Mell Taylor
@melanievtaylor.bsky.social
Freelance art historian, author, animal lover. Lives in the 16th century! Fascinated by visual evidence of trade with Far East prior to 1522 & other stuff that is hidden in plain sight. website www.melanievtaylor.co.uk
Reposted by Mell Taylor
Don’t miss out on this Secrets d’Histoire episode!
And as many of you asked me: “how did you get on TV in the first place?”
I published and got contacted.
Get your work and expertise out there and then work on a public profile to help out
And as many of you asked me: “how did you get on TV in the first place?”
I published and got contacted.
Get your work and expertise out there and then work on a public profile to help out
May 16, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Don’t miss out on this Secrets d’Histoire episode!
And as many of you asked me: “how did you get on TV in the first place?”
I published and got contacted.
Get your work and expertise out there and then work on a public profile to help out
And as many of you asked me: “how did you get on TV in the first place?”
I published and got contacted.
Get your work and expertise out there and then work on a public profile to help out
The British Channel Islands were occupied by Hitler's forces in June 1940 & not liberated until 9th May 1945. The islanders knew what it would have been like if Hitler had won. This article are my reflections from having been brought up there in the '50s & 60s. melanievtaylor.co.uk/2025/05/07/9...
9th May 1945 Channel Islands Liberated
On May 9, 1945, the Channel Islands celebrated their liberation from Nazi oppression, a day later than most of Europe. The author recounts personal family experiences, including the impact of WWII …
melanievtaylor.co.uk
May 7, 2025 at 10:18 AM
The British Channel Islands were occupied by Hitler's forces in June 1940 & not liberated until 9th May 1945. The islanders knew what it would have been like if Hitler had won. This article are my reflections from having been brought up there in the '50s & 60s. melanievtaylor.co.uk/2025/05/07/9...
Reposted by Mell Taylor
I agree with the argument of this piece, but given the author's claim that the general public sees art history as an elitist discipline, she should have interviewed professors at universities like the one I teach at (UMass) and not just those at Columbia and UCLA. www.thenation.com/article/soci...
We Can’t Give Up on Arts Education
Art history, once a staple in every college humanities curriculum, is now seen as elitist and futile. With Donald Trump back in the White House, the arts are more at risk than ever.
www.thenation.com
March 26, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I agree with the argument of this piece, but given the author's claim that the general public sees art history as an elitist discipline, she should have interviewed professors at universities like the one I teach at (UMass) and not just those at Columbia and UCLA. www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Reposted by Mell Taylor
We only got through 50% of lecture today because my students couldn't get enough of Fragonard, and I do not know what to think of this shocking truth. The kids are alright, but in a weird way?
March 26, 2025 at 3:19 PM
We only got through 50% of lecture today because my students couldn't get enough of Fragonard, and I do not know what to think of this shocking truth. The kids are alright, but in a weird way?
Reposted by Mell Taylor
Ways to show up for our libraries:
-Get a library card
-Regularly visit your library
-Use library services
-Donate books
-Attend library events
-Become a library “friend”
-Purchase their merch or from their book sales
-Volunteer
-Get a library card
-Regularly visit your library
-Use library services
-Donate books
-Attend library events
-Become a library “friend”
-Purchase their merch or from their book sales
-Volunteer
March 15, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Ways to show up for our libraries:
-Get a library card
-Regularly visit your library
-Use library services
-Donate books
-Attend library events
-Become a library “friend”
-Purchase their merch or from their book sales
-Volunteer
-Get a library card
-Regularly visit your library
-Use library services
-Donate books
-Attend library events
-Become a library “friend”
-Purchase their merch or from their book sales
-Volunteer
Reposted by Mell Taylor
What a wonderful celebration of women artists in the annual “EmpowerHer” exhibit — so much art and so many people enjoying it. I am proud to have my quilt “Midnight Rendezvous” exhibiting with so many talented artists. See the exhibit at the @fultonedamcc. #empowerher #midnightrendezvous
March 15, 2025 at 2:03 AM
What a wonderful celebration of women artists in the annual “EmpowerHer” exhibit — so much art and so many people enjoying it. I am proud to have my quilt “Midnight Rendezvous” exhibiting with so many talented artists. See the exhibit at the @fultonedamcc. #empowerher #midnightrendezvous
Reposted by Mell Taylor
A guest post by Cathie Dunn on Poppa of Bayeux, wife 'more danico' - in the Danish fashion - of the Viking leader Rollo "the Walker".
