Lizzie and Erzebet

 A new podcast on Lizzie Borden also addresses Erzebet.

Link appears on Facebook.

Erzebet is addressed in our textbook, edited with DR 

Robin Throne. ICI Scientific pub.  

RIP ANNE BOLEYN 2026

  RIP Anne Boleyn 2026

 

Every year I try to remember Henry’s second, tragic queen. I’ve written about her in books, in poetry, and fiction.  Anne and Henry, Immortal Redemption, will be out soon on Amazon.

I have sections about her in Capital Punishment in Popular Culture; Toys, Games and Nursery Rhymes, Toying with Death, and in Warpaint, Ethics and Beauty.  I’ve read about her in conferences, done readings of her poetry, created art inspired by her. I discuss her in our recent book, Critical Sociocultural Examinations of Gender Discrimination and Persecution.

At first, few others were writing about her, but today, on the anniversary of her execution, social media is swamped with stories, posts, images, and reels.  Most seek to romanticize her, some are gruesome, many not accurate.

I add my two cents again to my blog and elsewhere, with a plea not to forget that she was a brave, educated, and accomplished woman.  She made one bad choice in men, and it cost her her life, her brother’s life, her reputation, and her family’s legacy. 

Critical Sociocultural Examinations of Gender Discrimination and Persecution

 Stay Tuned; I'm co editing and coauthoring a chapter for this forthcoming textbook.  Erzebet plays a serious role, as she did in my last book, Warpaint-Ethics and Beauty, The Ethics International Press.

Others have taken up her cause, and the injustice, falsehoods, political assassination and folklore associated with her case.  I will share the bibliography as the book progresses.  I've also written of her in With Love from Tin Lizzie; A History of Metal Dolls . . . 

Will keep you posted.

Tribute to a Legendary Author

 Anne Rice Tribute

 

I first read Interview with the Vampire when I was sixteen.  Since then, I have taught Anne Rice, created courses about her, read nearly all her books, watched media, and had chapters about her published in books.   I lead a book group on Cry to Heaven, and presented a paper on Michael Curry at a conference. I even wrote about Rice in my dissertation.

In honors comp at SIUC, I taught The Witching Hour; my class was enchanted.  I later emailed Anne to tell her I was teaching a course on her, and was there anything she wanted me to say about her books.  I still have her gracious and kind response, giving me free reign to say what I felt.

Also, she was my muse because we liked many of the same things.  Dolls, Anne Boleyn, Tudor history, religion, witchcraft, vampires, Emily Bronte, and more.  I am privileged to own some of her books, and two small dolls from her collection.  I am the director of American Doll and Toy Museum, and Lestat in doll form is, well, family to us.  I made a doll house inspired by Claudia and Louis, as well as my own Lestat doll of clay.  Her quote from Taltos which reads “When you loved dolls, you learned to love all kinds of people too . . .” sums up what we feel about dolls, and why we began the museum.

She was brilliant, compassionate, eclectic,  truly a gifted storyteller.  The world is not the same without her

Skyward, some Cosmic Thoughts from our Guest Blogger, Dr. David H. Levy

 

Skyward is below.  Some updates on Erzebet, she appears in my book Capital Punishment in Popular Culture, Toys, Games, and Nursery Rhymes-Toying with Death, Cambridge Scholars Publishinghttps://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-5275-0116-4. She will appear in my book War Paint-Ethics in Beauty, Press, December 2025 or 2025. https://ethicspress.com/search?q=tsagaris

Skyward for December 2024

Cosmic Thoughts

David H. Levy

  Torah study, a meeting among friends and members, takes place on most Saturday mornings.  It is the only time that I try to awake before noon.  It is a program of Beth Shalom Temple Center, our synagogue.  During each two-hour session we continue our discussion of the Torah, which is composed of the first five books of the Bible.   I am a bit uncertain as to my role there.   I do begin each session with a poem from my collection of night sky-related poetry.  But once when it was my turn to read from Genesis,  a passage described  how a group of people stayed on the someone’s land one night:  “Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.”(Genesis 31.54)  Without really thinking about it, I added, “And while they were there, they set up their telescopes and enjoyed a lovely evening of stargazing.”  Most laughed, some were stunned, and possibly one just left.

                I love the relationship that the Torah points out that developed between God and Moses.  I had the feeling that they became friends.  It appeared that God’s anger was kindled frequently, with good reason. and that, as our Rabbi pointed out, Moses tried to calm him down.    Even though I consider myself agnostic—we cannot know if God even exists—I do take my faith quite seriously.  I find it appropriate to think that God has a temper, and even a sense of humor.

                As our discussion went on week after week, I suggested the idea that other people might have a similar, personal relationship with God.  I suspect that my late wife Wendee did.  But before I get to the story I want to tell, it is time to relate just how special Wendee was.   Except for eclipses of the Sun and the Moon, Wendee did not come into our marriage with a passion for the night sky, but she built it as time passed.  She never tired of urging me to continue and expand my early morning comet hunting sessions.  On occasion, as I looked eastward in anticipation of closing the observatory roof, I would see her smiling face.    She did not like to climb out of bed before dawn, but when I asked her if she would like to arise early the morning after I discovered my most recent comet in 2006, Wendee replied that she wouldn’t miss that opportunity for the world.

