Rudyard Kipling's "Stiff Upper Lip": From Empire to Tragedy
Rudyard Kipling, born in India in 1865, embodied the spirit of British Imperialism during its peak. His life was a …
The Longchamp Racecourse and Fashion Promenade
Attracting enormous crowds, by the late 1800s, the Longchamp Racecourse in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris had become one …
Napoleon: Hero or Tyrant?
The French still cannot agree on whether Napoleon was a hero or a tyrant. In a 2010 opinion poll, French people were …
Wernigerode Castle in the Harz Mountains of Germany
Towering 300 ft above the town of Wernigerode in the Harz Mountains of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, stands a romantic baroque …
Edwardian Photoblogging
Kensington and Chelsea Libraries in London, England, uncovered a series of images suggesting that the Edwardians might …
5 Historical Figures Feeling the Blues
Feeling down in the dumps? Got a case of the Mondays? Don't worry, you're not alone. Take solace in these melancholy …
Vintage Baby Carriages of Bygone Times
The year was 1847 and Queen Victoria was pregnant with her 6th child, Princess Louise. Hearing about a new type of baby …
The Tragic Story of Princess Ka'iulani, "The Island Rose" of Hawaii
Born Victoria Ka'iulani on October 16, 1875, the Crown Princess and heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii was …
If Only the Dead Could Talk—the Ghost of the Red Barn Murder
It was the year 1828. In the little English village of Polstead in Suffolk, Mrs. Marten was having a bad dream. A …
Women's Fashions of the Late Victorian Era
During the Victorian Era, advances in technology and distribution saw fashion change from an exclusive privilege of the …
John Atkinson Grimshaw: Painter of Moonlight
Known for his city night-scenes and landscapes, John Atkinson Grimshaw was a Victorian artist described by British art …
10 Fascinating Facts About Mont Saint-Michel: the Medieval City on a Rock
Rising hundreds of feet above a rocky islet amidst vast sandbanks exposed to powerful tides stands a Gothic Benedictine …
The Art of Autumn
Autumn is a time of contemplation. A time to reflect on the changing of the seasons from growth to decay. Each year is a …
Frozen in Time: the Kaiser's Home in Exile
At the end of World War I, the world desperately needed a scapegoat to help come to terms with four long years of human …
Renoir: an Impression of Beauty
Famed for his paintings of bustling 19th-century Parisian life, pretty women and sensual nudes, Pierre-Auguste Renoir's …
Neuschwanstein—Castle of Dreams
Born in Nymphenburg Palace—the "Castle of the Nymphs"—in Munich, Bavaria, and growing up in the Gothic Revival fantasy …
The Real Gangs of New York
Those are the gruesome words of Bill "the Butcher" Cutting, played by Daniel Day-Lewis in the Martin Scorsese film Gangs …
Francois Flameng: Interpreter of Beauty
Beautiful places, beautiful people, beautiful clothes—Francois Flameng loved to paint them all. Born in an art studio in …
The Light that Inspired the Skagen Painters
Skagen is a village in the northernmost part of Denmark. From the late 1870s until the turn of the century, a group of …
Lafayette—the Hero of Two Worlds
Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, was a French aristocrat and military officer. To many of us, he is simply the …
8 Lessons on How to be Polite from Victorian Ladies
First published in 1860 by Florence Hartley and now available for free in the public domain, The Ladies' Book of …
The Tragic Story of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911
This is the tragic story of how 146 immigrant workers—mostly young women—lost their lives in one of the worst industrial …
A Tale of Two Sisters
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. This is the tragic story of two sisters. Two beautiful Russian …
How to be a Gentleman – Lessons from History
Some say that believing in gentlemen is like believing in fairy tales. In our fast-paced, frenetic world, we can be …
Princess Alice and the Tragic Kiss of Fate
Princess Alice, the second daughter of Queen Victoria, didn't lead the charmed life of many 19th-century princesses. …
Castle de Haar—straight out of a fairy tale
Rising majestically above the trees, deep in the center of the Netherlands, the towers of Castle de Haar glisten in the …
Belle of the Ball: A 5-Minute Guide to Ball Gowns
Delicately and exotically trimmed, and made of luxurious fabrics, ball gowns are the most formal female attire for …
