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John McCafferty

@jdmccafferty.bsky.social
6K followers 4.1K following 25K posts

A historian of things before 1700, especially religion, friars and the ways of everyday life.

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 23h
Ruff Of the 'falling' type, pleated linen, 1620-30, English. As ruffs started to give way to collars, the style most commonly seen was the falling variety, made to drape over the collar of the doublet, jacket or bodice worn underneath. (V&A Museum, London)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 23h
11 Oct 1660: Samuel Pepys sees 'The Moore of Venice' [aka Othello] at the Cockpit #London #otd
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 23h
Jusepe de Ribera A Potentate Accompanied by His Halberd Bearer, about 1625–1630 (The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 23h
St. Francis of Assisi in Ecstasy Caravaggio c. 1595 (Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, Connecticut)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 23h
11 Oct 1636: d. Matthew Lister, 'chemical physician' or doctor to James VI & I and to Anne of #Denmark #otd (BM)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 23h
11 Oct 1643: Ferdinando Fairfax, governor of #Hull ends the Royalist siege of the city with a dramatic sally #otd (York Museums Trust)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 23h
Brígida del Río, the Bearded Lady of Peñaranda By Juan Sánchez Cotán, 1590. (Museo Nacional del Prado)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 23h
St Cecilia Bernardo Cavallino, 1622–1654 painted about 1645 (MFA Boston)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 23h
11 Oct 1644: The trial of William Laud Archbishop of #Canterbury ends #otd He was attainted 4 Jan, then executed on 11 Jan 1645 (BM)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Elizabeth, Duchess of Gelders, 1519 (British Museum)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Platter [Ōzara] with Pine Tree early 17th century Japan (Met Museum)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
11 Oct 1551: William Cecil, future royal minister, is knighted #otd (NPG)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
11 Oct 1649: #Wexford town Is sacked by Oliver Cromwell’s forces #otd c.2000 people are killed
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
11 Oct 1435: The University of Oxford thank the dean & chapter of St Patrick's #Dublin for Philip Norris' promotion to prebend of #Mulhuddart & a canonry. They later praised his preaching as ‘sonora sancte praedicacionis tuba’ - resounding trumpet of sacred eloquence! (BM)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
I like that the Irish Franciscans in #Rome kept a copy of one of Henry VIII’s earlier literary offerings
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
This morning I saw two vehicles break full red lights on a pedestrian crossing 30 seconds after the green man showed. Red-running happens almost 100% of the time at every kind of intersection in Dublin. It has become the norm. It's ugly. It's selfish. It's lethal. (V&A)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Portrait miniature of an unknown woman, watercolour on vellum, painted by Isaac Oliver, c. 1615. (Victoria & Albert Museum, London) The small jewel or locket on her ruff is clearly meant to stand out. And once meant something to her - and somebody else perhaps.
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
11 Oct 1440: Henry VI gives a foundation charter to #Eton College Bucks #otd (Loggan) making it almost 600 years old now...
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Friday 9 Oct, Dublin
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Thursday 8 Oct, Dublin
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Wednesday 7 Oct, Dublin
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
5 Oct 1658: b. Maria Beatrice Anna Margherita Isabella d'Este - aka Mary of Modena - future wife & queen consort of James II #otd (NPG)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
5 Oct 1518: betrothal of the 2 y.o. Princess Mary dressed in cloth-of-gold & a jewelled cap to the infant Dauphin of #France. Cuthbert Tunstall preaches his sermon 'Praise of marriage' #otd (DU)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Gundakar, Prince of Dietrichstein b. 1623, d. 1690 By Jan Thomas, 1667 (Kunsthistorische Museum Wien) Beat that.
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
5 Oct 1568: Presentation copy of the 'Bishop's #Bible' is ready for giving to Elizabeth I #otd A #bible with a woman on the frontispiece
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
The proxy Marriage of Marie de Medici and Henri IV, in Florence, #otd Oct 5, 1600. PP Rubens, c.1600-1625. Henri is represented by the bride's uncle, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, presided over by Cardinal Aldobrandini, legate and nephew of Pope Clement VIII. (Musée du Louvre)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Kiel University was founded under the name Christiana Albertina university #otd 5 Oct 1665 by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp. Here is Jürgen Ovens' impression of its inauguration (SMK, Danmark)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Saints of 5 and 6 Oct (17thC French calendar, BM) St Teresa of Avila - here her feast is closer to her actual death date. St Placid St Flavia St Bruno St Faith