                Wendee’s passion was not at all limited to looking outward, to the sky.   She also encouraged me to look inward.  Joining the Torah study was her idea.  It began my weekly Saturday early rising.  Right from the start I did considerable reading of the Genesis and Exodus chapters, and I began a tradition of reading a poem at the start of each session which I still do.  The Torah study is an activity that remains close to my soul, and I look forward to it always.

                Wendee’s role in Torah study did not affect just me.  “She always had profound words to say,” relates Dr. Martin Cohen, the leader of our Torah study group.  “I will always remember her insights intro scripture and what she felt when she looked up into the heavens, and the potentials she saw in all of humanity.” 

Now for my purpose in writing this article. I like to think that she used that friendship to her advantage on April 8, 2024, during the total eclipse of the Sun. On April 8, we did catch portions of the incoming partial eclipse.  But as the dark umbral shadow of the Moon rushed towards us, the clouds thickened and we could not see the Sun.  The sky was darkening quickly, and the temperature was plunging so fast that I could feel it plummet.  It seemed obvious to me that we were not going to see the total phase of this eclipse. Then I imagined that in Heaven, Wendee turned to God:

 “God,” she said, “Why won’t you let Doveed see the eclipse?”

“Well,” God smiled as he replied, “Doveed hasn’t been that good a boy lately.   For example, he still doesn’t have a handle on my third commandment.  He may be trying, but he hasn’t got it yet.”

“So what?” snapped Wendee. Let him see the damned eclipse!”

“OK. You’re the boss.”

In the next minute I saw by far the most dramatic total eclipse I have ever witnessed. The clouds parted magically. There was a spectacular corona, and a lovely prominence at the lower limb of the Sun.

After the total phase of the eclipse was over, I witnessed a spectacular display of sunlight glimpsing its way through valleys on the edge of the Moon, an effect called Bailey’s Beads. Wendee approached God again and said, “Actually, God, you’re the boss.”

The smile vanished as God replied, “Yes, I am the boss. But I have tasked you with taking care of Doveed.”

I cannot forget that incident.  And in a sense, it doesn’t matter if it really happened that way or not.  It will always live in my memory.   I miss Wendee terribly, and wonderfully.  She gave me a significantly richer sky, and a much happier life.

Moon, Jupiter and Saturn

 

               

Anne Boleyn; In Memoriam

Rest in Peace, Queene Anne

Bathory on Google Sholar

Below is a list of partial sources from Google Scholar on Erzebet and her link with Snow White. I am using them in my research for my latest book on ethics and cosmetics. Erzebet is in the book, as well as a brief history on blood used in cosemtics, before, during, and after Erzebet's life time.

[PDF] The Bloodlust of Elizabeth Báthory: From the Brothers Grimm to American Horror Story T Fajardo - ACADEMIA LUNARE - repository.falmouth.ac.uk … historic Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Báthory through her … the stepmother of their Little Snow White, was also influenced … Both the stepmother, as well as Snow White, emphasise the … Save Cite Related articles All 4 versions [PDF] srce.hr The symbolic construction of the monstrous–the Elizabeth Bathory story L Kürti - Narodna umjetnost-Hrvatski časopis za etnologiju i …, 2009 - ceeol.com … In the history of East European monstrosities, the story of Countess Elizabeth Bathory has a prominent place. Proclaimed to be the most prolific murderess of mankind, she is accused of … Save Cite Cited by 9 Related articles All 7 versions [BOOK] The Countess: A Novel of Elizabeth Bathory R Johns - 2011 - books.google.com … The huntsman obeyed and took Snow-White into … Snow-White's death. The cook had to boil them with salt, and the wicked woman ate them, supposing that she had eaten Snow-White's … Save Cite Cited by 3 Related articles All 3 versions [PDF] academia.edu It's not all about Snow White: The Evil Queen isn't that monstrous after all C Santos - Monsters in society: An interdisciplinary perspective, 2014 - brill.com This chapter seeks to examine the depiction of the evil step-mother Queen in Snow White. The focus will be on examining the characterisation of the Queen as both step-mother and evil … Save Cite Cited by 3 Related articles All 4 versions [PDF] utb.cz Snow White in American Movies and TV Series M Foldynová - 2012 - digilib.k.utb.cz This thesis deals with film adaptations of the Snow White folk-tale. The original text used is taken from Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm‘s collection of fairy-tales Children's and Household … Save Cite Related articles All 2 versions [PDF] umn.edu The Trial of Countess Elizabeth Báthory: Developing a Defense for Dame Dracula and Deconstructing Dominant Dames R Lawhead - 2019 - conservancy.umn.edu … On the night of December 29th, in the year of our Lord sixteen-hundred and ten, the snow … white men. The idea of a strong woman speaking her truth reminded me of Elizabeth Báthory, … Save Cite Related articles [PDF] academia.edu [PDF] Evil is in the Eye of the Beholder: Snow White and the Evil Queen C Santos - The Monster Stares Back: How Human We Remain …, 2015 - academia.edu … Queen in Snow White, one will note that evil too, is in the eye of the beholder. In her role as … fairy tale and subsequent revisions in the short stories:‘Blancanieves’(Snow White) by … Save Cite Cited by 2 Related articles [BOOK] The Blood Countess: A Novel A Codrescu - 2015 - books.google.com … The details of Elizabeth Bathory's life as they appear in this … under the still-falling snow, Elizabeth felt a cold flame rise within … When all the shards succumbed to a fresh blanket of snow, … Save Cite Cited by 34 Related articles [PDF] academia.edu [PDF] 'Your Tale Merely Confirms that Woman are Mad and Vain': The Uncanny Rendering of Countess Elizabeth Báthory's Life as a Vampire Legend JS Robinson - Dracula's Daughters: The Female Vampire on Film, 2014 - academia.edu … In addition, the myriad incantations of Elizabeth Bathory’s … the enduring relevance of Elizabeth Bathory’s mythological … kill her competition, the lovely, young Snow White (a name that … Save Cite Cited by 2 Related articles [DOC] uca.ac.uk " This is how I lied about coming up with the idea for writing about The Brothers Grimm [2005]": incoherent narration in Terry Gilliam's Adaptation W Clayton - 2018 - research.uca.ac.uk … kill Snow White, yet the huntsman can’t bring himself to perform the act, letting Snow White … her youth is suggestive of the story of Countess Elizabeth Bathory, a 16 th and 17 th Century … Save Cite Related articles All 4 versions Related searches story of snow whitetale of terror snow whitecolour symbolism snow whiteamerican movies snow whitefemale power snow whiteeight elements snow whitemirror mirror snow white

