Molenaer.
September 19, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Not just another Dutch guardroom scene: Peter, trying to sneak out, denying Christ. And the cat, bored with it all. From 1633 by Jan Miense Molenaer.
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
The cook is in the kitchen in 1620, with all his meaty ingredients, but whose cards are on the table? Really. Maybe or maybe not by Alejandro de Loarte, whose day is today.
September 18, 2025 at 8:21 PM
The cook is in the kitchen in 1620, with all his meaty ingredients, but whose cards are on the table? Really. Maybe or maybe not by Alejandro de Loarte, whose day is today.
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
Poultry seller, 1626. Fantastic work by Spanish painter Alejandro de Loarte whose day is today.
September 18, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Poultry seller, 1626. Fantastic work by Spanish painter Alejandro de Loarte whose day is today.
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
Sir Peter Lely, a dashing fellow. Born Pieter van der Faes (really) OTD in Soest in 1618. Looks a bit too full of himself but OK, he did have talent.
September 14, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Sir Peter Lely, a dashing fellow. Born Pieter van der Faes (really) OTD in Soest in 1618. Looks a bit too full of himself but OK, he did have talent.
Reposted by Dr Kirsteen M MacKenzie
Françoise van Diemen, the artist's lovely wife, painted by Godfried Schalcken in 1679. Today is his day.
September 6, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Françoise van Diemen, the artist's lovely wife, painted by Godfried Schalcken in 1679. Today is his day.