c. 1667 In France, during the reign of King Louis XIV, the fork begins to achieve popularity as an eating implement. Formerly, only knives and spoons had been used. A General History of the Insects by Jan Swammerdam presents a preexistence theory of genetics that the seed of every living creature was formed at the creation of the world and that each generation is contained in the generation that preceded it. By going into that detail you get much closer to the subjects you’re writing about and that allows you to draw out big questions.” Nonetheless, in the cultural landscape of the 17th century, the flute held a multifaceted role that extended beyond its superficial portrayal as a decorative attribute. It was a musical instrument that transcended its humble origins and became an integral part of the social fabric, reflecting the evolving tastes, aspirations and values of the time. The Girl with a Flute exemplifies the popular genre within Dutch painting known as tronie, an antiquated term referring to a specific kind of image popularized by Rembrandt and his followers. tronies were derived from living models, including artists themselves, relatives or colleagues. However, their purpose wasn't to function as formal portraits—such portraits were commissioned exclusively—instead, they were kept in the artist's studio, ready to arouse potential buyers' curiosity. Old men, attractive young women, "Turks," and valiant soldiers were all customary subjects for tronies. Artists favored attire with an especially exotic appearance, offering an avenue to experiment and display their adept technique—an attribute that represented a distinct hallmark of the professional artist. Generally fashioned on a smaller scale and dimension to match a more affordable price range, tronies were eagerly sought by collectors.

Effortless and compelling, Brooks is a wonderful storyteller. I doubt I will read a better book this year.' Sunday Telegraph Calculus is invented by Isaac Newton will prove to be one of the most effective tool for scientific investigation ever produced by mathematics. He’s not really saying anything drastically new, he’s trying to tell global history in an engaging way. Historians of the early modern period have become slightly obsessed with global history recently. I think that’s right, it’s very important, but it’s often hard to tell that story to a wider audience. The genius of Vermeer’s Hat is that he finds a clever and engaging way to do it. I’m really interested in the figure of Bertrand. It’s easy to extrapolate that she can’t have been particularly happy with the real Martin Guerre, who abandoned her.

Matt Rugg: Connecting Form

Gough was a Shropshire yeoman who teetered on the edge of gentility, he died in 1723. For some reason, he collected these memoirs of his village — Myddle —which are part antiquarian, part local interest, part a document with a purpose. One of the things he does is write a list of all the law suits Myddle won against neighbouring villages, which is a very seventeenth- and eighteenth-century way of looking at your local community: this is a profoundly litigious society. His psycho-geography is very interesting because he thinks about the village in a particular way, he thinks about the church and where each family’s pew was in the church. He goes around each pew and says “this family sat here, this is their story.” It’s not just their genealogy, it’s all about their sexual exploits, or the crime they’ve been involved in, who were good guys, and who were terrible puritans or terrible drunks. There are running themes, such as the idea that drink can ruin people, but it’s also full of these wonderfully gossipy descriptions of his neighbours, such as someone who’s got“good gear in his breeches.” It’s full of stories we would never see had Gough not written them down. A French Academy of Sciences (Académie Royale des Sciences) founded by Louis XIV at Paris seeks to rival London's 4-year-old Royal Society. Jean Baptiste Colbert has persuaded the king to begin subsidizing scientists. Christiaan Huygens, along with 19 other scientists, is elected as a founding member. After the French Revolution, the Royale is dropped and the character of the academy changes. It later becomes the Institut de France. The self-portrait by Frans van Mieris, one of the Netherlands' most accomplished artists, vividly captures the characteristic flair of the Dutch tronie.

Douglas Smith writes in The Seattle Times "In Brook's hands Vermeer's canvases, together with a painting by a second-rate contemporary and an old chipped Delft plate, are just bright lures to catch our attention before he takes us on his rich, suggestive tours of the 17th-century world." He goes on to say: "In recounting these tales of international trade, cultural exchange and foreign encounter, Brook does more than merely sketch the beginnings of globalization and highlight the forces that brought our modern world into being; rather, he offers a timely reminder of humanity's interdependence."

The fourth painting is The Geographer (1669), often suggested to be modelled by Anthonie van Leeuwenhoek. Wood panels used for painting were prepared through a meticulous process to ensure their stability, smoothness and longevity. Different types of wood were used, with oak and poplar being common choices. They were very thin in comparison with paintings on canvas of the samw dimension, which can be observed int some portrayals of artists working in their studios. The preparation process typically involved several steps. First, the wood panels were selected and cut to the desired size and shape. Oak was often preferred for its durability and resistance to warping, while poplar was used for its smoother surface. Sizing, a protective layer, was applied to the wood to seal the surface and prevent the paint from being absorbed into the wood fibers. This was usually done with a mixture of animal glue or gelatin, which also helped to create a barrier between the wood and subsequent layers. A mixture of powdered chalk or gypsum and animal glue, called gesso, was then applied to the sizing. Gesso provided a smooth and slightly absorbent surface that allowed the paint to adhere effectively. The ground was often applied in multiple layers, sanded between each layer to achieve a smooth finish. Because almost all European paper is made from recycled cloth rags, which are becoming increasingly scarce as more and more books and other materials are printed, the English Parliament bans burial in cotton or linen cloth so as to preserve the cloth for paper manufacture. By studying and analysing the paintings of Johannes Vermeer, beginning with his landscape View of Delft (1660), and examining the scant documents detailing his life, the author builds up a picture of the world in which Vermeer lived; and from this he finds evidence of socioeconomic phenomena and globalization. In the case of the port in Delft in the Netherlands, for example, he finds evidence of the Dutch East India Company's operations. This is often said to be the world's first multinational corporation, which competing traders were forced to join; it had quasi-governmental powers, including the ability to wage war, negotiate treaties, coin money, and establish colonies, and played a powerful and prominent role in trade between the Dutch and Asia, including China.