davidpilling.blogspot.com/2025/03/gues...
davidpilling.blogspot.com/2025/03/gues...
Guest post by Cathie Dunn
Who was Poppa of Bayeux? “Who was she ?” When you research history, you often ask yourself that question. History is, usually, about men – ...
davidpilling.blogspot.com
March 5, 2025 at 10:37 AM
A guest post by Cathie Dunn on Poppa of Bayeux, wife 'more danico' - in the Danish fashion - of the Viking leader Rollo "the Walker".
davidpilling.blogspot.com/2025/03/gues...
davidpilling.blogspot.com/2025/03/gues...
Reposted by Mell Taylor
Look who’s turned up this morning! 🥳 Thank you SO much to the contributing authors, my co-editor Michael Questier and the wonderful team @routledgehistory.bsky.social
Use code 25AFLY1 for 20% off:
www.routledge.com/James-VI-and... #earlymodern #KingJames400
Use code 25AFLY1 for 20% off:
www.routledge.com/James-VI-and... #earlymodern #KingJames400
March 5, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Look who’s turned up this morning! 🥳 Thank you SO much to the contributing authors, my co-editor Michael Questier and the wonderful team @routledgehistory.bsky.social
Use code 25AFLY1 for 20% off:
www.routledge.com/James-VI-and... #earlymodern #KingJames400
Use code 25AFLY1 for 20% off:
www.routledge.com/James-VI-and... #earlymodern #KingJames400
Reposted by Mell Taylor
At Kentwell we don’t just play #earlymusic, sometimes we make the #instruments too.
Last year during our #re-creation a small group of our #Tudors made a #trumpet. In the woods. Using #earlymodern style materials, tools and techniques as far as possible.
And it sounded great!
#musicalMonday
Last year during our #re-creation a small group of our #Tudors made a #trumpet. In the woods. Using #earlymodern style materials, tools and techniques as far as possible.
And it sounded great!
#musicalMonday
March 3, 2025 at 10:25 AM
At Kentwell we don’t just play #earlymusic, sometimes we make the #instruments too.
Last year during our #re-creation a small group of our #Tudors made a #trumpet. In the woods. Using #earlymodern style materials, tools and techniques as far as possible.
And it sounded great!
#musicalMonday
Last year during our #re-creation a small group of our #Tudors made a #trumpet. In the woods. Using #earlymodern style materials, tools and techniques as far as possible.
And it sounded great!
#musicalMonday
One of my favourite French heroes.
✍️D'Artagnan's signature - Charles de Castetmore dartaignan
February 27, 2025 at 1:43 PM
One of my favourite French heroes.
Reposted by Mell Taylor
Henry VIII plans to use his sister's marriage to build a powerful alliance. Will she risk his anger by marrying for love?
mybook.to/MaryTudor
#Tudors #HistoricalFiction #audiobook
mybook.to/MaryTudor
#Tudors #HistoricalFiction #audiobook
February 26, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Henry VIII plans to use his sister's marriage to build a powerful alliance. Will she risk his anger by marrying for love?