The Roaring Twenties Fashions: A 5-Minute Guide
Dubbed the "Roaring Twenties" in Britain and America, the "Années folles" (Crazy Years) in France, and the "Golden …
Boston's 17th-Century Burying Grounds
The Grim Reaper made frequent visits to colonial Boston. Disease and the difficulties of childbirth sent many men, …
10 Fascinating Facts About the Great Exhibition of 1851
In 1851, Great Britain stood at the very pinnacle of industrial and cultural leadership of the world. But running in …
The Language of Flowers - the secret Victorian love code
For Victorians, flowers were the language of love. Proclaiming feelings in public was considered socially taboo, so the …
Peleș and Pelișor - Castles of the Romanian Royal Family
Flanked and backed by majestic fir trees, Peleș Castle, sits atop a rise in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains …
18 Victorian Seaside Pleasure Piers
Britain's heritage of piers dates from the boom in seaside resorts during the Victorian era. The first seaside piers …
Valentine's Day in the Victorian Era
From Christian martyrs to Chaucer to Shakespeare, Valentine's Day can be traced back to Ancient Rome, but it is the …
A Five-Minute Guide to Waistcoats and Vests
Today, waistcoats, or vests, are the essential third piece in the traditional three-piece male business suit. Historians …
Exquisite Pocket Watches of a Bygone Time
Designed to slip into the pocket of the new waistcoats introduced by King Charles II of England, pocket watches became a …
10 History Lessons from the Masterpiece TV Series "Victoria"
Victoria is a British drama television series created by Daisy Goodwin and starring Jenna Coleman and Rufus Sewell. …
A Slice of American Life in a Gilded Age by William Merritt Chase
William Merritt Chase was an American painter who thrived during America's Gilded Age. He is best known for his …
A 5-Minute Guide to the House of Worth
Something wonderful happened to the world of fashion during the second half of the 19th century. Beautiful gowns were no …
An Impression of Winter by Claude Monet
What impression do you have of winter? Perhaps you're a snowbird who escapes the cold for warmer climes. Perhaps you're …
A Ghost Story of Christmas
It was the winter of 1843. Long after the sober folks had gone to bed, Charles Dickens paced the streets of London. …
In the Bleak Mid Winter
The story of shepherding begins some 5,000 years ago in Asia Minor. As the name implies, a shepherd is a sheep herder — …
Life in a Scottish Fishing Village during the Victorian Era
Newhaven is a small harbor port within the city of Edinburgh and a designated conservation area. Once a thriving fishing …
A Brief History of Fairies
Do you believe in fairies? As a child, my parents told me that when a tooth fell out, I should place it under the pillow …
40 Beautiful Images of Ireland in 1895
They say that when the Celts became Christians, their old gods and goddesses changed themselves into fairies and went …
World War II in Color—the Greatest Generation
At the very end of the 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora!—about the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor by Imperial Japan—Naval Marshal …
A 5-Minute Guide to Callot Soeurs Couture
When a young painting conservator from New York University happened upon some Louis Vuitton trunks in a 15th-century …
Gardens of the Gilded Age in 40 Glorious Images
Frances "Fannie" Benjamin Johnston, a pioneering female photographer from Grafton, West Virginia, was given her first …
18 Halloween Pin-Ups from Hollywood's Golden Age
The Golden Age of Hollywood was a period stretching from the introduction of sound in around 1927 to the beginning of …
The Tale o' Jack-o'-Lantern
It was a cold, dark night as they crossed the moors on All Hallows' Eve. The folk at the village had said not to venture …
Versailles: the Grandest Palace of Them All
King Louis XIV was so proud of Versailles that he would often give tours to visiting dignitaries himself and even wrote …
20 Exquisite Paintings of 18th-Century Ladies by Joshua Reynolds
Sir Joshua Reynolds Sir Joshua Reynolds RA FRS FRSA (1723 – 1792) was an influential eighteenth-century English portrait …
British Hero Admiral Lord Nelson: Victor at the Battle of Trafalgar, 1805
Born a small sickly baby, the son of a Rector in Norfolk, England, Nelson would go on to become the greatest British …
Knock Knock: A Brief History of Door Knockers