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
5 Oct 1616: Sir Jerome Bowe's patent for making drinking glasses, originally granted in 1592, is renewed #otd He'd been awarded it in consideration of diplomatic services ot the Crown. Here is a possible example from his manufactory (V&A).
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Henry IV receives the portrait of Marie de Medici and is smitten. They married by proxy #otd 5 Oct 1600. Peter Paul Rubens whose birthday is 28 June 1577 (Musée du Louvre)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
My very close friend & @ucddublin.bsky.social colleague Padraic Conway died aged 50 on this day 5 Oct 2012. Fourteen years ago now. He was a brilliant person, theologian and politician. He had a special love for #otd facts. This account is in his memory. Thank you for following.
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
European woman, c.1600-50. A firangi or foreign woman in a white dress with long hair. This is probably a Mughal copy of a miniature by Isaac Oliver or Nicholas Hilliard which found its way to the Mughal court in the early 17th century. (Royal Collection, HM CIII)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
A Confidential Chat, Adriaen van Ostade, 1672 boozy ... with waffle (Rijksmuseum)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Monday 5 Oct, Dublin
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
On his feast day #otd 4 Oct, here St Francis receives the stigmata from the seraph. This image is from a 1653 choir book, part of a set made for the #Irish Franciscans of #Rome.
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
On 4 Oct 1582 Gregory XIII implemented the reformed (Gregorian) calendar. 4 Oct was followed by 15 Oct. #otd (National Gallery of Art, Washington)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Francis of Assisi, feast #otd 4 Oct, c. 1615, Peter Paul Rubens (Art Institute Chicago) His crossed arms allude to the emblem of the order, patched habit to the Rule of 1223, crucifix to the San Damiano Cross, the stigmata are discreet, a nod to the seraph of La Verna.
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
El Greco's sublime 'St. Francis receives the stigmata' at the National Gallery of #Ireland #Dublin Look at that cowl/head line... amazing work. Today is Francis' feast day, 4 Oct.
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
4 Oct 1582: d. St. Teresa of Avila #Carmelite mystic & reformer at #Salamanca #otd on the night #Spain moved from 4 Oct to 15 Oct - her feast set by the change to the Gregorian calendar. Some regarded it as an extra miracle granted to avoid a clash with St Francis.
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
A very early representation of Francis of Assisi, who died in 1226, probably made before 1250. His feast is #otd 4 Oct. (Musée du Louvre)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Buona Festa!
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Saturday, 3 Oct Dublin
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Labour of the month of October, Workshop of Jean Penicaud, Limoges, 1555 (British Museum)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
2 Oct 1553: Mary I knights future Lord Deputy #Ireland William Fitzwilliam for supporting her against Jane Grey #otd (BM)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Don't call Jan Cornelius Sylvius, Preacher, - he'll call you. Rembrandt, 1646 (Art Institute Chicago)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
2 Oct 1640: Richard Nugent, 1st Earl of Westmeath makes his will #otd The earl died of a gunshot wound following an ambush in the summer of 1642. A catholic, a number of his daughters became nuns. (Photo: Peter Gavigan. Clonlyn Castle which Nugent had built as a new family seat)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Ceremony for the canonization of Charles Borromeo at St. Peter's #Rome on 1 Nov 1610 (Albertina, Vienna) Borromeo was born #otd 2 Oct 1538. So he was canonised 72 years and 30 days after his birth. He died on 3 Nov 1584. Santo Subito!
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
2 Oct 1501: Catherine of Aragon lands at Plymouth #otd - the wedding ceremony with Prince Arthur was in St Paul’s London on 14 Nov 1501 (NPG) She couldn’t have imagined in her wildest dreams how this would all play out...
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
2 Oct 1518: the Treaty of Universal Peace, designed by Cardinal Wolsey, aka the Treaty of #London is signed in #London #otd - comprehending most of the European powers (A dove, c. 1225 - c. 1250 Rijksmuseum)
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
A crucifix mandrake, probably 16th century Extraordinary. (Schloss Ambras Innsbruck)
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