★ Paintings frequently portray great events and grand people, but ‘An Interesting Letter’ by American artist Julius LeBlanc Stewart (1890) shows a scene far more familiar to most people. I have a bit of a passion for paintings that…
★ Today is the centenary of legendary American jazz singer, Ella Fitzgerald’s birth! Often referred to as the ‘First Lady of Song’, she was famous for her richly toned voice, impeccable diction and unparalleled talent for vocal improvisation. Born on this day in 1917 in Newport News, Virginia…
★ The Louisiana Purchase Exposition – better known as the St. Louis World’s Fair – opened in St. Louis, Missouri, on this day in 1904. Intended to commemorate the centenary of the 1803 purchase of the Louisiana territory from France, the fair showcased a range of exhibits from 63… Continue reading
★ American actress, Celeste Holm, was born exactly 100 years ago today! A talented performer on both stage and screen, she’s pictured here in a studio publicity photo from 1947. Born in Manhattan, New York, on 29th April 1917, Celeste was the only child of Theodor Holm, a… Continue reading
★ Lovely illustration showing a selection of day outfits designed by Gabrielle Chanel, published in ‘Les Elegances Parisiennes’ in March 1917. A product of changing social realities and the harsh practicalities of the First World War, these three outfits are the embodiment of late-1910s… Continue reading
★ A decorative casket with porcelain plaques, made in England by the Derby Porcelain Works (c.1815). Currently in the collections of LACMA, it’s crafted from rosewood and adorned with opulent gilt bronze decorative mouldings (also known as ‘ormolu’), with hand-painted… Continue reading
★ I know Easter is over, but I just cannot resist sharing this wonderfully vibrant portrait of a young woman wearing an Easter hat, photographed by Nickolas Muray for Whitman Chocolates (1945). Presumably intended to form part of Whitman’s… Continue reading
★ A young woman enjoying the summer sunshine on the beach in Atlantic City, New Jersey, photographed by William M. Vander Weyde (c.1905) and now forming part of the George Eastman House Photography Collection. I think this is such a great photo, as she has… Continue reading
★ Wonderful illustrated advert for Van Nelle’s Afternoon Tea (1927). Stylistically, this advert is so typical of the period. From the warm shades of apricot, blue and brown that make up the colour palette, to the highly idealized woman with the fashionable Marcel wave hairstyle, simple… Continue reading
★ Beautiful actress Vivien Leigh and co-star Mary Kerridge in a publicity still from the 1948 adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s novel, ‘Anna Karenina’. I finally found the time to sit down and actually watch this film (it has long been on my ‘must see’ list), and I have to say, it was every… Continue reading
★ Today marks the 138th anniversary of French fashion designer Paul Poiret’s birth. So to honour the occasion, I thought I’d take a brief look at his legacy and one of his most famous creations. A leading couturier of the early 20th Century, he… Continue reading
★ Pictured here in the 1950s, American actress Jayne Mansfield was born on this day in 1933. A major sex symbol in the 1950s and early 1960s, she was as famous for her personal life as for her professional career, and at the height of her fame she was the world’s most photographed… Continue reading
