Inviting History
@invitinghistory.bsky.social
A home for history! Tidbits, analysis, and more. History enthusiast, sometimes writer. Contact: annagibsonhistory @ gmail
View of the Polignano cave near the Abbey of San Vito di Polignano by Claude-Louis Châtelet. Set to be auctioned by Artcurial. Châtelet is best known for his landscape scenes, especially of private estates and gardens. He was guillotined during the French Revolution.
November 25, 2025 at 12:43 AM
View of the Polignano cave near the Abbey of San Vito di Polignano by Claude-Louis Châtelet. Set to be auctioned by Artcurial. Châtelet is best known for his landscape scenes, especially of private estates and gardens. He was guillotined during the French Revolution.
An 18th century carousel horse, set to be auctioned by Artcurial. The listing points out that the style of the horse is similar to another carousel horse designed for a game at the chateau de la Muette
November 23, 2025 at 2:20 AM
An 18th century carousel horse, set to be auctioned by Artcurial. The listing points out that the style of the horse is similar to another carousel horse designed for a game at the chateau de la Muette
A portrait of Ursule Cochois by Suzanne Marie Roslin, 1771. Note she is pouring her chocolate into a saucer, which would be done to cool it more quickly before drinking.
November 20, 2025 at 8:04 PM
A portrait of Ursule Cochois by Suzanne Marie Roslin, 1771. Note she is pouring her chocolate into a saucer, which would be done to cool it more quickly before drinking.
A pocket watch worn by Isidor Straus during the sinking of the Titanic, and recovered with his body. It is set to be auctioned, along with a letter written by his wife, Ida, while they were on the Titanic.
November 17, 2025 at 1:19 AM
A pocket watch worn by Isidor Straus during the sinking of the Titanic, and recovered with his body. It is set to be auctioned, along with a letter written by his wife, Ida, while they were on the Titanic.
The cover for the new edition of Ribeiro's "Fashion in the French Revolution." Coming June 2026!
November 9, 2025 at 4:21 PM
The cover for the new edition of Ribeiro's "Fashion in the French Revolution." Coming June 2026!
Reposted by Inviting History
Darbazi St George church built in the 13th century, before and after renovation.
georgiantravelguide.com/en/darbazis-...
georgiantravelguide.com/en/darbazis-...
October 28, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Darbazi St George church built in the 13th century, before and after renovation.
georgiantravelguide.com/en/darbazis-...
georgiantravelguide.com/en/darbazis-...
An engraving depicting the first son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Louis Joseph, being presented to his father.
October 28, 2025 at 10:28 AM
An engraving depicting the first son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Louis Joseph, being presented to his father.
Marie Antoinette, the former queen of France, was executed on October 16th, 1793. According to a revolutionary journal, as she walked up the steps to the scaffold, she stepped on the executioner's foot, uttering: "Pardon me, monsieur. I did not do it on purpose."
October 16, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Marie Antoinette, the former queen of France, was executed on October 16th, 1793. According to a revolutionary journal, as she walked up the steps to the scaffold, she stepped on the executioner's foot, uttering: "Pardon me, monsieur. I did not do it on purpose."
At her trial, Marie Antoinette was accused of becoming "master over [Louis XVI’s] feeble character," forcing him to "do anything bad," and that he followed her destructive advice to the letter.
Her response: "I never knew him to have that character you are speaking of."
Her response: "I never knew him to have that character you are speaking of."
October 16, 2025 at 12:46 AM
At her trial, Marie Antoinette was accused of becoming "master over [Louis XVI’s] feeble character," forcing him to "do anything bad," and that he followed her destructive advice to the letter.
Her response: "I never knew him to have that character you are speaking of."
Her response: "I never knew him to have that character you are speaking of."
On October 14th, 1793, Marie Antoinette was brought to trial. The conclusion of the trial had already been decided upon--the hand-picked jurors were told "national vengeance is in your hands." The trial lasted 2 days, ending in the early hours of the 16th.
October 14, 2025 at 11:17 PM
On October 14th, 1793, Marie Antoinette was brought to trial. The conclusion of the trial had already been decided upon--the hand-picked jurors were told "national vengeance is in your hands." The trial lasted 2 days, ending in the early hours of the 16th.
I hope bluesky lets us schedule posts soon...
October 14, 2025 at 11:17 PM
I hope bluesky lets us schedule posts soon...
"You have to be a mother and have heard your children ask for bread you cannot give them to know the level of despair to which this misfortune can bring you… her pain makes her capable of doing anything..." Élisabeth Guénard on the Women's March on Versailles of 1789.
October 5, 2025 at 10:12 PM
"You have to be a mother and have heard your children ask for bread you cannot give them to know the level of despair to which this misfortune can bring you… her pain makes her capable of doing anything..." Élisabeth Guénard on the Women's March on Versailles of 1789.
