Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans

Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

Biography of Alexandre Cabanel 1823-1889

Alexandre Cabanel is in Painters.

On 28th September 1823 Alexandre Cabanel was born.

In 1840 Alexandre Cabanel (age 16) entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris where he studied with François-Édouard Picot.

1843. Alexandre Cabanel (age 19). "Cincinnatus receiving the ambassadors of Rome".

1844. Alexandre Cabanel (age 20). "Christ in the Garden of Olives".

1847. Alexandre Cabanel (age 23). "Fallen Angel".

1847. Alexandre Cabanel (age 23). Portrait of Emperor Napoléon III (age 38).

1848. Alexandre Cabanel (age 24). "Albaydé".

1852. Alexandre Cabanel (age 28). Self-portrait.

In 1855 Alexandre Cabanel (age 31) and Marie-Clémentine Legrand were married.

1857. Alexandre Cabanel (age 33). "Aglaida and Boniface".

William of Worcester's Chronicle of England

William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

In 1863 Alexandre Cabanel (age 39) was elected a member of the Academy of Fine Arts.

1863. Alexandre Cabanel (age 39). "The Birth of Venus". Exhibited at the Salon of 1863, and which was immediately purchased by Napoleon III for his personal collection.

In 1864 Alexandre Cabanel (age 40) was appointed professor at the École des Beaux-Arts where he taught until his death in 1889.

In 1867 [his wife] Marie-Clémentine Legrand died.

1870. Alexandre Cabanel (age 46). "The death of Francesca da Rimini and Paolo Malatesta".

1871. Alexandre Cabanel (age 47). Portrait of Cornelia Warren.

1873. Alexandre Cabanel (age 49). "Pandora".

1873. Alexandre Cabanel (age 49). Portrait of the Countess de Keller.

1874. Alexandre Cabanel (age 50). "Thamar".

1874. Alexandre Cabanel (age 50). "Echo".

Deeds of King Henry V

Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

1880. Alexandre Cabanel (age 56). "Phaedra".

1883. Alexandre Cabanel (age 59). "Ruth glanant dans les champs de Booz" aka Ruth harvesting in the fields of Booz.

1883. Alexandre Cabanel (age 59). "Ophelia".

1887. Alexandre Cabanel (age 63). Portrait of Mary Victoria Leiter Baroness Curzon Kedleston (age 17).

1887. Alexandre Cabanel (age 63). "Cleopatra Testing Poisons on Condemned Prisoners".

On 23rd January 1889 Alexandre Cabanel (age 65) died in his hotel at 14 rue Alfred de Vigny, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. His funeral was on 26th January 1889 at the Saint-Philippe du Roule church. He was buried at Saint Lazaire Cemetery.