Museum Purpose

The more I run the American Doll and Toy Museum, the more I realize a lot of people of all ages have no clue what a museum is. “What is the purpose of this?” asked one woman in her seventies or early eighties. She grew up in our area, which has several museums besides ours, including The Putnam Museum, The German American Heritage Center, The Hauberg Indian Museum, and The Rock Island Historical Society, to name just a few. I don’t think she has been in any. She wanted to know if we bought and sold dolls and other things. No, I answered, we aren’t retail. Our purpose is to educate, and to tell the story of humanity through dolls and toys. Our collection represents Prehistory to the Present. Many of our artifacts also represent the ethnicities or our community. They tell the progress of immigration in our area. We also curate to preserve, even things no one else may want. We have several libraries of books about our objects, but also about them. Our best visitors are children twelve and under. They are fascinated by the antiques, and delight when they find something they recognize. They behave well, and aren’t jaded. Their favorite exhibits are Polly Pockets, My Little Pony, and Disney Princesses. I direct those who want to know more about to museums to the blog, “The Future of Museums.” My cousin who is a pastor, calls the museum a ministry for children, both because we try to preserve objects for posterity, but because we are dedicated to childhood and its pursuits, to a time more innocent than today. We a 501c not for profit; we do not make money in this venture, far from it. Dolls and toys are humanity’s historians. Dolls are often the only thing left to us from civilizations long gone from the earth, and are portraits of their creators. Brick and mortar museums exist to teach as well as entertain. There museums for kitchen utensils, washing machines, tractors, trucks, textiles and mores. What is our purpose? Come see us to find out, but if you have to ask, well . . .

From Dr. David H. Levy, Skyward November 2023, our Guest Blogger

Here is Skyward for this month, by noted astronomer David Levy. It is Halloween again, up till today, nights are cold, dark and clear, and we have done some amazing observing from country side observation posts. It is easy to beleive in spirits, when evenings darken early, and the air is crisp!

Skyward for November 2023 By David H. Levy As a youngster growing up in Montreal, Canada in the early 1950s, I was impressed by the seeming simplicity of Montreal’s weather. It appeared to me as though there were just two kinds of weather, in wintertime a grey sky, and in summertime a blue sky. I wasn’t completely wrong about this. In 1961, while trying to run a small astronomy club for young people, I counted an unbroken string of cloudy Friday nights that lasted for months. And sure enough, when the weather began to moderate the following spring, we were treated to, at last, a clear night. As I grew older, my thoughts turned to finding a different locale where the sky would be clear more often. In September 1979, I packed my bags and telescopes and headed for the American southwest. I was rewarded immediately. My first season here, the Autumn of 1979, was punctuated by a virtually unbroken string of more than 50 clear nights in a row. There was a specific reason for my wanting more clear nights. In the fall of 1965 I was planning a search program for comets, and it began on December 17 of that year, just before midnight. I used the largest telescope I had at the time, the 8-inch reflector named Pegasus. Less than a year later, Miss Isabel K. Williamson, director of observations of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s Montreal Centre, wrote this in the November 1966 issue of the center’s newsletter Skyward: “The increase in the number of observations over the previous year can be attributed to David Levy who has made the search for and observation of comets and novae his main astronomical project. In addition to patrolling assigned areas, he has made a total of 360 observations of the dome, the twilight horizon and the sky in the sun’s vicinity, and on 33 nights spent a total of 48 hours at the eyepiece of his telescope, sweeping the sky for comets.” Miss Williamson’s words from all those years ago remain among the highest compliment I have received from anyone. And I still use Pegasus for some of my comet hunting, including the evening of October 11, 1987, when I used Pegasus to find my third comet, 1987 T1. In fact, to celebrate the completion of this article, I went outdoors and used Pegasus for a short comet search this very evening. I may have been right about my childhood weather forecast. Southern Arizona offers many more clear nights than one can appreciate from the frequently cloudy sky over Montreal, Canada. And from the Chiricuaha Astronomy Complex, a two-hour drive southeast of my Vail, Arizona home, observers are treated to one of the darkest sky locations in the world. It is well worth loading Pegasus into a van and using it at that wonderful CAC dark site. Whether I am down there or right here, placing my eye at the eyepiece of this beloved telescope warms my heart and pierces my soul.

