1st June
Image of the day
A voluptuary under the horrors of digestion (1792) – James Gillray, who died 01/06/1815 The subject of the picture is the King’s son at the time, Prince George, who became King George IV when his father died. The Prince had a reputation for eating and drinking to excess, as well as gambling and womanising. During the period 1792 to 1809 Gillray produced many interesting caricatures which satirized the social and political landscape of the time. In this print the Prince is picking his teeth with a fork after eating an enormous meal and drinking a considerable amount of wine. Around the room there are empty bottles and unpaid bills, and his love of gambling is indicated by the dice, news of horse races and details of money lost through playing cards. At the time foreign visitors to Britain who saw prints like this were surprised that Gillray was allowed to openly make fun of the future King’s morals and manners in this way. Unfortunately Gillray’s career ended when his eyesight began to fail and he was unable to work to his previous high standards. He became depressed and began to drink heavily, which probably contributed to the bouts of madness he suffered in later life. On this day … 1265 Italian poet Dante Alighieri was born. 1926 American actress Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson. Quote of the day Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. Robert A. Heinlein, American science fiction novelist. Did you know …? Coffee is the second largest globally traded commodity after oil. |
2nd June
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Bandalbum cover, released by The Beatles on 01/06/1967.
The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, is arguably the most famous album cover of all time. The image is composed of a collage of celebrities. There are 88 figures, including the band members themselves. Pop artist Peter Blake and his wife Jann Haworth conceived and constructed the set, including all the life-sized cut-outs of historical figures. The set was photographed, with the Beatles standing in the centre, by Michael Cooper. Copyright was a problem as Brian Epstein, the Beatles' manager, had to locate each person in order to get permission to use their image in this context. On this day … 1953 The coronation of Elizabeth II as monarch of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Union of South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon took place at Westminster Abbey. Quote of the day The idea of God is the sole wrong for which I cannot forgive mankind. Marquis de Sade, French aristocrat, writer and philosopher who was born 02/06/1740 Did you know …? The words ‘sadism’ and ‘sadist’ are derived from the Marquis de Sade’s name, because of the cruel sexual practices he described in his novels. |
3rd June
Image of the day
Vintage poster to promote rail travel to Torquay, Devon (1947), produced for Great Western Railway (GWR). The poster shows an expansive view of the town's seaside with its inner harbour, promenade and pier. The Pavilion can also be seen in the foreground. Artwork by Leonard Richmond who studied at the Taunton School of Art and Chelsea Polytechnic. He exhibited widely abroad as well as at the principal London galleries and wrote several books on painting techniques. On this day … 1875 Alexander Graham Bell made the first voice transmission. 1937 The Duke of Windsor (formerly Edward VIII) married Mrs Wallis Warfield Simpson in France. 2016 Former world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali died at the age of 74. Quote of the day Every revolution evaporates and leaves behind only the slime of a new bureaucracy. Franz Kafka, who committed suicide 03/06/1924 Did you know …? There were several other inventors who claimed to have invented the telephone, but it was Bell who obtained the patent. |
4th June
Image of the day
Suffragette Emily Davison disrupts the Epsom Derby (04/06/1913) Emily Davison was a militant activist who fought for women's suffrage in Britain. She was jailed on nine occasions and force-fed 49 times. She is best known for stepping in front of King George V's horse Anmer at the Epsom Derby, suffering fatal injuries – she died four days later. Her funeral was organised by the Women's Social and Political Union. Thousands of suffragettes accompanied the coffin and tens of thousands of people lined the streets of London. Modern historians agree that Davison was trying to disturb the Derby in order to draw attention to her cause, rather than to commit suicide. Analysis of newsreel also indicated that her position before she stepped out onto the track would have given her a clear view of the oncoming race, further countering the belief that she ran out in a haphazard way to kill herself. On this day … 1738 George III was born. 1800 Building work on the White House was completed and the first residents, President and Mrs John Adams moved in. 1910 Inventor of the hovercraft Sir Christopher Cockerell was born. Quote of the day Old minds are like old horses; you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order. John Adams Did you know …? All productions of King Lear were banned in Britain between 1788 and 1820. The government considered the play inappropriate in view of George III’s insanity. |
