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chriswoodyard.bsky.social
Chris Woodyard
@chriswoodyard.bsky.social
1.9K followers 210 following 1.6K posts
Author A is for Arsenic: An ABC of Victorian Death, The Victorian Book of the Dead, 10 books on ghosts in Ohio and elsewhere. Death, mourning, costume, ghosts, Forteana. Podcast: Boggart and Banshee https://thevictorianbookofthedead.wordpress.com: Blog
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chriswoodyard.bsky.social
Chris Woodyard @chriswoodyard.bsky.social · 17d
It's been 50 glorious episodes of nattering and squabbling and dramatic readings about all forms of the supernatural. Chris and Simon answer readers' questions about how they met, their favorite episodes, personal supernatural encounters, and why Simon hates Gef.
www.buzzsprout.com/1859647/epis...
Chicken-headed monster with wings and claws chases a child, covering its face with its hands, down the hall.
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
landisblair.bsky.social
New prints! ▪️ These prints are 20% off through the end of the month, along with everything else on my site, including original drawings and custom pet portraits. www.etsy.com/shop/LandisB...
November 18, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
bookcat.bsky.social
Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.

~William Shakespeare
The Comedy of Errors

This #BookologyThursday we celebrate with the theme:

✨FOODS, FEASTS & FESTIVALS✨

in literature, art, and lore.
November 18, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
orsa-marga.bsky.social
Simberg, Boecklin, ...
Dürer, Kranach
@chriswoodyard.bsky.social
GOTHIC MODERN
www.albertina.at
November 18, 2025 at 2:43 PM
chriswoodyard.bsky.social
#TheVictorianBookoftheDead
The Widower, Carl Spitzweg, 1844
sammlung.staedelmuseum.de/en/work/the-...
Man in black suit with knee breeches, with a top hat, cane, and white handkerchief, sits on a bench by a garden path and watches two women, one in blue and one in pink, walk along the path.
November 18, 2025 at 2:00 PM
chriswoodyard.bsky.social
#TheVictorianBookoftheDead
Widowed and Fatherless, Leon Jean Bazile Perrault, 1874
blackcountryhistory.org/collections/...
Women in a black dress with semi-transparent, banded sleeves, sits drowsing by the side of her child sleeping in a draped crib.
November 18, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
jessemlocker.bsky.social
Black Glass Madonna, by unknown artisans of the Innsbruck Court Glassworks, 1570-1591, Lampworked and pressed glass on wood mount, 52.5 x 28.8 cm (20 11/16 x 11 5/16 in.), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
"This depiction of the Virgin and Child was made in the Innsbruck Court Glasshouse or Innsbrucker Hofglashütte of Archduke Ferdinand II of Austria by Venetian glass artisans. The composition is likely based on the statue of Our Lady of Loreto from the cathedral in Loreto, Italy of a Black Madonna and Child. Our Lady of Loreto refers to the Holy House (or Santa Casa) where the Virgin Mary was born. According to tradition, the house was transported by angels from Nazareth to Loreto. When locals went inside the house they found a beautiful dark wooden statue of the Virgin and Child. They thought the dark or black skin of the mother and son signified the carving was old and made by St. Luke, one of the authors of the gospels about the life of Jesus." https://www.gardnermuseum.org/experience/collection/12086
November 17, 2025 at 6:49 PM
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laurencdeutsch.bsky.social
Today's #ootd is this 1925 Paul Poiret evening dress, a dress of red velvet and embroidered with jet and small cylinder beads. The sleeves are fantastic, with a yard of fabric attached to either side of a short sleeve, producing a loop that extends beyond the hem of the actual
November 18, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
hookland.bsky.social
Goodnight from the Dabfoot Distillery, where the new nightwatchman is getting his ghost orientation so he knows not to disturb spectres if they’re rotating barrels. Goodnight from Cathryn Oxby, inadvertently painting pylon prophecies in her sketchbook. Goodnight from Hookland.
November 17, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
sophiecarr.bsky.social
Who doesn't love a rainbow?!

Vestrahorn, Stokksnes #Iceland
A vertical image of some small black sand dunes at the bottom with some orange grasses on them in sunshine, a mountain rising steeply behind, and a rainbow through the middle of the mountain.
November 17, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
landisblair.bsky.social
It never fails... ▪️ A recent commission for a cat loving bibliofile.
November 17, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
drlindseyfitz.bsky.social
The only thing I can offer you on #Bluesky is a distraction from you own sense of impending doom. Think 2025 is a bad year to be alive? Let me remind you of worse (medical) realities from the past. Smallpox! Bubonic Plague! Typhoid! It's all waiting for you on my timeline... 😂
drlindseyfitz.bsky.social Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · Oct 17
Another mass Twitter exodus! Welcome, followers - old and new.

If you ever wondered what would happen if you needed a leg amputated in 1832, or if you had a toothache in 1765 - look no further.