American Doll and Toy Museum: A History Of German Toy Making

American Doll and Toy Museum: A History Of German Toy Making

Women and CSI

Below is a link to some information on the foremost woman in forensics: a href="http://ourwildestdreams.blogspot.com/2013/03/fan-letters-for-frances-glessner-lee.html?spref=bl">Our Wildest Dream: A True Crime Blog of Filmmaking: Fan Letters for Frances Glessner Lee: While researching some recently unearthed Frances Glessner Lee's files, we came across some gems. Like this folder of fan mail to Fran...

Some News

Some more information on Erzebet in the news. More original work soon on the legal status of women in Erzebet's position and the Ottoman occupation of Europe. More, also, about slandering powerful women and resentment towards them and information about women as victims of witch hunts. Enjoy. Greetings good people of COBSAE, www.infamouslady.com Community of Bathory Scholars and Enthusiasts After taking the summer off, we are pleased to present you with our latest newsletter. As we look forward to the beauty and mystery of the fall season, we have the pleasure of interviewing and featuring the works of artists Kurt Wiscombe and Alex Adams whose hauntingly beautiful paintings pay homage to the Countess. And, speaking of a work of art, we update you on the availability of the supreme pewter figurine of the Lady Bathory that Doug Gardiner designed and brought to life. Only a few are left, and it is a beautiful piece that an enthusiast should add to their collection. Finally, we introduce a new segment entitled, "Her Ladyship's History & Mysteries" where we ask you, our members, for your insights and opinions on historical topics and questions surrounding the Countess. As always we appreciate your continued support and look forward to hearing from you. We invite you to participate in future issues by submitting your Bathory related writing, poetry, artwork and historical insights to: cobsae@infamouslady.com. We hope you enjoy this issue and have a lovely fall season. Liz Carrington

