Jill Burke
@jillburke.bsky.social
Author, historian, occasional curator - of art, material culture, bodies, beauty/cosmetics, 1400-1700 esp Italy. Research Director and founder of Historical Reconstruction Lab @hcaatedinburgh.bsky.social
Oak gall wasps are my current obsession - galls are a key ingredient in European writing inks before industrialisation.
Countless ideas on paper start with the relationship between an oak tree and a wasp.
Marcello Malpighi observed galls to understand and illustrate their growth in the 1670s
Countless ideas on paper start with the relationship between an oak tree and a wasp.
Marcello Malpighi observed galls to understand and illustrate their growth in the 1670s
September 30, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Oak gall wasps are my current obsession - galls are a key ingredient in European writing inks before industrialisation.
Countless ideas on paper start with the relationship between an oak tree and a wasp.
Marcello Malpighi observed galls to understand and illustrate their growth in the 1670s
Countless ideas on paper start with the relationship between an oak tree and a wasp.
Marcello Malpighi observed galls to understand and illustrate their growth in the 1670s
This is for people who are familiar with Italian sixteenth-century handwriting and/or who are clever at manipulating images. I think someone wrote their name on this frontispiece to a beauty manual in 1571 then the later owner, Girolamo Garofano, wrote over it. Can anyone make the first name out?
July 3, 2025 at 3:12 PM
This is for people who are familiar with Italian sixteenth-century handwriting and/or who are clever at manipulating images. I think someone wrote their name on this frontispiece to a beauty manual in 1571 then the later owner, Girolamo Garofano, wrote over it. Can anyone make the first name out?
A bit unseasonal, but thought I’d share a pic of these gorgeous 16th c Venetian handwarmers we looked at behind the scenes at the V&A last week - which include a gimbal so the oil pot and wick face upwards whichever way you hold them
July 3, 2025 at 11:17 AM
A bit unseasonal, but thought I’d share a pic of these gorgeous 16th c Venetian handwarmers we looked at behind the scenes at the V&A last week - which include a gimbal so the oil pot and wick face upwards whichever way you hold them
A joyful first event at the Edinburgh Historical Reconstruction lab where we tried European and Chinese early modern cosmetics and perfumes, found out what James I and VI smelled like, and made pomanders from a 1555 recipe.
June 9, 2025 at 8:07 AM
A joyful first event at the Edinburgh Historical Reconstruction lab where we tried European and Chinese early modern cosmetics and perfumes, found out what James I and VI smelled like, and made pomanders from a 1555 recipe.
Went to the Science Museum stores yesterday. Utterly joyful.
L-R 17th c pomander, 18th c essence box, travelling medical box (17th/18th c), 16th c anatomical doll
L-R 17th c pomander, 18th c essence box, travelling medical box (17th/18th c), 16th c anatomical doll
March 21, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Went to the Science Museum stores yesterday. Utterly joyful.
L-R 17th c pomander, 18th c essence box, travelling medical box (17th/18th c), 16th c anatomical doll
L-R 17th c pomander, 18th c essence box, travelling medical box (17th/18th c), 16th c anatomical doll
I am a specialist in Italian history/art history 1400-1700. Just got an email asking me to submit an article within 24 hours to the Journal of Biotechnology and Bioresearch for their volume coming out on 19th Feb. What do you reckon - should I help them out?
February 3, 2025 at 1:29 PM
I am a specialist in Italian history/art history 1400-1700. Just got an email asking me to submit an article within 24 hours to the Journal of Biotechnology and Bioresearch for their volume coming out on 19th Feb. What do you reckon - should I help them out?
With the support of our amazing archaeology lab technicians, I got some funding to set up a historical reconstruction lab @hcaatedinburgh.bsky.social!
We'll use it for research, teaching and outreach - will send pics/info once I've got the show on the road!
We'll use it for research, teaching and outreach - will send pics/info once I've got the show on the road!
December 12, 2024 at 8:47 AM
With the support of our amazing archaeology lab technicians, I got some funding to set up a historical reconstruction lab @hcaatedinburgh.bsky.social!
We'll use it for research, teaching and outreach - will send pics/info once I've got the show on the road!
We'll use it for research, teaching and outreach - will send pics/info once I've got the show on the road!
Just found this again! It *terrified* me at 18. My first essay at university and my intro to historiography - ‘What was Marx’s contribution to historical theory?’ No biggie. (And obvs thought up off the cuff and quickly scribbled down by my tutor). Just look at that reading list!
December 8, 2024 at 2:51 PM
Just found this again! It *terrified* me at 18. My first essay at university and my intro to historiography - ‘What was Marx’s contribution to historical theory?’ No biggie. (And obvs thought up off the cuff and quickly scribbled down by my tutor). Just look at that reading list!
Today am (belatedly) finishing the corrections on an essay about this intriguing painting, about the scathing language used in art historical literature about non-standard bodies. I consider why military leaders were fat in the 17th c - but that fatness was also negatively stereotyped at this time.
December 6, 2024 at 8:39 AM
Today am (belatedly) finishing the corrections on an essay about this intriguing painting, about the scathing language used in art historical literature about non-standard bodies. I consider why military leaders were fat in the 17th c - but that fatness was also negatively stereotyped at this time.
'How to tell if a woman is wearing make-up. Take saffron and chew it, then get as near to the woman as you can and talk and talk to her so that your breath marks her face; if she's wearing make up, it will go yellow, if not, nothing will happen'. 🤢
Giambattista della Porta, Natural Magic, 1558.
Giambattista della Porta, Natural Magic, 1558.
November 29, 2024 at 8:42 AM
'How to tell if a woman is wearing make-up. Take saffron and chew it, then get as near to the woman as you can and talk and talk to her so that your breath marks her face; if she's wearing make up, it will go yellow, if not, nothing will happen'. 🤢
Giambattista della Porta, Natural Magic, 1558.