For anyone living in the United Kingdom, there is one door knocker that is the most powerful in the land. A lion's head …
The Other Lady Diana Spencer: the tragic story of the princess that never was
We all know, love, and remember the Lady Diana Spencer whose wedding in 1981 was watched by an estimated 750 million …
The Tragic Story of a Beautiful Countess Who Became a "Victim of Cosmetics"
Born in Cambridgeshire in 1733 to Irish parents, Maria Gunning was the eldest of seven children. Her father, John …
40 Views Inside the Winter Palace of Imperial Russia
During the 18th century, a marked change occurred in European royal architecture. The need for austere fortified …
16 Stunning Sofas from the 18th and 19th Centuries
Today, furniture fills our living and working spaces. It makes a statement about our taste for practicality and …
Cléo de Mérode: the Dancer and Celebrity Glamour Model of the Belle Époque
At the age of eight, Cléo de Mérode (1875 – 1966) was already showing the talent that would make her a world renowned …
The Beautiful French Porcelain of Sèvres
Despite a turbulent century of changing taste and technology, Sèvres Manufatory in the suburbs of Paris remained at the …
Mr Darcy's Shirt
In the 1995 BBC rendition of Pride and Prejudice, Colin Firth's portrayal of Mr. Darcy includes a notable cream linen …
20 Enchanting Paintings of Regency England by Edmund Blair Leighton
Perhaps no painter captures the romance of the English Regency better than Edmund Blair Leighton. Just as we, today, are …
The 17th-Century Hampton Court Beauties
Depicting the most glamorous ladies from the court of King William III and Queen Mary II, the Hampton Court Beauties are …
Mucha Do About Art Nouveau
The rags to riches story of Czech Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha. Living alone in Paris in 1894, Alphonse Mucha …
12 Dashing Men of the Regency Era
The Regency (1795–1837) was a period when King George III of England was deemed unfit to rule and his son, the Prince of …
10 Fascinating Facts About Chinoiserie
1. Chinoiserie was once the most coveted fashion of the aristocracy During the 17th and 18th centuries, Europeans became …
30 Glorious Paintings of 19th-Century Europe
Have you ever considered taking up painting as a hobby? What would inspire you? How about hiking through the Austrian …
The History of Handbags — a 5-Minute Guide
Today's designer handbags have a long and storied history. Early Europeans used handbags just as we do today—to store …
How the Power of Pictures Helped End Child Labor in the United States
During the early decades of the twentieth century, child labor reached a peak in the United States. American children …
How Venice Looked to Victorian Travelers c1890
"Queen of the Adriatic", "City of Bridges", "City of Canals"—whatever you call this beautiful city, you can be sure to …
The "Beau Monde" High Fashion of the 18th Century
On August 1, 1714, Queen Anne of Great Britain drew her last breath, and the first of a series of Georges ascended to …
Victorian Artist Charles Burton Barber Captures the Special Bond Between Children and Pets
Growing up in the popular Victorian family seaside resort of Great Yarmouth, England, it might have been happy childhood …
Beware the Full Moon. Beware the Lunar Society
The year was 1775. Some very strange events had been observed at an elegant white mansion in Birmingham, England. In the …
Parasols—the Essential Accessory for a Lady
On a windy summer's day in 1875, Claude Monet painted his wife Camille with their son Jean out for a stroll in …
The Art of Café Society
Café society was the name given to the "Beautiful People" and "Bright Young Things" who gathered in fashionable cafes in …
10 Amazing Facts About Cholera and The Great Stink of London
Sometimes, kicking up a great stink about an important issue is the only way to get something done about it. In 1858, it …
30 Beautiful Paintings of Village Life Around Norwegian Fjords by Hans Dahl
Hans Dahl (1849 – 1937) was famous for painting breathtaking Norwegian landscapes with sheer-sided fjords and sweeping …
The Colorful Shoes of the 18th Century
Adorned with decadent decorative arts and steeped in affectation, it's no surprise that the French Court led European …
16 Albert Lynch Paintings from the Belle Époque
Born in Trujillo, Peru, in 1851, Albert Lynch moved to Paris to study at one of the most prestigious and influential art …
20 Handmade Dolls Tell the History of Fashion