mybook.to/MaryTudor
#Tudors #HistoricalFiction #audiobook
mybook.to/MaryTudor
#Tudors #HistoricalFiction #audiobook
Reposted by Mell Taylor
i firmly believe one of the main messages we should be telling our students about this whole thing is that generative ‘AI’ by definition will *never* have an original idea,
and if you use it, neither will *you*
and if you use it, neither will *you*
February 26, 2025 at 7:26 AM
i firmly believe one of the main messages we should be telling our students about this whole thing is that generative ‘AI’ by definition will *never* have an original idea,
and if you use it, neither will *you*
and if you use it, neither will *you*
Reposted by Mell Taylor
Fortune and Fate: The Complete Justice Belstrang Mysteries, by John Pilkington "A spellbinding journey through the stinking slums and glittering palaces of Jacobean England." Steven Veerapen
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0913FNNZ2 @johnpilkingtonpt.bsky.social #HistoricalFiction #Booksky 💙📚
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0913FNNZ2 @johnpilkingtonpt.bsky.social #HistoricalFiction #Booksky 💙📚
February 26, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Fortune and Fate: The Complete Justice Belstrang Mysteries, by John Pilkington "A spellbinding journey through the stinking slums and glittering palaces of Jacobean England." Steven Veerapen
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0913FNNZ2 @johnpilkingtonpt.bsky.social #HistoricalFiction #Booksky 💙📚
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0913FNNZ2 @johnpilkingtonpt.bsky.social #HistoricalFiction #Booksky 💙📚
Reposted by Mell Taylor
It's the final week of our #MedievalWomen exhibition and we've been working on restoring our Medieval and Renaissance Women digitisation project online. The first manuscripts are now available!
blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...
blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...
February 25, 2025 at 11:52 AM
It's the final week of our #MedievalWomen exhibition and we've been working on restoring our Medieval and Renaissance Women digitisation project online. The first manuscripts are now available!
blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...
blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...
Reposted by Mell Taylor
Every major UK newspaper - left, right, broadsheet, tabloid - is running a front page campaign against copyright carveouts for AI training.
I can't remember the last time any political cause had such broad support, let alone one so anti-big tech and so economically consequential.
I can't remember the last time any political cause had such broad support, let alone one so anti-big tech and so economically consequential.
February 25, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Every major UK newspaper - left, right, broadsheet, tabloid - is running a front page campaign against copyright carveouts for AI training.
I can't remember the last time any political cause had such broad support, let alone one so anti-big tech and so economically consequential.
I can't remember the last time any political cause had such broad support, let alone one so anti-big tech and so economically consequential.
Reposted by Mell Taylor
Is this the real face of Henry VII? Westminster Abbey is hoping to finally find out. The effigy head of the founder of the Tudor dynasty is one of the finest examples of its kind to have survived to the present day: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02... @telegraphnews.bsky.social #Tudors
Is this the real face of Henry VII? Westminster Abbey is hoping to finally find out
The effigy head of the founder of the Tudor dynasty is one of the finest examples of its kind to have survived to the present day
www.telegraph.co.uk
February 17, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Is this the real face of Henry VII? Westminster Abbey is hoping to finally find out. The effigy head of the founder of the Tudor dynasty is one of the finest examples of its kind to have survived to the present day: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02... @telegraphnews.bsky.social #Tudors
Reposted by Mell Taylor
🎭17 February 1673. The death of Molière, who dies at Paris having taken ill on stage - ironically, while performing his play, Le Malade imaginaire (The Imaginary Invalid). He had been suffering from tuberculosis for some years.
February 17, 2025 at 10:48 AM
🎭17 February 1673. The death of Molière, who dies at Paris having taken ill on stage - ironically, while performing his play, Le Malade imaginaire (The Imaginary Invalid). He had been suffering from tuberculosis for some years.
Reposted by Mell Taylor
Ever wanted to know more about the genetic impact of the Roman Empire in Britain? Come to our lunchtime lecture on 4 March and you can hear all about this from Dr Marina da Silva. www.sal.org.uk/event/geneti...