The White Rose: "Why does the German people behave so apathetically in the face of all these abominable crimes...? Hardly anyone wonders or worries about it. It is accepted as a fact and put out of mind... [This] encourages these fascist criminals [to] carry on with their savageries..."
October 4, 2025 at 3:16 AM
The White Rose: "Why does the German people behave so apathetically in the face of all these abominable crimes...? Hardly anyone wonders or worries about it. It is accepted as a fact and put out of mind... [This] encourages these fascist criminals [to] carry on with their savageries..."
Also reading the ARC! Or should say, I received it, haven't had a chance to dive in yet.
October 2, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Also reading the ARC! Or should say, I received it, haven't had a chance to dive in yet.
Yes, they bathed at Versailles... and had toilet facilities, too.
September 23, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Yes, they bathed at Versailles... and had toilet facilities, too.
Ordered my copy of the exhibition book!
September 22, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Ordered my copy of the exhibition book!
Another myth for the book, as I've seen it a few times now. Marie Antoinette was not dressed in only a chemise at her execution. She was wearing a white gown over the fresh chemise that she kept, this was not a forced "sexual humiliation" as the author's suggesting here.
‘When Marie-Antoinette went to the guillotine, it was part of her degradation to be dressed only in a chemise. She had kept a clean one for the occasion.’
Rosemary Hill on fashion in the French Revolution: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Rosemary Hill on fashion in the French Revolution: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Rosemary Hill · No More Corsets: Dressing the Revolution
Joséphine Bonaparte and Térézia Tallien developed a new way of dressing that freed the body and redrew the female...
www.lrb.co.uk
September 20, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Another myth for the book, as I've seen it a few times now. Marie Antoinette was not dressed in only a chemise at her execution. She was wearing a white gown over the fresh chemise that she kept, this was not a forced "sexual humiliation" as the author's suggesting here.
A 19th century cabinet card of a woman and her cat. Taken at W.E. Service, of Bridgeton.
September 15, 2025 at 12:58 AM
A 19th century cabinet card of a woman and her cat. Taken at W.E. Service, of Bridgeton.
Aileen Ribeiro's "Fashion in the French Revolution" is getting a new edition next year!
September 11, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Aileen Ribeiro's "Fashion in the French Revolution" is getting a new edition next year!
From a 1902 study on the history of smallpox in Europe. According to the study, prior to the development of the vaccination, smallpox accounted for an estimated 65% of all deaths in Berlin. Those percentages dropped to 2% by 1822, as the vaccination became widespread.
September 4, 2025 at 10:24 PM
From a 1902 study on the history of smallpox in Europe. According to the study, prior to the development of the vaccination, smallpox accounted for an estimated 65% of all deaths in Berlin. Those percentages dropped to 2% by 1822, as the vaccination became widespread.
Royal families were at the forefront of vaccine support in the early 1800s. Frederick William III of Prussia, on vaccinations: "...one of the first duties of fathers, mothers, guardians, educators, masters, and all authorities that are entrusted with lives of children is to give them this blessing."
September 4, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Royal families were at the forefront of vaccine support in the early 1800s. Frederick William III of Prussia, on vaccinations: "...one of the first duties of fathers, mothers, guardians, educators, masters, and all authorities that are entrusted with lives of children is to give them this blessing."
Reposted by Inviting History
The Iron Maiden Never Existed – But Louis XI’s Medieval Prison Reforms Did www.medievalists.net/2025/05/iron... #History
The Iron Maiden Never Existed – But Louis XI’s Medieval Prison Reforms Did - Medievalists.net
One of the most infamous images of medieval cruelty—the Iron Maiden—was never used in the Middle Ages. But a real reform by King Louis XI of France, the 'fillettes,' tells a different story about…
www.medievalists.net
August 30, 2025 at 4:17 PM
The Iron Maiden Never Existed – But Louis XI’s Medieval Prison Reforms Did www.medievalists.net/2025/05/iron... #History
"To Trianon tonight? It is my pleasure." The first card in a "costume fantasy" postcard series telling the story of a couple visiting the Petit Trianon for a romantic rendezvous. From my collection.
August 30, 2025 at 6:04 PM
"To Trianon tonight? It is my pleasure." The first card in a "costume fantasy" postcard series telling the story of a couple visiting the Petit Trianon for a romantic rendezvous. From my collection.
RR auctions listing a letter where Marie Antoinette gives two servants extra money for food as "Marie Antoinette Document, Ordering Payment for Extravagant Royal Household Expenditures Amidst the French Revolution" is extra funny to me.
August 24, 2025 at 10:03 PM
RR auctions listing a letter where Marie Antoinette gives two servants extra money for food as "Marie Antoinette Document, Ordering Payment for Extravagant Royal Household Expenditures Amidst the French Revolution" is extra funny to me.
Reposted by Inviting History