5th June
Image of the day
Te aa no areois (1892) – Paul Gauguin, born 07/06/1848 Gauguin was a French Post-Impressionist artist who was not well appreciated until after his death. Gauguin was later recognized for his experimental use of color and synthetist style that were distinguishably different from Impressionism. His work was influential to the French avant-garde and many modern artists, such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Gauguin’s art became popular after his death; partially from the efforts of an art dealer who organized exhibitions of his work late in his career. On this day … 1977 The first personal computer, the Apple II, went on sale in the US. Quote of the day The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little else. John Maynard Keynes British economist who was born 05/06/1883 Did you know …? "Almost" is the longest word in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order. |
6th June
Image of the day
Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts poster (1895) – Charles Rennie Mackintosh, born 07/06/1868 Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a Scottish architect, designer and artist whose artistic approach had much in common with European Symbolism. He was born in Glasgow and lived most of his life in the city. Chiefly known for his highly influential furniture design, interiors and architecture, Mackintosh was also highly skilled as a fine and graphic artist. He produced only a few posters which are now extremely rare and much sought after. His posters often show the influence of the linear nature of Celtic art, as well as the clean lines and blocks of colour prevalent in Japanese graphic art. Mackintosh’s illustrative designs are powerful in their imagery and reflect the recognizable elements of the unique Glasgow ‘look’ he developed throughout his life. On this day … 1664 America's New Amsterdam city was renamed New York. 1832 English philosopher Jeremy Bentham died. Quote of the day We have been to the Pole and we shall die like gentlemen. I regret only for the women we leave behind. Capt. Robert Falcon Scott, English explorer born 06/06/1868. Did you know …? Scott led a party of five which reached the South Pole on 17 January 1912, only to find that they had been preceded by Roald Amundsen's Norwegian expedition. On their return journey, Scott's party discovered plant fossils, proving Antarctica was once forested and joined to other continents. At a distance of 150 miles from their base camp and 11 miles from the next depot, Scott and his companions died from a combination of exhaustion, starvation and extreme cold. |
7th June
Image of the day
The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991) – Damian Hirst, born 07/06/1965 Damien Hirst is reportedly the United Kingdom's richest living artist, with his wealth valued at £215m in the 2010 Sunday Times Rich List. Death is a central theme in Hirst's works. He became famous for a series of artworks in which dead animals (including a shark, a sheep and a cow) are preserved—sometimes having been dissected—in formaldehyde. This work is the best known of these, a 4.3 m tiger shark immersed in formaldehyde. In 2008 art critic Robert Hughes claimed that Hirst's work was "tacky" and "absurd". Hughes called Hirst's shark in formaldehyde "the world's most over-rated marine organism" and attacked the artist for "functioning like a commercial brand", making the case that Hirst and his work proved that financial value was now the only meaning that remained for art. On this day … 1848 French artist Paul Gauguin was born. 1868 Scottish architect, designer and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh was born (see image of the day for 6th June) . 1954 British computer scientist Alan Turing died. 1958 American singer/songwriter Prince was born. 1970 English novelist E. M. Forster died. Did you know …? Alan Turing is widely considered to be the father of computer science and artificial intelligence. He committed suicide just before his 42nd birthday, a couple of years after he was prosecuted for a homosexual act (still illegal in Britain at the time). 
