Jan Machielsen
@janmachielsen.bsky.social
Historian of early modern religion, working on witches and saints. Loves hikes and risotto.
When you don't know who to leave your money to, you can always make the Virgin Mary your heir!
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
November 11, 2025 at 8:16 AM
When you don't know who to leave your money to, you can always make the Virgin Mary your heir!
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
An English (St George?) flag waving Virgin... For all the Reformers on here. 😝
Chiesa della Trinità, Bologna.
Chiesa della Trinità, Bologna.
October 31, 2025 at 3:20 PM
An English (St George?) flag waving Virgin... For all the Reformers on here. 😝
Chiesa della Trinità, Bologna.
Chiesa della Trinità, Bologna.
An interesting coda from the Santa Maria dei Servi... A painting of St Anne teaching the Virgin to read.
October 31, 2025 at 2:46 PM
An interesting coda from the Santa Maria dei Servi... A painting of St Anne teaching the Virgin to read.
Mary (as I keep on saying) is always reading.
(But I don't think I've ever seen her this young?? And the angel too for that matter.)
(But I don't think I've ever seen her this young?? And the angel too for that matter.)
October 31, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Mary (as I keep on saying) is always reading.
(But I don't think I've ever seen her this young?? And the angel too for that matter.)
(But I don't think I've ever seen her this young?? And the angel too for that matter.)
This is a very Goth virgin. Surprised she doesn't have fangs! 🤪
October 31, 2025 at 2:05 PM
This is a very Goth virgin. Surprised she doesn't have fangs! 🤪
"You know I climbed up this hill and then God gave me these tablets telling you all to listen to me. And now I'm here!"
(Fragment of a fresco from the church of Mezzarata)
(Fragment of a fresco from the church of Mezzarata)
October 31, 2025 at 2:03 PM
"You know I climbed up this hill and then God gave me these tablets telling you all to listen to me. And now I'm here!"
(Fragment of a fresco from the church of Mezzarata)
(Fragment of a fresco from the church of Mezzarata)
Here is the full image from ca 1435.
October 31, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Here is the full image from ca 1435.
This seems more appropriate for the spooky season... Is it a female devil giving birth? Or any devil just shitting out humans?
October 31, 2025 at 1:47 PM
This seems more appropriate for the spooky season... Is it a female devil giving birth? Or any devil just shitting out humans?
This is the sign. I don't recognize the scene either!
October 31, 2025 at 1:43 PM
This is the sign. I don't recognize the scene either!
Don't get me wrong, I love me some Giotto. But this dragon just looks like it is sucking through a straw rather than being slain... 😝
October 31, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Don't get me wrong, I love me some Giotto. But this dragon just looks like it is sucking through a straw rather than being slain... 😝
Escaping while keeping your halo intact is no mean feat. 🤪
(If any #medievalsky scholar can tell me what St Anthony got up to here, I'd love to hear it! 😅)
(If any #medievalsky scholar can tell me what St Anthony got up to here, I'd love to hear it! 😅)
October 31, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Escaping while keeping your halo intact is no mean feat. 🤪
(If any #medievalsky scholar can tell me what St Anthony got up to here, I'd love to hear it! 😅)
(If any #medievalsky scholar can tell me what St Anthony got up to here, I'd love to hear it! 😅)
Saint George is really going for it.
(Pinacoteca nazionale di Bologna)
(Pinacoteca nazionale di Bologna)
October 31, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Saint George is really going for it.
(Pinacoteca nazionale di Bologna)
(Pinacoteca nazionale di Bologna)
Assisi is even better at night when all the tourists have left.
October 27, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Assisi is even better at night when all the tourists have left.
Always good to be in Assisi, especially when the sun comes out.
October 27, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Always good to be in Assisi, especially when the sun comes out.
"My name is Stefano ... I am about 14 years old. My job is to go to school and do tasks around the house."
Possibly my youngest #monkabulous canonisation trial witness so far, testifying to a miracle basically involving a beating on the school yard.
Possibly my youngest #monkabulous canonisation trial witness so far, testifying to a miracle basically involving a beating on the school yard.