This is the story of how a series of exquisite handmade dolls, representing the history of French haute couture made …
The Statue of Liberty — Enlightening the World
The story of the Statue of Liberty is one of the most compelling celebrations of freedom and democracy the world has …
Art for the Day - Daniel Ridgway Knight
More than 100 years ago, high above the banks of the Seine River in Rolleboise, France, Daniel Ridgway Knight set up his …
40 Fine Art Paintings by Émile Vernon
Émile Vernon (1872-1919) was a French fine arts painter. Studying at the School of Fine Arts Tours in the Loire Valley, …
Victorian Artist John Brett
John Brett (1831 - 1902). British. Known for his highly detailed landscapes and influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite …
Dante Gabriel Rossetti—art meets poetry
Dante Gabriel Rossetti—even his name is a work of art. It is said that to understand him, we must first understand that …
Kylemore Abbey - the incredible story of an Irish castle on a lake
The year was 1871. Wealthy financier and Member of Parliament Mitchell Henry (1826 - 1910) was standing with his wife on …
Edwardian Dreams by Charles Courtney Curran
Charles Courtney Curran Charles Courtney Curran was an American artist best known for paintings of Victorian and …
Crinolinemania - 10 Fascinating Facts About the Crinoline
Just as we chuckle today at the absurd dimensions reached by Victorian crinolines, so too did Victorians themselves. …
D-Day, H-Hour: the greatest collaboration the world has ever seen
It was a “golden age” of speeches when carefully crafted words had the power to lift people’s hearts and make the …
Portrait Miniatures: Intimate Expressions of Love
Portrait miniatures were popular among 16th-century English and French aristocrats. Spreading across Europe in the 18th …
Prince Louis Napoleon: The Last Hope of the Bonapartes
On June 1, 1879, Louis Napoleon was killed in action during the Anglo-Zulu War. Louis Napoleon (1856 – 1879) was the son …
Royal Carriages: Traveling in Splendor
Electric windows, heating, and hydraulic stabilizers: these are the accouterments afforded a modern royal carriage fit …
10 Surprising Facts About the Spanish Armada
On May 28, 1588, the Spanish Armada set sail from Lisbon, Portugal, headed for England with 130 ships and 30,000 men. …
American Impressionist Painter Childe Hassam: A 5-Minute Guide
Childe Hassam One of the greatest American Impressionist painters, Frederick Childe Hassam produced over 3000 works in …
Queen Victoria, Last of the Hanoverians
Queen Victoria's grandfather, George III, was the first of the Hanoverian line to be born in England. So enamored was …
Mr and Mrs Andrew Carnegie
It was 8 o’clock on the evening of April 22, 1887. Ms Louise Whitfield was about to say “I do” to one of the richest men …
10 Historic Victorian Homes from the Great State of Texas
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects …
The Last of the Mohicans: A Sweeping Romance from the Seven Years' War
The challenge with historical drama for Hollywood movie studios is to make it appealing to a mass audience. Too much …
12 Paintings That Tell Stories from Auguste Toulmouche
French artist Auguste Toulmouche (1829 - 1890) loved to tell stories. But instead of putting quill to paper, he put …
Edwardian Fashion: A 5-Minute Guide
The Edwardian era was the period covering the reign of King Edward VII, 1901 to 1910, and is sometimes extended to 1919. …
The Magical Miniature World of Antique Dollhouses
Welcome to the magical world of antique dollhouses. Early dollhouses were elaborate European cabinet-style “baby house” …
8 Heavenly Austrian Ceiling Frescoes influenced by the Sistine Chapel
How could we begin without first mentioning the granddaddy of all ceiling frescoes that influenced so many others that …
10 Fascinating Facts About Titanic
The "Ship of dreams", Titanic was the pride of Liverpool's White Star Line. Billed unsinkable, she would send 1500 souls …
10 Facts About the Victorian Tradition of White Weddings
1 White weddings started with Queen Victoria Although Queen Victoria was not the first monarch to wear white at her …
30 Beautiful Paintings by Berthe Morisot
In 1894, famed art critic Gustave Geffroy described Berthe Morisot, Marie Bracquemond, and Mary Cassatt as "les trois …
Inside the Magical World of a Victorian Mansion Filled with Antiques
Imagine having such a large collection of porcelain antiques that you need a separate room to keep it all. And imagine …