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8th June
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Phan Thị Kim Phúc, Vietnam War (08/06/1972) – Nick Ut This iconic photo shows 9-year-old Phan Thị Kim Phúc running naked on a road after being severely burned on her back by napalm after a South Vietnamese attack. New York Times editors were at first hesitant to consider the photo for publication because of the nudity, but eventually approved it. It was featured on the front page of the New York Times the next day. It later earned a Pulitzer Prize and was chosen as the World Press Photo of the Year for 1972. After taking the photograph, Ut took Kim Phúc and the other injured children to hospital in Saigon, where it was determined that her burns were so severe that she probably would not survive. However, after a 14-month hospital stay and 17 surgical procedures including skin transplantations, she was able to return home. On this day … 1809 Thomas Paine died. He was an English-American political activist, philosopher, political theorist and revolutionary, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. 1937 Carl Orff's Carmina Burana was first staged in Frankfurt by the Frankfurt Opera. Click here to watch/listen. 1955 British computer scientist and inventor of the World Wide Web Tim Berners-Lee was born. Quote of the day I hate housework. You make the beds, you do the dishes – and six months later you have to start all over again. Joan Rivers, American comedienne, born 08/06/1933 Did you know …? Bulls don’t see red – they’re colour-blind. |
9th June
Image of the day
Beautiful, pop, spinning ice creamy, whirling, expanding painting (1995) – Damien Hirst, British artist born 07/06/196 Hirst first experimented with spin art in 1992 and this work comes from a series produced when he had a spin machine made whilst living in Berlin. Although Hirst participated physically in the making of early works, he has always needed assistants, and now the volume of work produced necessitates a "factory" setup, this has led to questions about authenticity. Hirst, however, sees the real creative act as being the conception, not the execution, and that, as the progenitor of the idea, he is therefore the artist. On this day … 1781 English engineer and ‘Father of the Railways’ George Stephenson was born. 1900 The first edition of 'Peter Rabbit' was published by Beatrix Potter. 1963 American actor Johnny Depp was born. Quote of the day Reflect on your present blessings, of which every man has many; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. Charles Dickens, English novelist who died 09/06/1870 Did you know …? Humans are born with 300 bones in their body, however when a person reaches adulthood they only have 206 bones. This occurs because many of them join together to make a single bone. |
10th June
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The Artist’s Studio (1854-55) – Gustave Courbet, born 10/06/1819 Courbet was a French painter who led the Realist movement in 19th-century French painting. The work is an allegory of Courbet's life as a painter, seen as an heroic venture, in which he is flanked by friends and admirers on the right, and challenges and opposition to the left. Courbet became an inspiration to the younger generation of French artists including Edouard Manet and the Impressionist painters. On this day … 1922 American actress Judy Garland was born; her real name was Frances Ethel Gumm. 1943 Ball-point pens, devised by Lazlo Biro from Hungary, were patented in the US. 2004 American singer-songwriter Ray Charles died. Quote of the day When you go to work, if your name is on the building you’re rich. If your name is on your desk you’re middle-class. If your name is on your shirt you’re poor. Rich Hall American comedian born 10/06/1954 Did you know …? When he died at the age of 58 Charles Dickens was buried against his wishes in Westminster Abbey; he wanted to be buried at Rochester Cathedral near his home in Kent. |
11th June
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Chesley Bonestell, American painter, designer and illustrator who died 11/06/1986. Bonestell's paintings were a major influence on science fiction art and illustration, and he helped inspire the American space programme. In the late 1930s Bonestell moved to Hollywood, where he worked as a special effects artist. An early pioneering creator of astronomical art, along with the French astronomer-artist Lucien Rudaux, Bonestell was dubbed the ‘Father of Modern Space Art’. He painted more than 60 cover illustrations for science fiction magazines and illustrated many book covers. A crater on Mars and the asteroid 3129 Bonestell are named after him. On this day … 1509 Henry VIII married the first of his six wives, Catherine of Aragon. 1983 The Police had their only #1 hit in the U.S. with Every Breath You Take. Quote of the day One person can make a difference if that one person is committed to making a difference. James Hood, who on 11/06/1963 became one of the first African Americans to enrol at the previously all-white University of Alabama. Did you know …? A cat has 32 muscles in each ear. |
12th June
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Le Baiser de l’Hotel de Ville – Robert Doisneau (Life magazine 12/06/1950) Doisneau’s The Kiss by the Hôtel de Ville, taken on a Parisian street in 1950, is considered one of the most romantic and popular photos ever taken. Although Doisneau worked as a street photographer, this classic shot was staged. The picture was taken for a photo spread about Paris lovers for Life magazine, but the image stayed in the archives of Doisneau’s photo agency for more than 30 years before it was commercialized by a poster company. On this day 1903 The Harley-Davidson motorcycle was founded in America. Quote of the day Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction. Anne Frank, who was born 12/06/1929 Did you know …? No word in the English language rhymes with ‘month’, ‘orange’, ‘silver’ or ‘purple’. |
