Vermeer's Hat: The Seventeenth Century and the Dawn of the Global World

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During the 17th century, wood panels were more readily available and cost-effective compared to canvases. Panels provided a smooth, hard surface texture compared to canvases, which allowed for different painting techniques. This surface enabled intricate details and fine brushwork, which were characteristic of the Dutch Leiden school of painting. There’s a very famous phrase of William Blake’s “to see the world in a grain of sand” and that’s what you’re trying to do with micro-history. It’s an approach to history which allows you to go into lots of detail, by going into that detail you get much closer to the subjects you’re writing about and that then allows you to draw out big questions about humanity, social change, and social existence in a particular period. Robert Hooke's Micrographia, with illustrations of objects viewed through a microscope, appears. The book greatly influences both scientists and educated laypeople. In it, Hooke describes cells (viewed in sections of cork) for the first time. Fundamentally, it is the first book dealing with observations through a microscope, comparing light to waves in water. Sir Isaac Newton invents the reflecting telescope, building the first telescope based on a mirror (reflector) instead of a lens (refractor).

I don’t know that they would have thought about ‘globalisation’ as such, I don’t know that they wouldn’t either. I think part of what Brook is suggesting is that these interiors — the Turkish carpets, the porcelain — are put together for a specific reason, which is that they show a cosmopolitan world view, which is particularly indicative of the cultural world of the Dutch middle class in this period. You could apply it to the middle class in London as well, or even to some English provincial towns. That world view is increasingly globalised, it’s increasingly showing knowledge of the rest of the world, an interest in commodities. In the late seventeenth century, in England, it becomes much more common in gentry houses to have cotton curtains, which were made in India. This causes all kinds of consternation among the wool industry in England because they’re worried about the competition. It shows that the world of at least some people is becoming increasingly globalised. The learning architecture is evident through the established and successful Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) that support teachers to collaborate, grow professionally and analyse evidence of learning and growth: A strong commitment to continuous professional learning that is expertly led and delivered and enables deep learning and insights about practice; the introduction of the Connect Program; and creation of innovative learning spaces. A learning culture is evidenced through an aligned vision, whole school commitment to the Mac.Rob values, time for professional learning being prioritised and effectively used, strong internal accountability, inquiry skills being nurtured, and resources provided and shared. It has been professionally rewarding, and such a personal joy, joining the Mac.Rob school community this term as acting principal whilst Sue Harrap is on leave. I am learning so much and enjoy being immersed in the warm, inclusive and committed culture that exists at the school. Nicolas Poussin, French painter, dies. Known as the founder of French Classicism, he spent most of his career in Rome which he reached at age 30 in 1624. His Greco-Romanism work includes The Death of Chione (1622–1623) and The Abduction of the Sabine Women. The Concert presents a very similar deep spatial recession similar to the earlier The Music Lesson. Vermeer's interest in the accurate portrayal of three dimensional perspective to create such an effect was shared by other interior genre painters of the time, however, only Vermeer seems to have fully and consciously understood the expressive function of perspective. The two paintings' underlying theme of music between male and female company is also analogous although few critics believe they were conceived as a pendant.

Imogen Stubbs back in Three Acts of Love

A French Academy of Sciences (Académie Royale des Sciences) founded by Louis XIV at Paris seeks to rival London's 4-year-old Royal Society. Jean Baptiste Colbert has persuaded the king to begin subsidizing scientists. Christiaan Huygens, along with 19 other scientists, is elected as a founding member. After the French Revolution, the Royale is dropped and the character of the academy changes. It later becomes the Institut de France. Brook argues that globalization, which is often taken to be a modern (i.e., late 20th/21st-century) phenomenon, actually had its roots in the 17th century; and he states that it was his intention to surprise his readers with this information, that "people and goods and ideas were moving around the world in ways that their ancestors had no idea was possible." The growth in trade and exploration was facilitated in part by advances in navigation and in shipbuilding technology and also, according to the author, was driven along when European nations such as "England, the Netherlands and France started to fight their way into the trade." Second Prize: Catherine He, “Noombat and Woylie” | Judge’s Comments: For the charm and charisma of the stuffed toy to the beautiful book of ecosystems in harmony. Writing in The Guardian, Kathryn Hughes describes Vermeer's Hat as "an exhilarating book" and "a brilliant attempt to make us understand the reach and breadth of the first global age." She states that "What Brook wants us to understand [...] is that these domains, the local and the transnational, were intimately connected centuries before anyone came up with the world wide web."

Each of Vermeer's paintings tells a story. In one, a military officer leans toward a laughing girl; in another, a woman stands by a window and weighs silver; in a third, fruit spills from a porcelain bowl onto a lavish Turkish carpet.

Exhibition: Michael Rakowitz

Caps and bonnets were another staple, frequently worn over a coif. These could range from simple linen pieces to more elaborate creations made of luxurious materials and adorned with ribbons or lace. The millstone collar, although not a hat, was a unique feature of Dutch fashion that framed the face much like a headpiece. Made of starched linen, these collars were often intricately pleated and could be quite elaborate, adding a distinctive touch to a woman's appearance. The first Stradivarius violin is created by Italian violinmaker Antonio Stradivari, 25, who serves his apprenticeship in his home town of Cremona in Lombardy to Nicola Amati, now 73, whose grandfather Andrea Amati designed the modern violin. The younger Amati improves on his grandfather's design and teaches not only Stradivari but also Andrea Guarnieri, 43, who also makes violins at Cremona.

In the late 1660s, Vermeer's style becomes increasing stylized. A strongly touch calligraphic is evident in The Lacemaker. The still life of the latter picture is so highly abstracted that it is difficult to determine which objects are represented. He’s not really saying anything drastically new, he’s trying to tell global history in an engaging way. Historians of the early modern period have become slightly obsessed with global history recently. I think that’s right, it’s very important, but it’s often hard to tell that story to a wider audience. The genius of Vermeer’s Hat is that he finds a clever and engaging way to do it.De Verstandige Kok (The Sensible Cook) is published for the first time. Geared towards middle- and upper middle-class families, the book advises a regular and balanced diet, including fresh meat at least once a week, frequent servings of bread and cheese, stew, fresh vegetables and salads. While simple dishes, such as porridge, pancakes and soup with bread are eaten by all classes, studies reveal that only the affluent have regular access to fresh vegetables during the period; the less wealthy depend on dried peas and beans. Peter Conrad, writing in The Observer, is more critical. He is of the opinion that "Brook is so intent on cost and the grim injustice of expropriation that he can seem crassly unresponsive, indifferent to the almost beatific peace of the paintings" and "knows everything about price, but rather less about value." The semicircular Sheldonian Theater at Oxford, England, designed by Christopher Wren, is completed. During the break between these speeches, we had the opportunity to enjoy the nice weather at the Parkville Melbourne University campus and to walk by stalls for more insight, information and exciting prizes. After enjoying lunch with our friends, we watched a heartwarming documentary film called ‘One in a Million,’ following the lives of an American gymnast and one of her German fans. This film touched on deep themes of identity, growing up, and courage and dedication that is required to reach for your dreams.