iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 15h

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 · 15h

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 · 15h

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 · 15h

Usually held to have said "Paris is worth a Mass" - so worth converting for.

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 16h

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 · 16h

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 · 16h

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 · 17h

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 · 17h

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 · 17h

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 · 17h

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 · 18h

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 · 18h

A Confidential Chat, Adriaen van Ostade, 1672 boozy ... with waffle (Rijksmuseum)

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Ah, c'est merveilleux! Bonne chance.

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Oh I know! In our parish (dedicated to St Brigid) they slipped him into prayers for creation, which I thought was nicely done. And I'll definitely be drinking something red from his neck of the woods later by way of toasting the 800!

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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

All true but as it's the 800th, I thought bending the rules to wish people a happy feast was no harm!😂

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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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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

"Peasant Family on the Tramp" c. 1652 Despite the softening tone of the title, this is pretty much a timeless depiction of hard unsettled life. Rembrandt van Rijn (Art Institute Chicago)

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Reclining Female Nude 1658 Rembrandt (Art Institute, Chicago)

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

2 Oct 1394: Richard II lands at #Waterford with 9000 troops #otd

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

2 Oct 1629: d. Pierre Cardinal Bérulle, mystic & reformer, while saying mass in #Paris #otd (Orat) That's a way to go...

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

2 Oct 1538: b. Charles Borromeo #otd future Cardinal-archbishop of #Milan. Reformer, Santo subito - canonized 1610. An icon of #Catholic reform, Edmund Campion visited him en route to #England Borromeo’s rather prominent nose usually features in his iconography

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

2 Oct 1452. b. Richard [III] at Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire, the eleventh of the twelve children of Richard, 3rd Duke of York, and Cecily Neville #otd (Society of Antiquaries, London)

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Portrait of a Man attributed to Isaac Oliver, who was buried #otd 3 Oct 1617 (Art Institute Chicago)

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Badge, medieval, "YI SIS MUS" S's reversed. "Behold the Mouse". (British Museum)

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

30 Sept 1399: #Parliament accepts the 'abdication' of Richard II, Henry IV is led to the throne #otd (NPG)

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Human hair reworked. Band of needle lace made from human hair, England, c. 1640 - c. 1680. The thicker lines may be horse hair. (V&A, London)

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

30 Sept 1515: Margaret Tudor Queen of #Scots & widow of James IV flees to #England otd (NPG) She was the mother of James V, sister of Henry VIII. #TudorStuart

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

30 Sept 1586: the dying Philip Sidney #poet #soldier #courtier writes his will #otd (NPG/BM)

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

30 Sept 1461: William Herbert takes #Pembroke Castle, & so takes custody of young Henry Tudor #otd #Cymru (jkmmx)

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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Statuette of boxwood, 'Judith with head of Holofernes', Flemish, c. 1550-1600. A note #otd 30 Sept 1886 claims that it had been retrieved from a Spanish wreck on the Mayo coast & given to Rev Henry Maclean by the landlord of the inn at Achill Sound #Mayo (V&A Museum, London)

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