13th June
Image of the day
Violin trompe l’oeil at Chatsworth House (c. 1723) – Jan van der Vaardt Van der Vaardt was a Dutch painter of portraits, landscapes and trompe-l'œil paintings who was active in England for most of his career. Trompe-l'œil is an art technique that uses realistic imagery to create the optical illusion that the depicted objects exist in three dimensions. On this day 1831 Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell was born in Edinburgh. 1922 Charlie Osborne of Anthon, Iowa, got the hiccups, and continued for 68 years. 1979 The American government awarded the Sioux nation $100 million for an area of the Black Hills of Dakota, taken from them in 1877. It was the largest payout for land to any Native Americans. Quote of the day When the White man came we had the land and they had the Bibles, now they have the land and we have the Bibles. Chief Dan George, Canadian Indian Chief Did you know …? In 1631, two London bible printers accidentally left the word "not" out of the seventh commandment, which then read, "Thou shalt commit adultery." This legendary book is now known as the "Wicked Bible." |
14th June
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BMW Art Car (1995) – David Hockney The BMW Art Car Project was introduced by a French racing driver who wanted to invite an artist to create a canvas on an automobile. In 1975 American artist Alexander Calder painted the first BMW Art Car, and since then many other renowned artists throughout the world have done the same. David Hockney’s intention here is to show the car as you can see inside it, so there is a stylised suction vent on the bonnet and the contours of a driver and a dog on the door. For Hockney travelling around in a car means experiencing landscapes, which is one of the reasons he chose green as one of the dominant colours for the project. On this day … 1777 The Star and Stripes was adopted to replace the Grand Union as the official flag of the USA. 1868 Karl Landsteiner was born. He was the Austrian biologist who first distinguished the four main blood groups in 1900. 1928 Argentine Marxist revolutionary Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara was born. 1946 Scottish inventor of television John Logie Baird died. Quote of the day The argument of the broken window pane is the most valuable argument in modern politics. Emmeline Pankhurst, English suffragette who died 14/06/1929 Did you know …? People with type AB blood can receive blood from anybody, although as donors they can only give to others with type AB. Those with type O blood can only receive type O blood. |
15th June
Image of the day
Motor Show poster (1898) The 1898 show received 140,000 visitors (by contrast Montreal hosts approximately 230,000) jostling to see 269 exhibitors and 230 vehicles from 77 car builders, mostly French, such as Peugeot, Daimler, Benz, Delahaye, De Dion Bouton, and Decauville. At the time, France was the leader in the world of automobiles. The first recognized automobile competition, a reliability trial between Paris and Rouen, took place in 1894. Shortly after this event, France organized the first great race: the Paris – Bordeaux – Paris of 1895. Peugeot won the event after the first place car was disqualified. The craze for cars and racing was growing, and France was a hive of automobile activity at the end of the century. On this day … 1860 Florence Nightingale opened her nurses' school at St. Thomas' Hospital in London. 1919 John Alcock (pilot) and Arthur Brown (navigator) completed the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic. They flew from St John’s in Canada to Clifden, Co. Galway in Ireland, covering1890 miles (3040 km) in 15 hours 57 minutes at an average speed of 115 mph (185 km/h). The men were treated like heroes: they won a £10,000 prize offered by the Daily Mail and were both knighted a few days later by King George V. Unfortunately Alcock was killed just six months later when he crashed near Rouen whilst flying a new plane to the Paris Airshow. Did you know …? It only takes a minute for a blood cell to travel all around your body and back to your heart. 
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16th June
Image of the day
BMW Art Car (2010) – Jeff Koons As part of the creative process for the project Koons collected images of race cars, related graphics, vibrant colours, speed and explosions. He said: ‘There is a lot of power under that hood and I want to let my ideas transcend with the car – it’s really to connect with that power.’ The resulting artwork of bright colours is evocative of power, motion and bursting energy. With its silver interior along with the powerful exterior design, the Art Car will impart a dynamic appearance even when it’s standing still. On this day 1890 English-born American comedy actor Stan Laurel was born. 1871 Students were allowed to enter Oxford and Cambridge Universities without religious tests. 1922 James Joyce’s novel Ulysses takes place on this day, and is celebrated in Dublin as Bloomsday, after the leading character Leopold Bloom. 1930 Mixed bathing was first allowed in the Serpentine in London’s Hyde Park. 1982 James Honeyman-Scott of the band The Pretenders died age 25 of a drug overdose. Did you know …? During your lifetime you’ll eat around 27,000kg of food - the weight of six elephants. 