All Roads Lead to Silk - A 5-Minute Guide to the History of Silk
For thousands of years, silk has been a symbol of luxury. Its lustrous finish and soft texture made it the choice of …
20 Romantic Dreamscapes from 19th Century artist Frederic Edwin Church
Frederic Edwin Church loved to dream. He dreamed of mountains, waterfalls, and sunsets. He dreamed of exotic lands …
Comfortable Elegance — A 5-Minute Guide to the Tea Gown
After a hard day at the mercy of a corset, 19th-century well-to-do ladies found welcome relief in the tea gown. Worn for …
16 of the Best Authors in History—vote for your favorite
Whether you love the Regency romances of Jane Austen, the fantasy of J. R. R. Tolkien, the science fiction of Jules …
40 Pissarro Paintings of French Country Life
Camille Pissarro (1830 - 1903) loved to paint rural scenes from nature. He loved to express the beauty and truth of …
Norfolk Island: "Hell in Paradise"
Does a tiny Australian island in the South Pacific with evergreen pines, jagged cliffs, pure blue waters, and sandy …
30 Romantic Russian Paintings of Ships at Sea by Ivan Aivazovsky
Ivan Aivazovsky (1817 - 1900) loved the sea. Considered one of the greatest marine artists in history, during his …
12 Fabulous Fabergé Eggs — choose your favorite
Between 1885 and 1917, Peter Carl Fabergé created a limited number of exclusive jeweled eggs for the Russian Tsars …
A Victorian Easter Diary
26th March, 1874. Dear Diary, It's our Easter Holiday. At last, the long cold winter is over and spring is finally here. …
10 Sublime Springtime Paintings from Claude Monet
Claude Monet loved nature — and what better time to enjoy it than its reawakening after a long, cold winter. He loved to …
The Hustle and Bustle of Victorian Life — A 5-Minute Guide to the Bustle Dress
Following on from our article on corsets, we turn our attention to the bustle. We think the bustle epitomizes Victorian …
30 Beautiful Impressionist Paintings from Frank Myers Boggs "An American in Paris"
The Impressionist painter Frank Myers Boggs loved France. He loved the quays and monuments along the Seine in Paris. He …
10 Surprising Facts About Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn was elegance personified. Her wistful expressions, her svelte figure, her impish charm, captivated …
A Snuffbox From Russia with Love
The stories from history are all around us. Take this image of a snuffbox from Russia for example. It is part of the …
The Top 3 Most Beautiful Cathedrals Built in Honor of St Patrick
Saint Patrick was a 5th-century Christian missionary from a Romano-British family. Ireland's primary patron saint, St …
40 Stunning Images of Cornwall in 1895
Unspoiled beaches, enchanting seaside villages, and idyllic countryside make Cornwall a special place to live and visit. …
10 Exquisite Victorian Dressing Gowns — Slipping Into Something More Comfortable
After an evening spent at the opera or the ball in a tight-laced corsetted gown, perhaps Victorian ladies were a little …
20 Beautiful Cottage Paintings by Victorian Artist Helen Allingham
Helen Allingham (1848 – 1926) was an English watercolour painter and illustrator of the Victorian era. Displaying a …
10 Fascinating Facts About the Belle Époque
1. The Belle Époque was an era of peace and plenty between wars The French expression Belle Époque was used in …
40 Delightful Images of Devon, England in the 1890s
Devon is a county of England in the south-west corner of the British Isles. The name Devon comes from a Celtic tribe …
30 Beautiful Paintings of the American West by Albert Bierstadt
German-born American artist Albert Bierstadt (1830 - 1902) was best known for his paintings of the American West. A …
10 Amazing Facts About the French Medieval City of Carcassonne
The medieval walled city of Carcassonne sits in the luscious valley of the Aude river—the gap between the Pyrenees and …
The Luxurious Waterfront Mansion of a 19th-Century Russian Banker
Just how wealthy were bankers in the 19th century? Judge for yourself as we look at the waterfront mansion of Baron von …
"An Afternoon at the Park" — 36 Beautiful Paintings of Public Parks
The first parks were royal deer parks — large tracts of land set aside for hunting by royalty and the aristocracy. Hyde …
25 Dreamlike Paintings of 19th-Century Dutch Towns and Cities
Self-portrait as a firewood gatherer walking along a frozen canal. Cornelis Springer (1817-1891) specialised in the …
When is a Night Watch not a Night Watch? When it's Rembrandt's most famous painting.
