Guerra de los Treinta años - History Lab

The fortune teller of Buenaventura

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:31:28 +0000

Jan Cossiers (1600-1671), a painter of Flemish origin, produced several versions of the same subject of the gypsy fortune-teller. The present situation can be traced back to the two paintings on the same theme by Caravaggio (1571-1610) at the end of the 16th century, but with a more complex scheme involving various figures. In this image, a languid, confident-looking boy has allowed himself to be persuaded to be read by a gypsy woman with two children in tow, who uses a second to steal his hand. The exuberant and even luxurious costumes of the gypsies of Nicolas Regnier (1591-1667) or Georges de la Tour (1593-1652) have been dispelled here, leaving room for ragged clothes at the ends, this gives them a ragged appearance that can be explained by the demographic reality and the poverty that plagued much of Europe in the aftermath of the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), but which also finds its raison d’être in the implementation of harsh anti-Gypsy legislation, which classified them as marginalised and even criminal beings. Despite this, such circumstances do not prevent the women in Cossiers’s work from wearing one of the most striking and unique elements of their clothing, the bern, that circular hat with a wicker frame made by interweaving different coloured fabrics. The scene is completed by two other figures, namely a girl with her hand held out in a gesture of silence and a large-mustached gypsy wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a sword in his hand. This leaves open the possibility that we are dealing with a group in which everyone, through their gestures and movements, is linked to the action.

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Gypsies on the move: the vanguard

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:31:28 +0000

This engraving by Jacques Callot (1592-1635) belongs to the series of four etchings known as Les Bohémiens, produced between 1621 and 1625. Classified as number two of the set, the print emphasises the warlike character of the gypsies. Impeccably dressed, heavily armed with firearms, mounted on splendid horses, wearing feathered hats and moustaches, they are the spitting image of the arrogant military man. Numerous examples of Gypsies as mercenaries have been recorded; to Bishop Sigismund, defender of the city of Funfkiirchen, they provided muskets, bullets and war harnesses, displaying their knowledge of the art of metalworking. It is also known that in the 16th century Henry IV of France had a battalion of 400 Gypsies in his service, and that during the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) the Swedes had a Gypsy leader among their troops. In 1773, a decree of the tsar ordered the formation of two cavalry regiments by recruiting Gypsy men. Another later example can be found in 1780 in the Hungarian detachments of Orosaish and Jalaish, where there was one Gypsy for every eight soldiers.

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Politics, economy and society. Theme: The 17th century. Session 1

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:27:41 +0000

Explanatory video outlining the socio-economic and political characteristics of the 17th century in Modern Europe. During this period, Europe was plunged into a deep crisis. Population growth was slowed by successive plague epidemics, wars that led to terrible famines, low agricultural yields and poor harvests. On the other hand, the trade established with America, as well as the network established between Europe and Africa, provided excellent profits. Internationally, England and Holland began to compete with Spain and Portugal, expanding mainly in Asia and attacking Iberian cities and routes with pirates and privateers. France imposed its dominance in Europe over all other nations after the Peace of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years’ War in Germany.

The post Politics, economy and society. Theme: The 17th century. Session 1 first appeared on History Lab.