frisianhistory

[frisianhistory]

Alma Tadema exhibition now opening at the Fries Museum (Leeuwarden - Ljouwert).

Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (Dronryp 1836 - Wiesbaden 1912) grew up in Friesland (as Lourens), studied painting at the Academy of Arts in Antwerp, and then headed to London. There he became one of the most renowned and best paid artists of his time. 

Alma-Tadema was the most successful and seductive storyteller of his day. He accomplished this by an innovative use of space in his work. Through his great knowledge of archaeology and classical antiquity he managed to bring the days of ancient Rome to life in paintings. His scenes were received so enthusiastically all over the world that our present image of classical antiquity was influenced by them. In Hollywood too, Alma-Tadema’s interpretation caught on and became the basis for seminal films about this era, from Ben-Hur to Gladiator. His international top pieces and his world now meet in the Museum of Friesland.

Alma-Tadema’s paintings bring stories from classical antiquity to life. But what stories does he actually tell and what symbolism lies behind the objects we see in his work? In a lively audio tour you will learn everything about the seventeen highlights of this exhibition. You can choose which paintings you want to hear about, which means you can walk freely through the exhibition. The audio tour is also available in English for just €1,-.

The painting shown is a lost painting of Alma-Tadema. It was a wedding present lovingly created for a close friend and hidden away from the world for decades.But now the lost work of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema has emerged at the Antique Roadshow after it was brought forward by the great-great-grandson of the man for whom it was made.The painting is a portrait of the etcher Leopold Löwenstam, a friend and colleague of the great artist.It was gifted to Löwenstam and his wife, Alice Search, who was the nanny of Sir Lawrence's daughters, on their wedding day in 1883.

#Alma-Tadema #Fries Museum #Leeuwarden #Ljouwert #exhibition

[frisianhistory]

The Frisian History and Literature Centre Tresoar in Leeuwarden, Friesland have made public a gift of 48 letters and 14 photos never been seen before they received from the family of the ex-husband of famous Frisian exotic dancer, Mata Hari. The only thing Tresoar had to do in return was turn it all into a book, so that everyone could enjoy the discoveries. The book ‘Don’t think that I’m that bad’ (‘Denk niet dat ik slecht ben’) by Marita Mathijsen-Verkooijen should be out at least in Dutch any day now.

One of the letters written during Mata Hari’s life in Paris in 1904-1905 talked about her one day become a mother and how difficult her life was in general, while in another she talks about living in Nijmegen and having to sell her bike to be able to survive. Mata Hari’s life story is a great read in itself, and these letters will certainly help historians and fans find out even more about her turbulent life. Next year in 2017, the legal documents of 1917 about her execution by a firing squad just outside Paris for being a German spy on 15 October 1917 will be made public,

#mata hari #photographs mata hari #letters mata hari #tresoar

[frisianhistory]

During archaeological excavations in the Frisian village of Metslawier a forerunner of a skate, a so called glis, was found. It is a tooled peace of bone from the Middle Ages. It was used as in the picture above.

#archeology #ice skate #Metslawier #Fryslân #Frisian history

[frisianhistory]

On a few scraps of parchement the scholar (Germanist) Erika Langbroek found some old Frisian notes from the early 12th century (1100-1125). It is the oldest old Frisian known so far. On the scraps it says: lesa mi and helpe mi (save me and help me). It is a translation of the Latin text on the parchement. The Frisian words are probably written by a student, trying to learn Latin.

#old Frisian #linguistics #Frysk #Frisian #Fries #language

[frisianhistory]

On the 22nd of June 1634 Rembrandt van Rijn married Saskia van Uylenburgh. Saskia was born in 1612 in Leeuwarden / Ljouwert.

Photo’s: 

Tresoar, wedding certificate

Portrait of Saskia by Rembrandt

#rembrandt #saskia van uylenburgh #leeuwarden #ljouwert #friesland #fryslân

[frisianhistory]

This weekend (20th of June 2015) King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands visited Leeuwarden/Ljouwert to reveal a mural painting of his ancestor Maria Louise van Hessen-Kassel who lived in Leeuwarden almost all her life. After that the king attended the ‘Harddraverij’ (traditional horse races). First price was the ‘Gouden Swipe’ (golden whip). Silke Boersma from Leeuwarden/Ljouwert was the winner (see picture).

Photo’s: https://www.flickr.com/photos/laurensbontes/

#dutch royalty #friesian horses #marijke meu #fryslân #friesland #ljouwert #leeuwarden

[frisianhistory]

Today it is the birthday of Titus Brandsma (Oegekleaster, 23th of Febr. 1881 - Dachau, 26th of July 1942).

Titus Brandsma, O.Carm., was a Dutch Carmelite friar, Catholic priest and professor of philosophy. Brandsma was vehemently opposed to Nazi ideology and spoke out against it many times before the Second World War. He was imprisoned in the infamous Dachau concentration camp, where he died. He has been beatified by the Catholic Church as a martyr of the faith.

More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titus_Brandsma

#Titus Brandsma #Frisian history #Fryslân #WWII

[frisianhistory]

On the 21 th of February 1985 one of the last Eleven Cities Tour took place.

The Elfstedentocht (Eleven Cities Tour) is the biggest ice-skating tour in the world. Over fifteen thousand ice skaters defy the ice encouraged by hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic fans. The waterways between eleven Frisian cities form the 200 kilometer track of the Eleven Cities Tour. That’s why this sensational ice-skating event can only take place during severe winters.

The most recent versions of the Elfstedentocht took place in 1985, 1986 and 1997.

#frisian history #Eleven Cities Tour #Elfstedentocht #Alvestêdetocht #Fryslân #1985

[frisianhistory]

Today it is the birthday of Eise Eisinga (21 feb 1744 - 27 aug 1828)

In the living room of a lovely Frisian canalside house in the city of Franeker/Frjentsjer is the world's oldest functioning planetarium. This accurately moving model of the solar system was built between 1774 and 1781 by Eise Eisinga, a wool carder.

More info: http://www.planetarium-friesland.nl/en

#planetarium #frisian history #fryslân #eise eisinga #franeker #frjentsjer