Rembrandt's "The Night Watch' is arguably the most famous painting in the Netherlands. It was painted in 1642, during …
20 Elegant Modern Women—the 19th-Century Paintings of Alfred Stevens
Alfred Stevens was one of Belgium's leading 19th-century artists who specialized in paintings of fashionable young women …
A Brief History of Cats—and why we love them
It's official—we're crazy about cats! According to the ASPCA, Americans own 85.8 million cats. And in Europe, it's the …
Valentine Moments in Time
What is love? Philosophers have debated this question for eons. They divide love into three forms: eros, the passionate, …
The Dancers of Degas
Ballerinas are to Degas as lilies are to Monet. And "make us see" is what he does with exquisite aplomb. He renders the …
20 Eligible Bachelors — vote for Your 16th Century "Renaissance Man"
Imagine we've traveled back in time to the 16th century. This was a time called the Renaissance, covering roughly …
12 Exquisite Romantic Paintings to Feed Your Soul
Franz Unterberger (1837 - 1902) was an Austrian painter specializing in architecture, water scenes and landscapes in the …
10 Views of Victorian London — Then and Now
Like many older cities around the world, London has changed with the times. But unlike many cities, a great deal of old …
Abandoned Buildings — Stories Frozen in Time
History is literally dying all around us. Decay is nature's process of creative destruction—destroying the old to make …
40 Beautiful Images of Wales from the 1890s
Through the magic of “Photochrom” comes these beautiful color images of Wales from the late 19th century. Photochrom is …
Following in the footsteps of Sissi at the Hungarian Opera in 1885
Join us as we take a journey inside some of the world’s great opera houses. Imagine we're in 1885, and tonight, we have …
Gloriana!—the Many Faces of Elizabeth I
Portraiture played an important role in the Elizabethan era. Queen Elizabeth's portraits conveyed the regal image of a …
12 Beautiful Paintings from Russian Artist Lev Lagorio
Lev Lagorio (1828–1905) loved the way light plays with the beauty and drama of sea and mountains. Known for his …
20 Amazing Winter Paintings from the Little Ice Age
The Rhone Glacier, Switzerland, in 1870 The Little Ice Age was a period from about 1300 to 1870 when Europe and North …
A Lasting First Impression - how Monet started a revolution in art
It was April 15, 1874, on the boulevard des Capucines, Paris, France. Monet waited nervously for people to arrive at his …
A Victorian Fashion Show
Imagine you're attending a fashion show in the Victorian era. You get to choose the trends for the next Victorian …
The World's Libraries — beautiful buildings for all to enjoy
Libraries have been around since antiquity. Their emergence marks the end of prehistory and the dawn of history. The …
The Changing Face of the Second Empire
In the 1860s and 70s, there was an architectural style that took the world by storm. It was called "Second Empire", …
Edward I - The Lord of the Ring of Welsh Castles
Edward I of England Stand on the banks of the River Conwy at night and gaze across at the floodlit Conwy Castle, its …
Ooh la la! The Victorian Secret - How to Get Into Shape in Just 5-Minutes With No Exercise
Before it became popular to lift heavy objects for an hour or run down the street for fun (known to Victorians as …
Happy New Year!
"Auld Lang Syne" means "old long since", "long long ago", "days gone by", or "old times". Written by Robert Burns in …
Beautiful British Towns - Past vs Present
Louise Rayner was a British watercolour artist of the Victorian Era. During the summers of the 1870s and 1880s, she …
We Wish You a Merry Christmas!