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17th June
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The Merry Pranksters' Magic Trip (1964) The Merry Pranksters were a group of people who formed around American author Ken Kesey. The group lived communally at Kesey’s homes in California and Oregon, and on 17th June 1964 they set off on a lengthy road trip, traveling across the United States in a psychedelic painted school bus called ‘Furthur’ or ‘Further’. The bus trip reversed the historic American westward movement of previous centuries. The Pranksters were enthusiastic users of marijuana, amphetamines, and LSD, and they travelled cross-country giving LSD to anyone who was willing to try it (LSD was legal in the United States until October 1966). On this day 1579 Francis Drake proclaimed England's sovereignty over New Albion (California). 1885 The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York. 1991 Apartheid officially ended in South Africa. Quote of the day Good teaching is one-quarter preparation and three-quarters theatre. Gail Godwin, American novelist born 18/06/1937. Did you know …? When gold was discovered in California the population of San Francisco exploded from around 1,000 in 1848 to 25,000 full-time residents by 1850. |
18th June
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Reptiles (1943) – M. C. Escher, who was born 17/06/1898 Maurits Cornelis Escher was a Dutch graphic artist. He is known for his often mathematically inspired pictures. These feature impossible constructions, explorations of infinity, architecture, and tessellations (patterns using one or more geometric shapes with no gaps). Reptiles depicts a desk on which is a drawing of a tesselated a pattern of reptiles. The reptiles at one edge of the drawing come to life and crawl around the desk and over the objects on it to eventually re-enter the drawing at its opposite edge. On this day 1815 Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. 1928 US aviator Amelia Earhart became the first fwoman to fly the Atlantic. 1942 English singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and former Beatle Paul McCartney was born. Quote of the day Believe me, nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won. Duke of Wellington Did you know …? Income tax as we know it was introduced in 1799 to pay for Britain’s war against Napoleon. |
19th June
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‘A Good Riddance’; cartoon from Punch magazine 1917 With the outbreak of World War I in the summer of 1914, strong anti-German feeling within Britain caused sensitivity among the royal family about its German roots. Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, a grandson of Queen Victoria, was the king’s cousin; the queen herself was German. So on this day in 1917, during the third year of World War I, Britain’s King George V ordered the British royal family to renounce German names and titles, changing the surname of his own family, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, to Windsor. On this day 1623 French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal was born. Did you know …? A potato contains no more calories than an apple. Quote of the day Don’t worry about temptation. As you grow older, it starts avoiding you. Elbert Hubbard American writer born 19/06/1856 
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20th June
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The 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch' The vast dump of plastic waste swirling in the Pacific ocean is now bigger than France, Germany and Spain combined—far larger than previously feared—and is growing rapidly. Researchers based in the Netherlands used a fleet of boats and aircraft to scan the immense accumulation of bottles, containers, fishing nets, and microparticles known as the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" (GPGP) and found an astonishing build-up of plastic waste. "We found about 80,000 tonnes of buoyant plastic currently in the GPGP," said Laurent Lebreton, lead author of the study published in the journal Scientific Reports. That's around the weight of 500 jumbo jets, and up to sixteen times greater than the plastic mass uncovered there in previous studies. On this day 1837 William IV died - his niece, Alexandrina Victoria, became Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 1967 Australian actress Nicole Kidman was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Quote of the day Bankers - pillars of society who are going to hell if there is a God and He has been accurately quoted. John Ralston Saul, Canadian author born 19/06/1947 Did you know …? Conventional mortgages, loans, overdrafts and credit cards are forbidden for Muslims, as these all involve the payment of interest. |
21st June
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St Paul’s Cathedral, London (design approved by the King) – Sir Christopher Wren Designed by Sir Christopher Wren to replace the cathedral that was burned down in the Great Fire in 1666, St Paul’s is one of the most recognisable buildings on the London skyline. Work on the cathedral began in 1675, and it was finally completed 35 years later in 1710. Wren’s first two designs were rejected, and the one that was finally approved by King Charles II was quite different from the present building; the King had given permission for Wren to make ‘small’ changes, and Wren used this to go back to his original idea of a much larger dome, inspired by St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Wren is buried in the cathedral beneath a simple black marble slab, and an inscription on the wall nearby ends with the Latin words "Lector, si monumentum requiris, circumspice" (Reader, if you seek a monument, look around you). On this day … 1675 The foundation stone of the new St Paul’s Cathedral was laid. Quote of the day Hell is other people. Jean-Paul Sartre, French philosopher, playwright and novelist born 21/06/1905. Did you know …? More people per head die from snakebites in Sri Lanka than in any other country in the world; on average two people are killed there every day. |