COBSAE is a community of enthusiasts dedicated to research, discussion, and the appreciation of one of history’s most enigmatic figures, Countess Erzsébet Báthory. Community of Báthory Scholars & Enthusiasts Greetings, Good People of COBSAE! FALL 2012 We hope you enjoyed a relaxing summer. As we return from our hiatus, we look forward to the cool and calm change of the season. In this issue, we celebrate autumn’s gothic beauty and mystery by featuring a portrayal of Countess Bathory in the stunningly beautiful and magnificently macabre artwork of Alex Adams and Kurt Wiscombe. In addition, Doug Gardiner nobly immortalizes the Countess in a magnificent miniature sculpture and offers us the opportunity to obtain our very own piece of this one-of –a-kind work of art! Finally, we open the forum up to you as we begin a new segment entitled: Her Ladyship’s History and Mysteries, where we ask our members for their thoughts and opinions on posted topics. COBSAE members who participate will have their responses published in our next edition and be entered in a drawing to win a photograph of one of the Countess’ private letters! As always, we would love to hear from you and make your contributions a part of our next issue! Feel free to write us at: COBSAE@infamouslady.com.We also invite you to join our Facebook Group and like our Infamous Lady Fan Page on Facebook! Many thanks for your continued support and enthusiasm! ~ Liz Carrington, COBSAE Co-founder In this Issue: Nobly Immortal...............................2 Gallery Macabre: An interview with Artists Alex Adams & Kurt Wiscombe…………………….……..........3 Her Ladyship’s History & Mysteries………9 The Last Word News & Reviews…………..10 Join COBSAE @: www.infamouslady.com The Blood Countess, Erzsébet Bathory 1560-1614 © Alex Adams, 2009 Nobly Immortal A vision of the Countess Comes to Life “As an owner of one of these gorgeous sculptures, I will tell you that it is well worth it! The detail is exquisite and the quality is solid! A must have for the serious enthusiast!” ~Liz Carrington 2 COBSAE: Can you give us a few details about the figurine and how we may obtain one? DG: “The Countess Erzsébet Bathory figurine stands 4 inches high, standing upright with hands clasped in the front below her waist; she is dressed in the costume worn in the portrait, reproduced in incredible detail by the artist. The circular base of the figurine also shows traces of the stone paving of Čachtice castle. The figurine is hollow and weighs 250g. I am offering the figures for sale exclusively through the COBSAE newsletter. At this stage I only have a very limited number available but will have more figures produced within a couple of months if there is a demand for them. Figures will be posted from Australia.” The figurines are priced at US $39.95 each Postage within Australia is AU $10.00 Postage overseas is US $20.00 Tracking is optional and is available for an extra $5.00 For complete details please email Doug Gardiner at: countessbathoryfigurine@hotmail.com if you are interested in purchasing one of these detailed figurines. Last year Doug Gardiner had a vision of the Lady Bathory and a quest began to seek a sculpture of her as the astute noble she was and not the blood-crazed murderess of popular lore. When nothing turned up, he took matters into his own hands and decided to have one created. He shares more about this fascinating figurine and how you can own one of these unique pieces. COBSAE: What sparked your interest in the Countess and then taking it a step further to have these unique figurines created? DG: “I have been interested in the life of Countess Erzsébet Bathory for many years now. I first found out about the Countess when I was in school, reading about her infamous blood bathing habit in a book on vampires. For years I accepted this as the truth until I began reading the biographies written by Raymond T. McNally, Tony Thorne, and most recently Kimberly L. Craft ’s ‘Infamous Lady’. These books presented me with the facts rather than the legends, and I found that I began to develop an interest in the truth about the Countess, not just the bloody and violent legends that initially fascinated me as a teenager. As a collector, I have always been dismayed by the limited figural representations of Countess Bathory that were available. The only display pieces I could find were of the Countess naked and slathered in blood and gore. With my new found interest in the truth about the Countess, I was disappointed that no one had created a classic and dignified figurine that replicated the Countess as she appears in the often reproduced portrait. I decided to have a pewter figurine created using the portrait as the basis for the design. I contacted a company specialising in creating custom pewter figurines and provided them with several images and notes in order to have the figure produced. When work was complete I was very happy with the result, and I knew other members of COBSAE would be interested in obtaining one of these figurines.” COBSAE: What emotions do you wish to invoke and which senses do you want to stimulate within those who view your art? AA: I want to invoke curiosity and provoke the imagination visually. I am interested in hearing what others feel when they see my work, and like to leave it open for interpretation. KW: With many of my paintings, I try to express a feeling of morbid curiosity. From an emotional standpoint my paintings are an expression of whatever my feelings were at the time I was working on the particular painting or at the time the inspiration for a piece hits me. COBSAE: How did you start your careers as artists, and how and when did the Skull & Bones Gallery come to life? AA: I became interested in art at a young age, when I was little I would draw things so that I could remember them. My interest in art has grown with me throughout my life. KW: I have pursued art for most of my life and it has taken me all that time to find my voice as an artist, to be in a place where I feel that I can use my art as a form of expression. For a long time Alex and I talked about the idea of having a place to display our paintings. In 2008 the space that we had always wanted became available and we decided to jump on it. We had our grand opening in july 2009. We use the gallery to display our works to the public as well we have had events such as unveilings of new works. COBSAE: When did you become interested in learning more about the Countess? How does her history influence or find its way into your work? AA: I had originally heard of Erzsebet Bathory in the media, movies and books... the romantic portrayal of the Countess Bathory, I have always been intrigued by her story, as I learned more about her, I found much of her story has been told in many different ways. I like to reference her as a subject matter because of her mystery. KW: I first heard of Erzsebet Bathory while reading the book “In Search of Dracula” by Raymond T. McNally and Radu Florescu. Gallery Macabre An interview with Artists Kurt Wiscombe & Alex Adams When you behold the artwork of Kurt Wiscombe and Alex Adams, you are led into a mysterious and magnificently macabre realm where life, death, beauty