Genetic Histories of Kinship & Ancestry in Roman Britain - Society of Antiquaries of London
Looking how examining genetics can illuminate social practices within small and rural communities and uncover life histories of single individuals and family groups in Roman Britain.
www.sal.org.uk
February 17, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Ever wanted to know more about the genetic impact of the Roman Empire in Britain? Come to our lunchtime lecture on 4 March and you can hear all about this from Dr Marina da Silva. www.sal.org.uk/event/geneti...
Reposted by Mell Taylor
Lady Jane Grey was executed on this day in 1554. This image, known as the Streatham Portrait, has been posited as a likeness of Jane from the late sixteenth century - but recent research suggests that it is actually a copy of a 1544 portrait of Katherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII
February 12, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Lady Jane Grey was executed on this day in 1554. This image, known as the Streatham Portrait, has been posited as a likeness of Jane from the late sixteenth century - but recent research suggests that it is actually a copy of a 1544 portrait of Katherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII
Here's Conor Byrne's article about Lady Katharine Grey will give you a flavour of his recent biography of the woman whose descendants could/should (depending on your mindset) have inherited the English throne on the death of Elizabeth I. melanievtaylor.co.uk/2023/11/15/g...
Guest Post: Lady Katherine Grey : A Tragic Inheritance by Conor Byrne.
Conor Byrne studied for his Bachelor's degree in history at Exeter University, and his Master of Arts in medieval and early modern history at the university of York. He is currently a PhD student at t...
melanievtaylor.co.uk
November 15, 2023 at 12:10 PM
Here's Conor Byrne's article about Lady Katharine Grey will give you a flavour of his recent biography of the woman whose descendants could/should (depending on your mindset) have inherited the English throne on the death of Elizabeth I. melanievtaylor.co.uk/2023/11/15/g...
The Tudors never cease to fascinate, so I thought I'd post my article about how we know what the royal family looked like and how they used portraiture. The Holbein exhibition at the Queen's Gallery opens on 10th November 2023. I have my ticket booked!
melanievtaylor.co.uk/2021/07/02/h...
melanievtaylor.co.uk/2021/07/02/h...
How we know the Tudor Royals from 1485 – 1558; and who painted them.
Articles in various publications have looked at Franny Moyle’s suggestion that Holbein left clues regarding the identification of one of his sitters of his miniatures being of Henry VIII’s fourth ...
melanievtaylor.co.uk
October 22, 2023 at 3:38 PM
The Tudors never cease to fascinate, so I thought I'd post my article about how we know what the royal family looked like and how they used portraiture. The Holbein exhibition at the Queen's Gallery opens on 10th November 2023. I have my ticket booked!
melanievtaylor.co.uk/2021/07/02/h...
melanievtaylor.co.uk/2021/07/02/h...
Friday 13th Oct: 2 p.m. Letherhead Institute, Leatherhead, Surrey, I will be talking about why there are so few women are recognised as artists (tkts £7.50). Among those featured will be Levina Teerlinc (1520-1576) 1st woman apptd as an official artist to any European court. Hope to see you there.
October 11, 2023 at 10:17 AM
Friday 13th Oct: 2 p.m. Letherhead Institute, Leatherhead, Surrey, I will be talking about why there are so few women are recognised as artists (tkts £7.50). Among those featured will be Levina Teerlinc (1520-1576) 1st woman apptd as an official artist to any European court. Hope to see you there.
Reposted by Mell Taylor
Yes and there was so much looting they released Raleigh from the Tower to sort it out. It's in my book, Raleigh - Tudor Adventurer
October 10, 2023 at 7:30 AM
Yes and there was so much looting they released Raleigh from the Tower to sort it out. It's in my book, Raleigh - Tudor Adventurer
A fabulous read, and a convincing expose of just who was behind the Mask.
⛓️Ever wondered what life was like for prisoners in Louis XIV's France ? My book explores the plight of people held in captivity and offers a solution to the identity of the Man in the Iron Mask (Suzie not included !)
October 10, 2023 at 7:07 AM
A fabulous read, and a convincing expose of just who was behind the Mask.