22nd June
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The Wizard of Oz starring Judy Garland who died 22/06/1969 In 1935 Judy Garland was signed to a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) at the age of 13. Three years later she was given the starring role of Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz. In it she sang the song ‘Over the Rainbow’ with which she would forever be identified. To keep up with the frantic pace of making one film after another, Garland and other young performers were constantly given amphetamines to stay awake, as well as barbiturates to take before going to bed so they could sleep. For Garland, this regular dose of drugs led to addiction and a lifelong struggle, and contributed to her eventual death at the age of 47. On this day … 1577 Peter Paul Rubens was born. 1633 Galileo Galilei is forced to recant his view that the Sun, not the Earth, is the centre of the Universe by the Pope (on Oct 31, 1992, the Vatican admitted it was wrong). 1949 American actress Meryl Streep was born. Quote of the day Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? George Carlin, American comedian who died 22/06/2008 Did you know …? Galileo was placed house arrest by the Catholic Church for the last nine years of his life because of his believe that the Sun is at the centre of the solar system. |
23rd June
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Alan Turing (2007) – Stephen Kettle Stephen Kettle is a British sculptor who works exclusively with slate. This life size statue of Alan Turing (born 23/06/1912) was commissioned by an American philanthropist for Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire. The piece took 18 months to build and weighs 3,000 pounds (1.5 tons). Bletchley was the central site of the United Kingdom's code breaking activities during the Second World War. Turing, who was a pioneer of computer science, was a central figure in the breaking of the German Enigma code during the war. On this day … 1912 British mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing was born. 1955 Walt Disney released Lady & the Tramp. The film was not nominated for any Academy awards (Oscars). Disney blamed the Catholic church, which had come out strongly against the canine romance because it celebrated relations between an unmarried couple. Quote of the day War is when your government tells you who the enemy is. A revolution is when you figure it out yourself. Anon. Did you know …? Conventional mortgages, loans, overdrafts and credit cards are forbidden for Muslims, as these all involve the payment of interest. |
24th June
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Child with a Dove (1901) – Pablo Picasso This is one of Picasso's earliest works, painted when he was twenty-one, or younger. The painting can be read as a picture of the innocence of childhood and for many years the work was loaned to the National Gallery by the British family which owned it. In 2012 the painting was sold in a private sale; the price was reported as £50 million. The government imposed a temporary export ban which expired in December 2012 because no British institution was able to match the purchase price to acquire the work. In April 2013 a French newspaper reported that the buyer was the Qatar Museums Authority. On this day 1497 John Cabot became the first European to land in North America since the Vikings in the 11th century. 1901 19-year-old artist Pablo Picasso's work was exhibited in Paris for the first time. 1942 Mick Fleetwood, drummer of the band Fleetwood Mac was born. 1964 First health warnings placed on cigarette packets in the U.S. 2016 British Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron resigned after Britain votes to leave the European Union. Quote of the day War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. Ambrose Bierce, American journalist and writer born 24/06/1842 Did you know …? People that smoke have 10 times as many wrinkles as a person that does not smoke. |
25th June
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Farrah Fawcett poster (1976) Farrah Fawcett was an American actress who rose to stardom in 1976 when she was cast as Jill Munroe in the TV series Charlie's Angels. That same year this poster was produced from a photo of her in a red one-piece swimsuit, taken at her home. It became the best-selling pin-up poster of all time, with more than six million copies sold. For her one-season run on Charlie's Angels Fawcett was paid $5,000 per episode — but she earned $400,000 in royalties from the poster. On this day 1951 The first colour TV programmes were broadcast in the US – but no-one had a colour TV! 1975 American singer/songwriter Tim Buckley died of a drug overdose aged 28. 2009 American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson died of a drug overdose at the age of 50. Did you know …? On this day in 1876 Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer and 264 soldiers of the 7th Cavalry were massacred at the battle of Little Big Horn, Montana, by Sioux Indians led by Chief Sitting Bull. The sole survivor of Custer's army was a horse called Comanche. Quote of the day The reason the all-American boy prefers beauty to brains is that he can see better than he can think. Farrah Fawcett, American actress who died 25/06/2009 