and antiquity coalesce. The husband and wife team are the proprietors of the Skull & Bones Gallery in Winnipeg, Manitoba where their art is housed and displayed. We had the pleasure of learning more about them, their work and their interpretations of Countess Bathory. Website: www.skullandbonesgallery.com Facebook: Kurt Wiscombe Alex Adams Skull & Bones Gallery FB Group Blog: www.kurtwiscombe.blogspot.com www.skullandbonesgallery.blogspot.com Twitter: @Kurtwiscombe @Alex Adams36 Email: skullandbonesgallery@gmail.com ©Alex Adams, 2007 Learn more about and connect with Kurt & Alex on the web @: 3 ©Kurt Wiscombe, 2012 as stylistically true to the period as I can be, with a little artistic license here or there. In general, I have an interest in that period, the renaissance was a time when the arts flourished and science, literature, music and architecture was at a pivotal point in history. I try to portray the people I paint as having a story and being from a certain time and place, sometimes inspired by history but not always meant to be someone specifically. COBSAE: Tell us more about your piece “The Blood Countess - Erzsébet Bathory 1560 - 1614” What compelled you to create it? What aspects of her character did you wish to bring to life in your painting, what do we see through her eyes? AA: I wanted to portray her in the time of her life when she was at her most fiery passion, in the thick of the events that became so infamous. I started out painting her with an idea of how I wanted her to look and the mood I wanted to portray. As I was painting it, Kurt would come into my studio and read to me excerpts from the book “Infamous Lady” by Kim Craft, which he was reading at the time, as I was painting and hearing the testimonials of what she had done and some of the stories of her life, the image started to take shape. This painting was for a show at a local gallery. Although I had been thinking about doing it for a while, Kurt encouraged me to begin working on it for that show. I was trying to show in her eyes the secrets that only she would know, obsession, power and knowledge. She was a very educated woman and I believe she had a complex personality with much more to her than meets the eye… and perhaps much more than we will ever know. Visually I worked from written descriptions of her. I had seen the famous portrait of her supposedly done from a copy of a lifetime one. I found the Bathory coat of arms in one of the books we have about her. I also created the painting based on what I had read about her behaviour and her possible intentions. I have, actually, just put the finishing touches on a new painting inspired by Countess Bathory. This one is inspired in part by an early film portrayal of her, I took a few liberties with the costume based on my research of eastern European dress of the time, and the color pallette is similar to famous eastern European paintings of that period. I found her story to be very interesting and started doing more research. I read everything I could find on her, often the stories differed from each other, which intrigued me more, and I’m still very interested in her story. I read quite a bit and I have always been a bit of a history buff, many of my paintings are inspired by historical periods so it’s possible that Countess Bathory may have crept in there somewhere in a subliminal way. COBSAE: Alex, your portraits of the women of the renaissance are haunting and beautiful, what inspired you to start painting period pieces? ‘White Queen’ ©Alex Adams, 2009 AA: Well, thank you... The renaissance period has always had a special place in my heart. As soon as I started painting at a young age I was drawn to the art of such artists as Albrecht Dürer, Raphael, Leonardo Da Vinci and other master artists of the time, I think that my interest in the works of these artists planted an interest for me in the people portrayed in the paintings and their lives. I wanted to go deep into the paintings, to discover their hidden secrets. This started in me an interest in history, particularly the stories of some of the women around the royal courts of mediaeval Europe. Kurt and I have had the opportunity to travel a bit, we have been though Florence, Rome, London, Paris, places like that where we were able to view the works of these master painters, and see a bit of the places they came from. One thing I really like about painting this genre is the costumes. The fabrics and the jewelry all work together to create an atmosphere. I spend a lot of time researching these aspects of what will eventually become a part of my paintings; I try to be . Gallery Macabre An interview with Artists Kurt Wiscombe & Alex Adams Continued 4 5 The Blood Countess-Erzsébet Bathory 1560-1614 ©Alex Adams, 2009 “I wanted to portray her in the time of her life when she was at her most fiery passion, in the thick of the events that became so infamous… I was trying to show in her eyes the secrets that only she would know, obsession, power and knowledge.” Gallery Macabre… Continued ‘Vampire’ ©Alex Adams, 2007 ‘Woman with Rose’ ©Alex Adams, 2007 These Haunting images inspire thoughts of a young Countess… …Or perhaps, one of her victims. COBSAE: If you were to portray a scene or mood involving Countess Bathory, what would it look like? KW: Over the years I have had a few ideas of how I would paint her, or at least something inspired by her story, but I haven’t nailed it down specifically yet. I hope to someday be able to go to Hungary and sketch some of the sites where the legend of Erzsebet Bathory unfolded. I know it is somewhat of a mystery where her final resting place is, but if I could ever find it, that would be the ultimate inspiration. Anytime I can come into contact with history, it speaks to me. To see her personal letters in person, to see the castle Csejthe and the country where she lived, that would be something. 6 An Interview with Artists Kurt Wiscombe & Alex Adams Continued COBSAE: Kurt, your expressions of experience and mood revolving around skulls and bones are breathtaking. Tell us more about your ‘Death Art’ and how did it come into being? KW: Thank you... I have had a lifelong curiosity of the macabre, going back to my early childhood; I have childhood memories of wondering about death, bones, funerals, mourning culture and things like that. I’ve always been inclined to draw or paint images of death. I spend a lot of time exploring the morbid side of life, I enjoy going to cemeteries, I collect mourning items and death related things. I am very interested in the story teller and in many ways the skeletons I paint are the story tellers. Don’t get me wrong though, while I’ll admit that I have an obsession with death, I am actually very much about living and I try to live life to the fullest, I consider my fascination with death to be a bit ironic especially since some of the biggest adventures I have had in life have been seeking out the dead. ‘The Order’ ©Kurt Wiscombe, 2010 ‘Plagues Messenger’ ©Kurt Wiscombe, 2010 ‘The Procession’ ©Kurt Wiscombe, 2010 ‘Capuchin Catacomb’ ©Kurt Wiscombe, 2009 Gallery Macabre Continued COBSAE: What inspires you to tell a particular story? Who are your skeletons? For