I find that portrait of Cromwell really interesting. The way he's looking away from the audience - that seems fairly rare to me. It makes me wonder whether there are any giveaways in any letters he sent about that - does he come over as secretive? (I mean, I've got room to talk. I'd describe myself as 'private' but others might say secretive.)
I'd guess one of the most frustrating things might be that Cromwell was the type to keep letters (or did he only keep 'important' ones?), so we know what people sent to him, but we may know less about letters he wrote if others didn't save them.
Oh, Lord - this will set me off thinking again, and I really shouldn't do it!
Not many letters from him survive. But hundreds and hundreds to him do. From the trivial to the Very Important. And he sometimes used to scribble to do lists on them.
I thought that might be the case. It feels as if you've got all the pieces of a jigsaw without the picture that tells you what it should look like. It must be fascinating.
What a wonderful post. I'll have to check out Doomesday Inks. And I'm so sorry you got mansplained — sometimes the lack of self-awareness is amazing, isn't it. Been there! They always think they're being so "helpful."
Does it sounds like a big project, absolutely, but what a lovely project it is! Getting to know Cromwell from his correspondence, another glimpse into his life I’d never thought I’d get from ‘just reading’ the book. Thank you for sharing!
I wish you had argued with the man mansplaining to you. How will he learn otherwise that he doesn’t know everything? We all need to speak up during these times.
I so enjoyed this post--and seethe in solidarity with you--regarding the know-it-all in the art shop. ♡
I find that portrait of Cromwell really interesting. The way he's looking away from the audience - that seems fairly rare to me. It makes me wonder whether there are any giveaways in any letters he sent about that - does he come over as secretive? (I mean, I've got room to talk. I'd describe myself as 'private' but others might say secretive.)
I'd guess one of the most frustrating things might be that Cromwell was the type to keep letters (or did he only keep 'important' ones?), so we know what people sent to him, but we may know less about letters he wrote if others didn't save them.
Oh, Lord - this will set me off thinking again, and I really shouldn't do it!
Not many letters from him survive. But hundreds and hundreds to him do. From the trivial to the Very Important. And he sometimes used to scribble to do lists on them.
I thought that might be the case. It feels as if you've got all the pieces of a jigsaw without the picture that tells you what it should look like. It must be fascinating.
What a wonderful post. I'll have to check out Doomesday Inks. And I'm so sorry you got mansplained — sometimes the lack of self-awareness is amazing, isn't it. Been there! They always think they're being so "helpful."
Does it sounds like a big project, absolutely, but what a lovely project it is! Getting to know Cromwell from his correspondence, another glimpse into his life I’d never thought I’d get from ‘just reading’ the book. Thank you for sharing!
What a beautiful project! And what beautiful artefacts! Thank you.
I wish you had argued with the man mansplaining to you. How will he learn otherwise that he doesn’t know everything? We all need to speak up during these times.
He will never learn. He won’t even hear the arguments. He will be too busy thinking up how to show you he knows. These men abound
Yes but still…I couldn’t have stayed quiet…
Maybe he was one of those who survives on four hours a night?
I'm pretty sure Master Cromwell would have had short shrift for someone explaining to him something that was irrelevant to him.