Images

Portrait of Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples (c. 1455-1536), engraving by Jean de Laon, 1581.

Portrait of Guillaume Briçonnet (c. 1472-1534), Bishop of Meaux from 1516 until his death in 1534.

Portrait of Francis I of France (r. 1515-1547), oil and oak wood by Jean Clouet, between 1527 and 1530. Louvre, Paris.

A painting based on a photograph of the 1850s showing Maharaja Duleep Singh (l. 1838-1893), last ruler of the Sikh empire who was deposed following the Anglo-Sikh Wars (1845-49). (National Portrait Gallery, London)

The Instructions of Shuruppag (c. 2000 BCE), the most famous work of the genre of Sumerian wisdom literature. Exhibit in the Oriental Institute Museum, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Two Victorian printed Christmas cards from 1898. (British Museum, London)

A Christmas card dating to c. 1887 showing a soldier. Drawn by Harry Payne, military themes were popular with those who sent cards to family members in the armed services across the British empire. (Victoria and Albert Museum, London...

The first printed Christmas card, commissioned by Sir Henry Cole (1808-82) and drawn by John Callcott Horsley (1817-1903) in 1843. One thousand copies of the card were printed. (Victoria and Albert Museum, London) Orignal source note...

A late-19th century Christmas card showing a robin and snow scene. The border is perforated to resemble lace. (Victoria and Albert Museum, London) Orignal source note on usage: 'V&A Owned Content' in which the V&A owns copyright...

An 1848 Christmas card printed by William Maw Edgley (1826-19116) showing scenes of general merriment and, for the first time on such a card, holly. The sender wrote the name of the recipient at the very top and signed their name at the bottom...