example, what is the tale behind your work, ‘Coronation Day’ or ‘The Procession’? I am mostly inspired by the world around me, I see things that will just do it for me sometimes. “Coronation Day” came to me through my interest in another historical figure, Queen Elizabeth I. On a trip to London a few years ago Alex and I went to visit Westminster Abbey and when we saw the effigy of Queen Elizabeth on her tomb, I couldn’t help but imagine if I could lift the lid and have a peak what she would look like now! I actually discovered later that her actual coffin is in a chamber beneath the floor with a few other royal coffins, so there is no lid to lift! The image came to me after that moment. I actually have plans to do another painting based on the effigy of Queen Elizabeth itself. ‘Coronation Day’ ©Kurt Wiscombe, 2010 “The Procession”, is something loosely inspired by the “Dance of Death”, of which I have an extensive book collection on the subject. In this case the procession is all reapers heading away to do there grim work, the main figure looks back as if to speak to the viewer with his boney sockets, perhaps to say it may be your turn next! As well, I was reading about the Black Death around that time. The original painting is framed with convex glass over it and when you walk towards it, you can see your reflection in the glass, as if you are part of the procession. Each of my paintings has a story, all of them different. In recent years I have worked a bit in still life, in this case I am seeking out subjects that interest me sketching them, then painting from the sketches and from memory. This has brought me to some interesting places. I spent four days sitting in the Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo, Sicily sketching the mummified dead. I did a painting of the coffin of Louis Riel who was the founder of Manitoba, the province Alex and I live in, and who was hanged for treason, and shipped home in a black coffin. A few months ago, I went to the Catacombs in Paris and sat there sketching in the dark. I am finding still life more of a challenge as I am painting subjects from real life and not my imagination. 7 About the Artists… Haunting images of a long lost day of decadence where elegance was a daily ritual, these are the images that dominate the imagination of Alex Adams. Her latest series of Oil paintings explore this world through portraiture and other imagery inspired by romantic figures of history and literature. Primarily a self-taught artist, Alex has been using artwork as a voice for her creative expression for most of her life. Over the years Alex has worked in various different mediums, in 2006 she started working in Oils. Other mediums in which she has worked include charcoal, ink, and graphite on paper. Her heroes in the art world are some of the great masters of painting, Albrecht Dürer, Raphael, Leonardo Da Vinci, to these legends she looks up to very much and their art has left a great impression on her as she visits art galleries around the world to see the actual brush strokes of these masters. She also enjoys the art of many contemporary artists as well. She is an art lover and appreciator Alex also has a fascination with the morbid and ironic beauty of old cemeteries and will not pass up the opportunity to visit any that she may come across in her travels. ‘Reliquary’ ©Kurt Wiscombe, 2010 ‘Cemetery’ ©Alex Adams, 2010 8 Kurt Wiscombe considers his paintings to be his true voice as an artist, an expression of the world around him and his many fascinations. For nearly a decade, Kurt has been working on a series of "Death Art", mostly images of skulls, bones and macabre symbolism. To Kurt, images of death and particularly skulls are like a talisman that resonates of lives once lived and an experience that none of us yet has, but all of us must one day, experience. An Interview with Artists Kurt Wiscombe & Alex Adams Continued Want to find about more Kurt and Alex’s latest projects? Be sure to follow them on the web, Facebook & Twitter! Her Ladyship’s History & Mysteries We are pleased to premiere our new segment this fall where we open the forum to you, our esteemed members! Each season we will post a discussion topic or question for your input and opinions. Participants will have their responses featured in the next issue and be entered in a drawing to win a photograph of one of the private letters written by the Countess! Our inaugural topic has lately been a popular one and revolves around the question of the Countess’ death and final resting place. Many questions and legends have popped up as a result of the lack of information and evidence of where the Countess was finally laid to rest. So we ask you, dear reader, what do you think? “Where do you believe Countess Bathory was buried, if at all? What do you think may have happened to her body?” Báthory family church and mausoleum, Nyírbátor, Hungary Send your response, including your name, via email to: cobsae@infamouslady.com www.infamouslady.com The Last Word News & Reviews Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory Expanded Digital Edition Coming Soon to an iPad Near You! Exclusively for iPad via iTunes & iBooks! Prof. Kimberly Craft brings you exciting new content in this interactive and visually stunning special electronic edition. You will find information including new letters, images, and media such as videos and audio. Stay tuned and we’ll bring you more information as the release date nears and let you know when it’s available and where to download your copy! From Amazon.com: “A Good Read” I enjoyed reading this book on Elizabeth Bathory and some of the letters she had written. I have many books on her and this was different and more personal. It made you feel as if you are reading what was not intended for others to read since it was her personal letters. It took you into the mind of Bathory and had feeling behind it. I think Craft did a real good job on the book. I would had liked it to have been bigger and had more variety of letters. I did like that it also contained info not in her other Bathory book. Both books together are a good way to learn about Elizabeth Bathory and are favorites of mine..” ~ N. Radd If you’ve read Infamous Lady, The Private Letters of Countess Erzsébet Báthory, or Elizabeth Bathory: A Memoire, we’d love to hear your feedback! Please share your reviews with us @: COBSAE@infamouslady.com We hope you enjoyed this issue! We look forward to your thoughts and feedback! If you’re a fan of the Countess and would like to contribute to a future issue, please let us know. We’d love to hear from you and feature your contributions. Please write to us or send your inquiry to: COBSAE@infamouslady.com Community of Báthory Scholars & Enthusiasts FALL 2012 Many thanks to the members who have so generously contributed to the creation of this newsletter: COBSAE Founder /Author, Kimberly L. Craft COBSAE Co-founder / Production Editor, Liz Carrington Kurt Wiscombe & Alex Adams Douglas Gardiner Features: “Nobly Immortal” Douglas Gardiner “Gallery Macabre” Kurt Wiscombe & Alex Adams Images Courtesy of: Kurt Wiscombe, Alex Adams, Douglas Gardiner, Kimberly L. Craft Last Word Review: N. Radd

