Jan Machielsen
@janmachielsen.bsky.social
Historian of early modern religion, working on witches and saints. Loves hikes and risotto.
I can't help but feel really curious about Christ's genitalia now. 🤪
A statue by Michelangelo in the Domine, Quo Vadis.
#earlymodern
A statue by Michelangelo in the Domine, Quo Vadis.
#earlymodern
November 26, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I can't help but feel really curious about Christ's genitalia now. 🤪
A statue by Michelangelo in the Domine, Quo Vadis.
#earlymodern
A statue by Michelangelo in the Domine, Quo Vadis.
#earlymodern
All the details are on the poster!
November 20, 2025 at 3:28 PM
All the details are on the poster!
Went to see the altar of Joseph of Copertino in the Santissimi Apostoli today. If you want hear more about him and his flights, come to my talk at Sapienza tomorrow at 10am. 😊
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
November 20, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Went to see the altar of Joseph of Copertino in the Santissimi Apostoli today. If you want hear more about him and his flights, come to my talk at Sapienza tomorrow at 10am. 😊
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
As an #earlymodern historian of old religious things it is easy to feel at home in Rome.
Abominations such as 👇 are reminders that Catholicism is a living faith and that the Renaissance art I adore was new when it was made.
Abominations such as 👇 are reminders that Catholicism is a living faith and that the Renaissance art I adore was new when it was made.
November 14, 2025 at 1:06 PM
As an #earlymodern historian of old religious things it is easy to feel at home in Rome.
Abominations such as 👇 are reminders that Catholicism is a living faith and that the Renaissance art I adore was new when it was made.
Abominations such as 👇 are reminders that Catholicism is a living faith and that the Renaissance art I adore was new when it was made.
I'm giving a #monkabulous talk next week Friday at the Sapienza on the flying friar Joseph of Copertino.
And it just occurred to me... What better place to share the details than :: hum :: BlueSky?
Everyone is very welcome!
And it just occurred to me... What better place to share the details than :: hum :: BlueSky?
Everyone is very welcome!
November 12, 2025 at 8:36 AM
I'm giving a #monkabulous talk next week Friday at the Sapienza on the flying friar Joseph of Copertino.
And it just occurred to me... What better place to share the details than :: hum :: BlueSky?
Everyone is very welcome!
And it just occurred to me... What better place to share the details than :: hum :: BlueSky?
Everyone is very welcome!
When you don't know who to leave your money to, you can always make the Virgin Mary your heir!
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
November 11, 2025 at 8:16 AM
When you don't know who to leave your money to, you can always make the Virgin Mary your heir!
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
An English (St George?) flag waving Virgin... For all the Reformers on here. 😝
Chiesa della Trinità, Bologna.
Chiesa della Trinità, Bologna.
October 31, 2025 at 3:20 PM
An English (St George?) flag waving Virgin... For all the Reformers on here. 😝
Chiesa della Trinità, Bologna.
Chiesa della Trinità, Bologna.
An interesting coda from the Santa Maria dei Servi... A painting of St Anne teaching the Virgin to read.
October 31, 2025 at 2:46 PM
An interesting coda from the Santa Maria dei Servi... A painting of St Anne teaching the Virgin to read.
Mary (as I keep on saying) is always reading.
(But I don't think I've ever seen her this young?? And the angel too for that matter.)
(But I don't think I've ever seen her this young?? And the angel too for that matter.)
October 31, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Mary (as I keep on saying) is always reading.
(But I don't think I've ever seen her this young?? And the angel too for that matter.)
(But I don't think I've ever seen her this young?? And the angel too for that matter.)
This is a very Goth virgin. Surprised she doesn't have fangs! 🤪
October 31, 2025 at 2:05 PM
This is a very Goth virgin. Surprised she doesn't have fangs! 🤪
"You know I climbed up this hill and then God gave me these tablets telling you all to listen to me. And now I'm here!"
(Fragment of a fresco from the church of Mezzarata)
(Fragment of a fresco from the church of Mezzarata)
October 31, 2025 at 2:03 PM
"You know I climbed up this hill and then God gave me these tablets telling you all to listen to me. And now I'm here!"
(Fragment of a fresco from the church of Mezzarata)
(Fragment of a fresco from the church of Mezzarata)
Here is the full image from ca 1435.