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday season! Beneath The Snow Encumbered Branches by Joseph …
10 Lessons from Queen Victoria's Favorite Prime Minister
Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (1804 - 1881), was twice the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during …
Celebrating Christmas in World War 2 - Keep Calm and Carry On
The war years made celebrating the tradition of Christmas very difficult. But people found ways to make the most of it. …
The Story of Queen Wilhelmina - the World's First Female Billionaire
Look at those eyes. Even at seven years old, Princess Wilhelmina of the Netherlands seemed to know she was destined for …
What’s Your Favorite Christmas Movie?
Burning Fireplace Fire GIFfrom Burning Fireplace GIFs The log fire is crackling away nicely. You've made a hot cup of …
A Brief History of Christmas Markets
Something happens at this time of year all across Northern Europe, especially in Germany. Pretty little stalls huddle …
The Pillars of the Earth - Inside England's Medieval Cathedrals
From the Middle Ages until the advent of the skyscraper, Cathedrals were often the world's tallest buildings. In 1311, …
Happy Thanksgiving
For millennia people have given thanks for a good harvest with special ceremonies. The Thanksgiving tradition in North …
22 Beautiful Paintings of 19th-Century American Life
At one time, especially between 1815 and 1915, the horse and buggy was the primary mode of short-distance transportation …
Chivalry - the Knight's Code of Honor
If you're picturing a knight in shining armor rescuing a damsel in distress, you're not alone. Consider the 1885 Frank …
Dinner at Downton - What to Wear?
Imagine you've been invited to dinner at Downton Abbey. It's the first season covering the period around 1912-1914. The …
The Romanov family and the Ghosts of Alexander Palace
Alexander Palace was the favorite residence of the last Russian Emperor, Nicholas Alexandrovich Romanov—Tsar Nicholas …
To All Who Sacrificed: We Shall Never Forget
The First World War caused suffering on a scale that had not been seen before. Advancements in technological and …
Castles of England and Wales as Victorians Saw Them
Before there was the motorcar, Victorians traveled to see castles by train and horse-drawn carriage. There was no …
The Execution of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plotters - Hanged, Drawn and Quartered
The Sinister Plot In 1605, a group of rural English Catholics from England's heartlands banded together to hatch a plot …
Out of Africa - 10 Inspirational Quotes from Karen Blixen
Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke was a Danish author best known for her memoir Out of Africa, written under the pen …
Darcy vs Darcy - Who's Your Favorite Mr Darcy?
Mr Darcy is the quintessential British romantic hero and one of two central characters in Jane Austen's late-regency …
"The Master of Swish" - Boldini's Elegant Portraits of High Society Women
Self-portrait by Giovanni Boldini, 1892 In a dusty old Parisian apartment in 2010, a startling discovery was made. No …
The Remarkable Story of the Real Fagin from Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist
Drawing of Ikey Solomon, original criminal on whom Fagin is based. The character Fagin in Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist …
Dance Hall Days
The word "Ballroom" is derived from the word ball, which in turn originates from the Latin word ballare, meaning 'to …
Around the World in 80 Days by Steam
It was 10 am, 19th July 1843. Prince Albert stepped from the royal train which had arrived in Bristol from London as the …
Was Victorian Weather Cooler Than Today?
Lithograph of Krakatoa eruption. It was 10:02 in the morning, August 27th, 1883. The loudest explosion ever recorded and …
10 Ways Victorians Managed to Stay Cool Without A/C
Victorian ladies fashion is often characterized as ornate and covering the whole body. For men, it was formal and rigid. …
A Tour of Magical Scotland in the Victorian Era
Within a single generation, the Victorians built a vast railway network connecting nearly every town in Scotland. …
If You Could be Princess for a Day, Which Princess Would you be?