RIP Anne Boelyn, 2023 Anne the Queen

Once again it is May 19th, the day Anne Boleyn was martyred. Here and elsewhere, I have pubnlished a paper detailing her downfall, trial, and execution. Today, In only want to commemoriate her. She appears in my latest book Capital Punishment in Popular Culture: Toys, Games, and Nursery Rhymes, Toying with Death. I am also finishing a novel about her. et In this year of The Coronation, I can't stop thinking about her. The present royal family is descended from her, ytle,et little seems to be done to honor her memory, outside of the preservation of Hever Castle, her home. Since I was 9 years old, I have studied her, written about her, created art inspired by her. This fascinating lady deserves to be remembered, as does her illustrious daughter, Elizabeth I.

Back to the Moon by guest blogger David H. Levy

Skyward

February 2023

 David H. Levy

Back to the Moon

I shouldn’t have been surprised by the complete success of the Artemis mission last fall.  NASA’s A team of engineers really know what they are doing.   The mission was fun to watch, particularly the brilliant light when the main engines lit up,  and it provided some hope that we may actually return to the Moon, someday soon.

But somehow, it isn’t the same.  Something is missing.

For those of us who were alive and young in 1961, do you remember President Kennedy’s poignant speech to Congress on May 25, 1961, when he asked the nation to commit itself to landing a person on the Moon?  Only three days after my 13th birthday,  this was a call I heard distinctly.  I did miss the fact that this was the second of three speeches. The first call was during his inaugural address:  “Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science, instead of its terrors.   Together let us explore the stars…”  And at Rice University he gave his third:  “We choose to go to the Moon.”

 On August 25 of the summer of 1960,   I  observed a 99.2% partial eclipse of the Moon in which the shadow of the Earth covered almost all of the Moon.    I remember, a few years later, setting up my first telescope, Echo, across the street to time the Moon passing in front of star, and explaining to a priest who was passing by, that what I was doing might actually assist the Moon mission planning.  Or not.

I have already written about where I was on July 20, 1969, during that emotional moonwalk.  I listened attentively as the astronauts on Apollo 13 somehow managed to return safely home after the near-disaster of Apollo 13.  And I watched the interminable countdown hold when, on December 6, 1972, the countdown was stopped just thirty seconds before launch.  About two hours later the lunch was completely successful, and the program’s only geologist, Jack Schmidt, conducted a field excursion 240,000 miles from Earth, in the Taurus-Littrow valley of the Moon’s southern highlands.  Í was enormously pleased and proud of Jack,” recalled his teacher Gene Shoemaker, “but I was also wistful.  There but for a failed adrenal gland, went I.”  Because of Addison’s disease, Shoemaker never made it to the Moon, at least not in life.  After he died in 1997, some of his ashes landed on the Moon aboard Lunar Prospector.

In the 1960s, I used the Apollo project to intensify my own passion for observing the Moon through telescopes and binoculars.  In 1961, Kennedy set the goal.  Eight years later, humans walked the lunar surface in one of the high points of human civilization.    That passion I carry to this day.  I still enjoy watching the Moon, looking at its well-known craters and mountain ranges.  The Moon is not just a thing in the sky.  It is a place.  Twelve people have walked across its surface, and with luck, more people will someday stroll across its surface.    

I will never walk on the Moon.  But through my telescope, I shall continue to view the Moon from southern Arizona.  And when my eye touches the eyepiece of my telescope, I will be as close to the Moon as I ever hope to get.  

Artemis I Mission

Apollo 17 Mission to the moon

American Doll and Toy Museum: This is Halloween!

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Metamorphosis (2007)

 In this time travel tale, that I'm watching as I write, Erzebet's story is told through flashbacks between her lifetime and the present.  Thurzo appears in the 20th century as well, and of course, there are 20th century vampire myths.  Erzebet's home is now Bathory Monastery.  A young beautiful woman appears to the 20th century travelers seeking the monastery and offers to guide them, and she is of course, a beautiful vampire int he 20th century.  The old myths about her are resurrected, and a modern sympathetic diagnosis of madness is included.  Interesting.  Here is a plot summary from IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0431265/plotsummary

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Fall

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American Doll and Toy Museum: In Memoriam Anne Rice and bell hooks:   Those of us who are writers have lost two giants this past week, Anne Rice and bell hooks. I studied and taught both in my college litera...

RIP Your Late Majesty Elizabeth II

 She did the day after her own coronation and the birthday of Elizabeth I.  She also died one day after the birthday of my late beloved best friend who was born the day and year of her coronation.  Rosemary's middle name was "Coron" in honor of The Queen.

Elizabeth II was related to the Boleyns through her mother.

Rest in Peace everyone.

Elizabeth I

 We wish HRH Elisabeth I a Happy Birthday in Heaven, as I do my dear friend  Rosemary, born on the same day as Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.  May they both rest in peace.