Giambattista della Porta, Natural Magic, 1558.
Polish cover for How To Be A Renaissance Woman just in for approval, with a starring role for a brilliant portrait of a fabulous Venetian Woman by Dürer! (Info about the portrait here www.khm.at/en/objectdb/...)
November 28, 2024 at 11:31 AM
Polish cover for How To Be A Renaissance Woman just in for approval, with a starring role for a brilliant portrait of a fabulous Venetian Woman by Dürer! (Info about the portrait here www.khm.at/en/objectdb/...)
History of pubic hair with me and the wonderful Kate Lister (who seriously knows a lot about the subject), available today on Betwixt the Sheets, wherever you do your podcasts.
My career has taken many delightfully unexpected turns of late, this was one of the funnest.
My career has taken many delightfully unexpected turns of late, this was one of the funnest.
November 26, 2024 at 12:23 PM
History of pubic hair with me and the wonderful Kate Lister (who seriously knows a lot about the subject), available today on Betwixt the Sheets, wherever you do your podcasts.
My career has taken many delightfully unexpected turns of late, this was one of the funnest.
My career has taken many delightfully unexpected turns of late, this was one of the funnest.
E. Kienzler, Medicine et Hygiene populaire, 7th ed, 1936.
November 24, 2024 at 4:09 PM
E. Kienzler, Medicine et Hygiene populaire, 7th ed, 1936.
Ever bought someone a Christmas gift and then when it comes you love it so much you want to keep it yourself? (I mean, how much do I really love my niece anyway?)
November 24, 2024 at 4:09 PM
Ever bought someone a Christmas gift and then when it comes you love it so much you want to keep it yourself? (I mean, how much do I really love my niece anyway?)
Reminiscing about last January when I briefly beat Machiavelli’s Prince in the Amazon best sellers in Italian history list. Not surprising - he hardly mentions hairdressing at all.
November 22, 2024 at 8:46 PM
Reminiscing about last January when I briefly beat Machiavelli’s Prince in the Amazon best sellers in Italian history list. Not surprising - he hardly mentions hairdressing at all.
And My Lady Chanworth's jumballs that I shared with students in our 'early modern feast' that we have in the last class of the year (recipe from t.co/2W2KXUhzXg)
November 21, 2024 at 3:36 PM
And My Lady Chanworth's jumballs that I shared with students in our 'early modern feast' that we have in the last class of the year (recipe from t.co/2W2KXUhzXg)
And here's one from the year after! I'd lost my fancy blue bottles and foraged some jars from the kitchen - the one on the right is for 'A very light and most excellent rouge'
November 21, 2024 at 3:36 PM
And here's one from the year after! I'd lost my fancy blue bottles and foraged some jars from the kitchen - the one on the right is for 'A very light and most excellent rouge'
Looking through X to save my old posts and I came across this - one of my early forays into cosmetic reconstruction for a (very fun!) class on cosmetics in 2017. These are from Caterina Sforza's Experimenti (c. 1500) and include tooth gel, hand cleanser, liquid rouge, and a breath freshener.
November 21, 2024 at 3:30 PM
Looking through X to save my old posts and I came across this - one of my early forays into cosmetic reconstruction for a (very fun!) class on cosmetics in 2017. These are from Caterina Sforza's Experimenti (c. 1500) and include tooth gel, hand cleanser, liquid rouge, and a breath freshener.
Another historical hairdressing image! This time from early modern Italy by Palma il Giovane. More info here: www.themorgan.org/drawings/ite...
November 12, 2023 at 9:04 AM
Another historical hairdressing image! This time from early modern Italy by Palma il Giovane. More info here: www.themorgan.org/drawings/ite...
So, my latest book is on the Waterstones best books of 2023 list. Goodness me. All this is so unexpected, but of course I’m massively pleased that people are enjoying it!
November 2, 2023 at 9:31 PM
So, my latest book is on the Waterstones best books of 2023 list. Goodness me. All this is so unexpected, but of course I’m massively pleased that people are enjoying it!
Very touched by this first sighting of my book in Italy - in the Alinari bookshop in Florence, which I’ve visited many times. Looking very much at home!
November 2, 2023 at 1:22 PM
Very touched by this first sighting of my book in Italy - in the Alinari bookshop in Florence, which I’ve visited many times. Looking very much at home!
On the train to London reading The Scots Gardner. Honestly a great gardening book “published for the Climate of Scotland” in 1683. Plan is to follow its advice (as much as poss) to make a physic garden…
October 24, 2023 at 12:11 PM
On the train to London reading The Scots Gardner. Honestly a great gardening book “published for the Climate of Scotland” in 1683. Plan is to follow its advice (as much as poss) to make a physic garden…
Just written an article for an exhibition catalogue about Renaissance haircare techniques! Washing, conditioning, colouring and dressing hair took a long time and provided a social and creative outlet for many women in a misogynistic environment. Will put English version online after editing.
September 27, 2023 at 10:52 AM
Just written an article for an exhibition catalogue about Renaissance haircare techniques! Washing, conditioning, colouring and dressing hair took a long time and provided a social and creative outlet for many women in a misogynistic environment. Will put English version online after editing.
It’s fig season!! No one paints figs like Giovanna Garzoni (1600-70) . So much bursting ripeness in these pictures they could set off a censorship filter. I write about her radical hair style in How To Be A Renaissance Woman but wish I’d had more space for her 🗃️
September 22, 2023 at 6:56 AM
It’s fig season!! No one paints figs like Giovanna Garzoni (1600-70) . So much bursting ripeness in these pictures they could set off a censorship filter. I write about her radical hair style in How To Be A Renaissance Woman but wish I’d had more space for her 🗃️