Saturday 11 August 1666
Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon home to dinner, where mighty pleased at my wife’s beginnings of a little Virgin’s head. To the office and did much business, and then to Mr. Colvill’s, and with him did come to an agreement about my 2600l. assignment on the Exchequer, which I had of Sir W. Warren; and, to my great joy, I think I shall get above 100l. by it, but I must leave it to be finished on Monday. Thence to the office, and there did the remainder of my business, and so home to supper and to bed. This afternoon I hear as if we had landed some men upon the Dutch coasts, but I believe it is but a foolery either in the report or the attempt.
Eric Walla Link to this
Is this another virgin's head, or is it just getting better and better?
cape henry Link to this
"Is this another virgin’s head..." I suspect it is the same one mentioned earlier. Amateurs such as Elizabeth would have likely worked from a charcoal cartoon, step by step, to the finished piece.
Robert Gertz Link to this
I wonder if she's working from some master's work in which case more likely an Italian prostitute's head. Which no doubt would have its unique appeal to our hero...
Michael L Link to this
"men upon the Dutch coasts"
Is this an early report of Holmes' Bonfire? I'm having trouble sorting out the dates for that with the 17th C. calendar confusion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes%27_Bonfire
Michael Robinson Link to this
“men upon the Dutch coasts”
Yes, this is Holmes 'bonfire' -- August 9 & 10 in the calendar.
*Spoiler* A detailed account reaches SP in London early on the 15th.
Michael Robinson Link to this
“men upon the Dutch coasts”
William van De Velde the Elder, with the Younger
The burning of Dutch merchant ships between Terschelling and Vlieland, 19 August 1666
Dated on verso 1676
http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/eGallery/obje...
The elder van de Velde was present with the Dutch forces and, though a conventional areal perspective, presumably based on sketches made at the time.
Alternative link with an audio commentary by John Warner, former US Secretary of the Navy: http://www.vmfa.museum/rule/vandevelde_dutch.html
cgs Link to this
"...This afternoon I hear as if we had landed some men upon the Dutch coasts, but I believe it is but a foolery either in the report or the attempt...."
Wiki report
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes%27s_Bonfire...
cgs Link to this
more:
third picture and text:
http://www.cichw.net/pmbatsa.html
another set of info:
http://books.google.com/books?id=WEDqarBDBWQC&p...
cgs Link to this
An X-ray tells how many times the masters try and try again to get it to correspond to the expected result, practice makes perfect.
cgs Link to this
A motto of the times : do not waste thy canvas, costs money use it again , [recycle] not like to-day, easy come, easy go.