October 26, 2025 at 6:04 PM
"My name is Stefano ... I am about 14 years old. My job is to go to school and do tasks around the house."
Possibly my youngest #monkabulous canonisation trial witness so far, testifying to a miracle basically involving a beating on the school yard.
Possibly my youngest #monkabulous canonisation trial witness so far, testifying to a miracle basically involving a beating on the school yard.
San Lorenzo on the barbecue.
The #earlymodern altar of San Lorenzo in Panisperna.
What is remarkable about Rome is how, despite the mass tourism, you can still find places to be totally alone with amazing art.
The #earlymodern altar of San Lorenzo in Panisperna.
What is remarkable about Rome is how, despite the mass tourism, you can still find places to be totally alone with amazing art.
October 25, 2025 at 9:12 AM
San Lorenzo on the barbecue.
The #earlymodern altar of San Lorenzo in Panisperna.
What is remarkable about Rome is how, despite the mass tourism, you can still find places to be totally alone with amazing art.
The #earlymodern altar of San Lorenzo in Panisperna.
What is remarkable about Rome is how, despite the mass tourism, you can still find places to be totally alone with amazing art.
An #earlymodern memorial to an 18 year old cardinal (Roberto de' Nobili) who died much too young.
(In San Bernardo alle Terme)
(In San Bernardo alle Terme)
October 25, 2025 at 8:39 AM
An #earlymodern memorial to an 18 year old cardinal (Roberto de' Nobili) who died much too young.
(In San Bernardo alle Terme)
(In San Bernardo alle Terme)
Good to know that the traffic in Rome has always been bad. 😝
October 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Good to know that the traffic in Rome has always been bad. 😝
Behold Clio, the muse of history, happily reading!
(From the Museo di Roma)
(From the Museo di Roma)
October 24, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Behold Clio, the muse of history, happily reading!
(From the Museo di Roma)
(From the Museo di Roma)
One for @christinekooi.bsky.social ! A statue of Alexander Farnese in the Capitoline museums.
October 23, 2025 at 12:36 PM
One for @christinekooi.bsky.social ! A statue of Alexander Farnese in the Capitoline museums.
Such a delightful Virgin with child with possibly the world's smallest patron at the bottom, who almost looks like he could be looking up her skirt! (In the Aracoeli.)
October 23, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Such a delightful Virgin with child with possibly the world's smallest patron at the bottom, who almost looks like he could be looking up her skirt! (In the Aracoeli.)
An #earlymodern library which I should have visited much, much earlier: the Biblioteca Casanatense. Quite remarkable. (And they have WiFi and permit photography. 😅)
October 22, 2025 at 1:13 PM
An #earlymodern library which I should have visited much, much earlier: the Biblioteca Casanatense. Quite remarkable. (And they have WiFi and permit photography. 😅)
My aspiration: not to write a history of miracles but a miracle among histories (!!!)
Domenico Bernini's life of Joseph of Copertino; his father was the famous sculptor. I assume modesty did not run in the family. 😅
Domenico Bernini's life of Joseph of Copertino; his father was the famous sculptor. I assume modesty did not run in the family. 😅
October 21, 2025 at 8:14 PM
My aspiration: not to write a history of miracles but a miracle among histories (!!!)
Domenico Bernini's life of Joseph of Copertino; his father was the famous sculptor. I assume modesty did not run in the family. 😅
Domenico Bernini's life of Joseph of Copertino; his father was the famous sculptor. I assume modesty did not run in the family. 😅
October 10, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Took my mum and aunt to St Peter's yesterday. Really recommend booking ahead and adding the Duomo. It's a long way up but stunning views, including the Vatican gardens.
Plus, I was able to point out the entry to the archive. 😅
Plus, I was able to point out the entry to the archive. 😅
October 7, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Took my mum and aunt to St Peter's yesterday. Really recommend booking ahead and adding the Duomo. It's a long way up but stunning views, including the Vatican gardens.
Plus, I was able to point out the entry to the archive. 😅
Plus, I was able to point out the entry to the archive. 😅