The term "Princess" is most often used as the regal rank of a daughter or granddaughter of a king or queen, or the wife …
How Susan Catherine Waters Thrived in a Male-Dominated Victorian Art World
Susan Catherine Moore Waters was a self-taught artist who had little formal training. She paid her way through seminary …
Garden of the Princess (Louvre) - Monet in Transition from Realism to Impressionism
Garden of the Princess (Louvre) by Claude Oscar Monet is one of his earlier works from 1867—before the term …
From Sioux Reservation to Violinist, Author, and Activist: The Story of Native American Zitkala-Ša
Zitkala-Ša, "Red Bird," also known as Gertrude Simmons (1876-1938), was a Yankton Sioux woman of Native American and …
Portrait of a Lady - a Brief History of the term "Lady"
Today, the term "lady" is often used as a civil term of respect for a woman, as is "gentleman" for a man. But there was …
The Windmills of Monet
Claude Monet by the photographer Albert Greiner, Amsterdam, 1871. The year was 1871. Claude Monet had been exiled to …
Currier & Ives: the Essential Decoration for Victorian Homemaking
From humble beginnings in the Victorian era, Currier and Ives became a successful New York-based printmaking firm that …
The Art of Reading in the Victorian Era
Victorians were avid readers. Just as we bury our faces in our mobile devices on the morning commute, so too did …
6 of the Best Sherlock Holmes Actors - Who's Your Favorite?
The Guinness Book of World Records lists Sherlock Holmes as the “most portrayed literary human character in film and …
A Journey Back in Time Down the Avenue des Champs Élysées
The Avenue des Champs Élysées is a boulevard in Paris 1.9 km (1.2 mi) long and 70 m (76 yds) wide, which runs between …
Tissot's Victorian Ladies
James Tissot (1836 - 1902), was a French painter and illustrator. He painted scenes of Paris and London society—and …
The Tragic Story of Queen Victoria's Favorite Great Granddaughter
Princess Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine was the only daughter of Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine and his …
10 Amazing Facts About the Cursed Hope Diamond
In 1839, a blue diamond weighing over forty-five carats appeared in the collection catalogue of London banker and …
25 Victorian Dresses Worth a Fortune
It was 1858, Paris, France. English fashion designer Charles Frederick Worth "the father of haute couture" had opened …
Queen Victoria's Beloved Pomeranians
It was springtime in 1888. Queen Victoria was visiting Florence, Italy ... and she fell in love. She was swept off her …
Napoleon Surrenders - marking the End of an Era
Napoleon Bonaparte on Board the 'Bellerophon' in Plymouth Sound by Sir Charles Lock Eastlake, RA, 1815 It was early …
Redlands - A Victorian Jewel of the "Inland Empire"
Redlands, in San Bernardino County, is one of the oldest cities in California. Named for its rich, red soil, it sits …
The Art of Women's Tennis
Sport says a lot about how far society has come. Leading social historian Harold Perkins once put it this way, When you …
Henley Royal Regatta and the Race of the Century
Only the two world wars could prevent the Henley Royal Regatta from running every year since 1839 on the River Thames in …
Anyone for Tennis?
Credit: Fr Maxim Massalitin (Click to Enlarge). "Advantage Brother Egbert." During the 12th century, in monasteries …
Madame Lebrun - Marie Antoinette's portraitist
A story of joy and tragedy in an age of revolution. Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (1755 – 1842), also known as Madame …
6 Secrets to Success from Teddy Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt (1858 – 1919), or "TR" as he's affectionately called, was the 26th President of the United States and …
Photochrom - Victorian Era Color Photography
Before Color Photography became mainstream, there was Photochrom. Photochrom images are ink-based, created through "the …
6 Boston Landmarks - Then and Now
Boston is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the US and has several firsts that you may find surprising. …
The USS Constitution - "Old Ironsides"
In 1785, pirates off the Barbary Coast (what is now Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya), were seizing American …
Heads Will Roll - The Beheading of Charles I
There was a chill breeze blowing as Charles stepped out onto the execution scaffold on that cold, gray afternoon of …
Architectural Styles of Victorian Homes: a 5-Minute Guide
Victorian architecture is characterized by an eclecticism that moves from one building or part of a building to the …
A Brief History of Toilets
The word toilet derives from the French word toile, meaning a "cloth" (toilette is a "small cloth"), that was draped …
Tea Drinking in the Civil War
At the outbreak of the American Civil War, over half of America's foreign–born population was British and Irish. Many …
Captain Scott's Heroes and the Tragic Quest for the South Pole
In 1911, Robert Falcon Scott" Captain Robert Falcon Scott (1868 – 1912) led a team of five heroes into the freezing …
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