From the weird to the wonderful, I'm your gal for all things medical history!
A photo of Lindsey with long blonde hair wearing a skull necklace. The background is vaguely medical.
November 17, 2025 at 5:22 PM
chriswoodyard.bsky.social
#TheVictorianBookoftheDead Elegant black hearse, c. 1885-1890, with urns, garlands, and shields on the roof. Originally from Schoonhoven-Buytendijk stables in Utrecht.
collectie.centraalmuseum.nl/details/coll...
Photograph of a 19th century hearse with black draperies on sides and on the driver's seat, black urns and garlands on the roof, and metal lanterns on each corner.
November 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
chriswoodyard.bsky.social
#TheVictorianBookoftheDead Mourning ring, 1801, of black enamel, with a hair locket bezel framed in pearls. The locket swivels with the inscription "JANE NICKSON OB: 21 Dec. 1801 AE: 60" on the reverse.
www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/...
Ring with rectangular bezel with a glass hair locket framed in pearls. The rest of the ring is gold with black enamel with a leaf pattern.
November 17, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
deathstudiespod.bsky.social
It’s #ChildrensGriefAwarenessWeek. Listen to Mandy Gosling to learn more about the long-lasting impact of losing a parent as a child

thedeathstudiespodcast.com/mandy-gosling/
Mandy Gosling - The Death Studies Podcast
What’s the episode about? In this episode, hear Mandy Gosling on psychotherapy, grief experienced by adults and couples who were bereaved as children, her experience of bereavement as a child, the los...
thedeathstudiespodcast.com
November 22, 2024 at 7:01 AM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
churchmonuments.bsky.social
Blog post on the tombs of the Barnardistons of Kedington, Suffolk, considering how styles change over time and how this reflects (or doesn't) changes in belief churchmonumentssociety.org/2025/11/17/s...
Wall monument. Busts of male and female in mid C17 costume, hands on skull, surrounded by ornate swage of fruit and flowers, heraldry, drapery and cherubs
November 17, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
tomgauld.bsky.social
(Full story below)
November 17, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
medmilmedicine.bsky.social
The arms of an octopus were used to mark specific parts of this page that were of importance or interest - 14th century, Bancroft Library, BANC MS UCB 085
November 17, 2025 at 5:35 AM
chriswoodyard.bsky.social
Grinning and bearing it on #MementoMoriMonday
Peyst er wel op
1821 memorial for Franciscus Schramme
adlib.catharijneconvent.nl/Details/coll...
#TheVictorianBookoftheDead
Black and white image of skull with bared teeth on crossed bones on a stone plinth, skull and stone wreathed in vines.
November 17, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
drfrancisyoung.bsky.social
More time to buy your seasonal copies of ‘Magic in Merlin’s Realm’, ‘Twilight of the Godlings’ and ‘Silence of the Gods’ 👇
cambridgebookshop.bsky.social cambridgebookshop.bsky.social @cambridgebookshop.bsky.social · 2d
Do you wish you had more time for your Christmas shopping? 🎁🎄

This Wednesday 19th November we will be open from 10am till a later time of 7pm! 🕰️

With mince pies, mulled wine and Christmas music, you can get in the festive spirit all while Father Christmas crosses a few more items of his list. 📝
Exterior view of Cambridge University Press Bookshop adorned with christmas lights at night, with historical architecture visible in the background.
November 16, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
artherstory.bsky.social
Today marks the 400th anniv of the passing of Renaissance painter Sofonisba Anguissola. Read about her on the #ArtHerstory blog -

Sofonisba Anguissola: Portraitist of the Renaissance at Rijksmuseum Twenthe
by Nelleke de Vries, @rijksmuseumtwenthe.bsky.social
artherstory.net/sofonisba-an...
Sofonisba Anguissola at Rijksmuseum Twenthe
On the occasion of a solo exhibition of paintings by Sofonisba Anguissola, curator Nelleke de Vries overviews the artist's personal history.
artherstory.net
November 16, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
peterpaulrubens.bsky.social
2/2 Mum: Isabel of Spain holding miniature portrait of her husband Philip II, 1563. Painted by her court artist Sofonisba Anguissola, whose day is today.
November 17, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
peterpaulrubens.bsky.social
Infantas Isabella Clara Eugenia (later my patron!) & Catalina Micaela, & their pets, painted in 1570 by Sofonisba Anguissola. It’s her day.
November 17, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
landisblair.bsky.social
Morbid holiday sale! 💀 Everything in my shop is 20% off through the end of the month, including art prints, original drawings, and custom pet portraits. www.etsy.com/shop/LandisB...
November 16, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
hookland.bsky.social
Goodnight from Joe Waterfield, dismissing his sighting of Corpse Friars’ lanterns as a sign he drank too much at The Windlass pub. Goodnight from William Heywall up at Palefire Farm, writing a petition to the Field Sprite to amend the terms of its blood tithe. Goodnight from Hookland.
November 16, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Reposted by Chris Woodyard
owenstaton.bsky.social
Join @folklorewales.com and I as we discuss the Welsh Fairy book and some of the wonderful tales within on the latest episode of Time between Times storytelling podcast . Be lovely to see you at the firepit
#owenstaton #storytelling #fairies
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Time between Times Storytelling with Owen Staton. The Wonders of the Welsh Fairy book with Dr Delyth Badder
Podcast Episode · Time Between Times Storytelling with Owen Staton · 16/11/2025 · 42m
podcasts.apple.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:34 PM