October 31, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Here is the full image from ca 1435.
This seems more appropriate for the spooky season... Is it a female devil giving birth? Or any devil just shitting out humans?
October 31, 2025 at 1:47 PM
This seems more appropriate for the spooky season... Is it a female devil giving birth? Or any devil just shitting out humans?
This is the sign. I don't recognize the scene either!
October 31, 2025 at 1:43 PM
This is the sign. I don't recognize the scene either!
Don't get me wrong, I love me some Giotto. But this dragon just looks like it is sucking through a straw rather than being slain... 😝
October 31, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Don't get me wrong, I love me some Giotto. But this dragon just looks like it is sucking through a straw rather than being slain... 😝
Escaping while keeping your halo intact is no mean feat. 🤪
(If any #medievalsky scholar can tell me what St Anthony got up to here, I'd love to hear it! 😅)
(If any #medievalsky scholar can tell me what St Anthony got up to here, I'd love to hear it! 😅)
October 31, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Escaping while keeping your halo intact is no mean feat. 🤪
(If any #medievalsky scholar can tell me what St Anthony got up to here, I'd love to hear it! 😅)
(If any #medievalsky scholar can tell me what St Anthony got up to here, I'd love to hear it! 😅)
Saint George is really going for it.
(Pinacoteca nazionale di Bologna)
(Pinacoteca nazionale di Bologna)
October 31, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Saint George is really going for it.
(Pinacoteca nazionale di Bologna)
(Pinacoteca nazionale di Bologna)
Assisi is even better at night when all the tourists have left.
October 27, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Assisi is even better at night when all the tourists have left.
Always good to be in Assisi, especially when the sun comes out.
October 27, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Always good to be in Assisi, especially when the sun comes out.
"My name is Stefano ... I am about 14 years old. My job is to go to school and do tasks around the house."
Possibly my youngest #monkabulous canonisation trial witness so far, testifying to a miracle basically involving a beating on the school yard.
Possibly my youngest #monkabulous canonisation trial witness so far, testifying to a miracle basically involving a beating on the school yard.
October 26, 2025 at 6:04 PM
"My name is Stefano ... I am about 14 years old. My job is to go to school and do tasks around the house."
Possibly my youngest #monkabulous canonisation trial witness so far, testifying to a miracle basically involving a beating on the school yard.
Possibly my youngest #monkabulous canonisation trial witness so far, testifying to a miracle basically involving a beating on the school yard.
San Lorenzo on the barbecue.
The #earlymodern altar of San Lorenzo in Panisperna.
What is remarkable about Rome is how, despite the mass tourism, you can still find places to be totally alone with amazing art.
The #earlymodern altar of San Lorenzo in Panisperna.
What is remarkable about Rome is how, despite the mass tourism, you can still find places to be totally alone with amazing art.
October 25, 2025 at 9:12 AM
San Lorenzo on the barbecue.
The #earlymodern altar of San Lorenzo in Panisperna.
What is remarkable about Rome is how, despite the mass tourism, you can still find places to be totally alone with amazing art.
The #earlymodern altar of San Lorenzo in Panisperna.
What is remarkable about Rome is how, despite the mass tourism, you can still find places to be totally alone with amazing art.
An #earlymodern memorial to an 18 year old cardinal (Roberto de' Nobili) who died much too young.
(In San Bernardo alle Terme)
(In San Bernardo alle Terme)
October 25, 2025 at 8:39 AM
An #earlymodern memorial to an 18 year old cardinal (Roberto de' Nobili) who died much too young.
(In San Bernardo alle Terme)
(In San Bernardo alle Terme)
Good to know that the traffic in Rome has always been bad. 😝
October 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Good to know that the traffic in Rome has always been bad. 😝
Behold Clio, the muse of history, happily reading!
(From the Museo di Roma)
(From the Museo di Roma)
October 24, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Behold Clio, the muse of history, happily reading!
(From the Museo di Roma)
(From the Museo di Roma)
One for @christinekooi.bsky.social ! A statue of Alexander Farnese in the Capitoline museums.
October 23, 2025 at 12:36 PM
One for @christinekooi.bsky.social ! A statue of Alexander Farnese in the Capitoline museums.