Claudia Merrill

November so far ✨

One book I’ve been getting back into is Wild by Amy Jeffs. She retells early medieval folk stories, bringing them to life again. At the end of each short story, she gives more background into the story, with historical background and details on the primary sources.

I also made it to the and started some watercolor paintings. Instead of buying cards this year I’m painting them, it’s one of the only things that really calms me.

Are you reading anything good lately? My TBR is so long but I’m always looking to add more to my Goodreads list 😅📚

📚

cozy medieval moments in 🏰🕯️🍂
my favourite room in this castle was this medieval bedroom. I would spend all day writing in here ✍️

🇵🇹

All about Portrait of a Woman ✨🍂🕯️

4 years ago when I was researching the Dutch Golden Age, I came across a salacious story. I couldn’t believe I had never heard of it before! So I got my mind into the state of Hendrickje Stoffels, the 20 year old maid that came to work for Rembrandt in 1647, and followed her paper trail of history.

What I found was a young girl caught between the famous Rembrandt, and his existing mistress that was 20 years her senior. Through my research, it became clear that motives were ambiguous—did Rembrandt agree to marry his former mistress before a new young lady entered the household? Was Geertje (his former mistress) the victim? Or was she a jealous older woman who wouldn’t let go of her fling with the famous painter?

I left these questions open in this book. I left it up to you to decide who is in the wrong, and who is following their heart.