Dr Bryony Coombs
@bryonycoombs.bsky.social
Art Historian I Medieval and Early Modern, PhD, FSA Scot, FRHistS
Renaissance Teaching Fellow, Edinburgh Uni
Franco-Scottish cultural connections: art, architecture and material culture.
https://edinburgh.academia.edu/BryonyCoombs
https://bryonycoombs.com
Renaissance Teaching Fellow, Edinburgh Uni
Franco-Scottish cultural connections: art, architecture and material culture.
https://edinburgh.academia.edu/BryonyCoombs
https://bryonycoombs.com
An enquiry by a former student has sent me down an academic rabbit hole relating to the works of Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen. I simultaneously know that I do not have time for this, but know myself, so know that I cannot let it go😬 argh!
Cornelisz, Man of Sorrows c.1510 Museum Mayer van den Bergh
Cornelisz, Man of Sorrows c.1510 Museum Mayer van den Bergh
November 23, 2025 at 8:57 PM
An enquiry by a former student has sent me down an academic rabbit hole relating to the works of Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen. I simultaneously know that I do not have time for this, but know myself, so know that I cannot let it go😬 argh!
Cornelisz, Man of Sorrows c.1510 Museum Mayer van den Bergh
Cornelisz, Man of Sorrows c.1510 Museum Mayer van den Bergh
Thinking of undertaking a postgraduate degree in History of Art?
Have a look at some of the fantastic programmes here at Edinburgh:
Global Premodern Art (MSc)
History of Art, Theory and Display (MSc)
Modern and Contemporary Art (MSc)
Collections and Curating Practices (MScR)
Have a look at some of the fantastic programmes here at Edinburgh:
Global Premodern Art (MSc)
History of Art, Theory and Display (MSc)
Modern and Contemporary Art (MSc)
Collections and Curating Practices (MScR)
November 15, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Thinking of undertaking a postgraduate degree in History of Art?
Have a look at some of the fantastic programmes here at Edinburgh:
Global Premodern Art (MSc)
History of Art, Theory and Display (MSc)
Modern and Contemporary Art (MSc)
Collections and Curating Practices (MScR)
Have a look at some of the fantastic programmes here at Edinburgh:
Global Premodern Art (MSc)
History of Art, Theory and Display (MSc)
Modern and Contemporary Art (MSc)
Collections and Curating Practices (MScR)
Made it! Explored a bit of London and spent time with some great authors! The very deserving winner was Eleonora Pistis with 'Architecture of Knowledge: Hawksmoor and Oxford' - a really beautiful book! A very fun experience!
November 12, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Made it! Explored a bit of London and spent time with some great authors! The very deserving winner was Eleonora Pistis with 'Architecture of Knowledge: Hawksmoor and Oxford' - a really beautiful book! A very fun experience!
Well, off I go to this - a first for me, so I will keep you posted.
Double expresso and a good book to see me there!
Double expresso and a good book to see me there!
November 12, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Well, off I go to this - a first for me, so I will keep you posted.
Double expresso and a good book to see me there!
Double expresso and a good book to see me there!
Well that was fun :)
November 11, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Well that was fun :)
An interesting mix today. I'll be discussing AI with my first yrs and thinking about Sonja Drimmer & Christopher Nygren's very interesting work on this. This coincides with the week I ask them to take notes with quills and ink & consider embodied learning. Its going to be an interesting contrast...
November 11, 2025 at 9:28 AM
An interesting mix today. I'll be discussing AI with my first yrs and thinking about Sonja Drimmer & Christopher Nygren's very interesting work on this. This coincides with the week I ask them to take notes with quills and ink & consider embodied learning. Its going to be an interesting contrast...
This afternoon I ran an embodied manuscripts workshop at Edinburgh CRC and we looked at some extraordinary manuscripts (just look at CRC MS 19👀👇), and I had the opportunity to spend time talking to some very interesting, engaged and enquiring students - honestly what could be better? Thank you LAMPS
November 6, 2025 at 6:47 PM
This afternoon I ran an embodied manuscripts workshop at Edinburgh CRC and we looked at some extraordinary manuscripts (just look at CRC MS 19👀👇), and I had the opportunity to spend time talking to some very interesting, engaged and enquiring students - honestly what could be better? Thank you LAMPS
Had a meeting in the Scottish National Gallery yesterday and just enough time to reacquaint myself with what is on view...
Was interested to see evidence for scribal work with a couple of quills with plumes still attached and some lovely details of MS pen-work...
Was interested to see evidence for scribal work with a couple of quills with plumes still attached and some lovely details of MS pen-work...
October 31, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Had a meeting in the Scottish National Gallery yesterday and just enough time to reacquaint myself with what is on view...
Was interested to see evidence for scribal work with a couple of quills with plumes still attached and some lovely details of MS pen-work...
Was interested to see evidence for scribal work with a couple of quills with plumes still attached and some lovely details of MS pen-work...
It has been a big week, with a lot of talking to people. Now to catch-up on all the other things...
October 25, 2025 at 9:20 AM
It has been a big week, with a lot of talking to people. Now to catch-up on all the other things...
Back to Edinburgh, back to work...but trying to hold on to a little bit of that calm...
October 19, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Back to Edinburgh, back to work...but trying to hold on to a little bit of that calm...
When is the summit of a Munro ever like this?? (Meall Chuaich)...
October 16, 2025 at 6:49 AM
When is the summit of a Munro ever like this?? (Meall Chuaich)...
Taking little annual leave and what a day for a Munro....
October 15, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Taking little annual leave and what a day for a Munro....
I think my previous post got censored, but I do think you need to see this little guy and his enormous tooth - as he points to where it hurts! 🦷
(From a medical ms - Edinburgh CRC ms 314)
(From a medical ms - Edinburgh CRC ms 314)
October 10, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I think my previous post got censored, but I do think you need to see this little guy and his enormous tooth - as he points to where it hurts! 🦷
(From a medical ms - Edinburgh CRC ms 314)
(From a medical ms - Edinburgh CRC ms 314)
Today was fun: medical manuscripts this morning at Edinburgh CRC (ms 314, ms 170; ms 168). Followed by an urban foraging lecture (quite medicine based) and 16th C recipes at the historical reconstruction lab. So interesting!
October 10, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Today was fun: medical manuscripts this morning at Edinburgh CRC (ms 314, ms 170; ms 168). Followed by an urban foraging lecture (quite medicine based) and 16th C recipes at the historical reconstruction lab. So interesting!
Stocking up on mussel shells to hold pigment for some workshops I am running on manuscript illumination... there are some lovely medieval images of shells being used to hold pigments at this time... here are some in use...
October 4, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Stocking up on mussel shells to hold pigment for some workshops I am running on manuscript illumination... there are some lovely medieval images of shells being used to hold pigments at this time... here are some in use...
If in doubt (or experiencing existential dread at the state of academia), I can recommend a stormy beach walk collecting pigment shells....
October 4, 2025 at 4:55 PM
If in doubt (or experiencing existential dread at the state of academia), I can recommend a stormy beach walk collecting pigment shells....
Doors Open Day in Edinburgh. Just been to see the remarkable Pre Reformation stained glass that survives in the Magdalen Chapel, Cowgate.
September 27, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Doors Open Day in Edinburgh. Just been to see the remarkable Pre Reformation stained glass that survives in the Magdalen Chapel, Cowgate.
I'm not on Instagram, but they apparently have a little post about the books there :)
September 24, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I'm not on Instagram, but they apparently have a little post about the books there :)
A big run this morning and its nice to feel physically exhausted rather than just perpetually mentally exhausted... :)
September 20, 2025 at 9:48 AM
A big run this morning and its nice to feel physically exhausted rather than just perpetually mentally exhausted... :)
I have spent the last two years researching - I can put it off no longer, I must now commit words to the page. Holding myself to account with #3000Fridays (writing day) where I try to get words on the page. Today 2868 - near enough🤷. Its going to be a TOUGH year🤦♂but I am nothing if not determined...
September 19, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I have spent the last two years researching - I can put it off no longer, I must now commit words to the page. Holding myself to account with #3000Fridays (writing day) where I try to get words on the page. Today 2868 - near enough🤷. Its going to be a TOUGH year🤦♂but I am nothing if not determined...
Trying to complete a book chapter today on how illuminators felt about their work. My favourite visual evidence to date might be the sleepily content illuminator (left) & the VERY alarmed illuminator with Death (right)🥱🎨🖌️☠️
15th C Flemish (left), French (right) manuscripts recently sold at Christies.
15th C Flemish (left), French (right) manuscripts recently sold at Christies.
September 14, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Trying to complete a book chapter today on how illuminators felt about their work. My favourite visual evidence to date might be the sleepily content illuminator (left) & the VERY alarmed illuminator with Death (right)🥱🎨🖌️☠️
15th C Flemish (left), French (right) manuscripts recently sold at Christies.
15th C Flemish (left), French (right) manuscripts recently sold at Christies.
On strike with a great turnout at eca. I am on strike as a result of University of Edinburgh’s refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies.
@ucuedinburgh.bsky.social
@ucuedinburgh.bsky.social
September 8, 2025 at 11:07 AM
On strike with a great turnout at eca. I am on strike as a result of University of Edinburgh’s refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies.
@ucuedinburgh.bsky.social
@ucuedinburgh.bsky.social
Eek today 😥 One chapter sent off to the editors. Two sets of proofs received. Another chapter begun and another two talks underway. Trying to squeeze all the research commitments into one day. Meanwhile I have various image requests & copyright clearances at different stages ... spinning plates!
August 29, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Eek today 😥 One chapter sent off to the editors. Two sets of proofs received. Another chapter begun and another two talks underway. Trying to squeeze all the research commitments into one day. Meanwhile I have various image requests & copyright clearances at different stages ... spinning plates!
This week I have read 135,000 words of marking - tomorrow is my research day and, wow, do I need a break from marking 🫣Tomorrow I will be back to my 15th C manuscript pigments & I am very much looking forward to a bit of research time...🎨🔍
August 21, 2025 at 5:14 PM
This week I have read 135,000 words of marking - tomorrow is my research day and, wow, do I need a break from marking 🫣Tomorrow I will be back to my 15th C manuscript pigments & I am very much looking forward to a bit of research time...🎨🔍