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26th June
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Elvis Presley's last concert 26th June 1977 Elvis Aaron Presley was an American singer and actor. Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, he is often referred to as ‘the King of Rock and Roll’, or simply, ‘the King'. Unfortunately years of prescription drug abuse severely damaged his health. By early 1977 the singer had become a grotesque caricature of his sleek, energetic former self; he was hugely overweight, and his mind was dulled by the mixture of drugs he was taking. His last concert was in Indianapolis, Indiana for a crowd of 18,000. Six weeks later he was found dead on his bathroom floor. On this day 1936 The first flight of the first practical functional helicopter built by Professor Henrich Focke took place in Nazi Germany. Quote of the day If you’re looking for monogamy, you’d better marry a swan. Nora Ephron, American journalist and playwright who died 26/06/2012 Did you know …? The sound you hear when you hold a shell to your ear is your blood pumping. |
27th June
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Fantômas (1915) - Juan Gris Juan Gris (not his real name) was a Spanish painter and sculptor born in Madrid who lived and worked in France most of his life. His works are among the movement's most distinctive of the Cubist movement. This still-life depicts a Fantômas novel among a number of everyday objects scattered about a café table (including Le Journal, a daily newspaper which prominently featured sensationalistic crime stories). Fantômas is the ‘Evil Genius’ criminal anti-hero who carries out the most appalling crimes in of a series of 32 pre-WWI French thrillers written by Pierre Souvestre and Marcel Allain. On this day 1844 Joseph Smith, founder and leader of the Mormon religion, was killed by an anti-Mormon mob. 1859 Mildred Hill, the American composer of ‘Happy Birthday To You’, was born. 1975 American actor Toby McGuire was born. Quote of the day Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. Rhett Butler (played by Clarke Gable in the last scene of the 1939 film Gone with the Wind. Two possible lines were filmed in case the censors objected. The other one (which wasn’t used) was Frankly, my dear, I just don't care. The producer was fined $5,000 for including the word ‘damn’. Did you know …? The average house fly lives for just two weeks. |
28th June
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Still-life (Nature morte) (1912) – Marc Chagall Chagall was a Russian-French artist and an early modernist; he was associated with several major artistic styles and created works in virtually every artistic medium, including painting, book illustrations, stained glass, stage sets, ceramic, tapestries and fine art prints. On this day 1491 Henry VIII was born. He is the English king best known for his six wives and his religious split from Rome, 1926 American film director and actor Mel Brooks was born. Quote of the day Gluttony is the vice of feeble minds. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Genevan philosopher born 28/06/1712 Did you know …? Right-handed people live nine years longer, on average, than left-handers. |
29th June
Image of the day
Ad Parnassum (1932) - Paul Klee, who died on this day 1940. Paul Klee was a Swiss-German painter. His highly individual style was influenced by movements in art that included expressionism, cubism, and surrealism. In 1916 Klee was conscripted as a soldier of the reserve forces in Prussia or Imperial Germany, but was spared battle, employed instead as a clerk, as well as to paint camouflage on airplanes. The deaths of two of his friends in battle affected him, and venting his distress he created several pen and ink lithographs on war themes. Ad Parnassum, considered Klee’s masterpiece, is an example of Klee’s masterful skill with color. Small blocks of shifting colors float through the background, set in place with a thick black outline, evincing the idea of a building or a house. It is also the finest example of Klee’s ability in pointillism and technical ability as an artist. As an artist with great skill with color, he was also a great teacher at color mixing and theory. On this day 1613 The original Globe Theatre in London burnt down accidentally. 1956 In London, US playwright Arthur Miller married actress Marilyn Monroe. Quote of the day Neither a borrower nor a lender be. Polonius in Hamlet Act 1, scene 3, by William Shakespeare. Did you know …? Penguins are the only birds that can swim but can’t fly. |
30th June
Image of the day
Tower bridge - designed by Sir J. Wolfe Barry and Sir Horace Jones, was officially opened to traffic on 30/06/1894. Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London which crosses the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of the city. In the second half of the 19th century, increased commercial development in the East End of London led to a requirement for a new river crossing downstream of London Bridge. A traditional fixed bridge could not be built because it would cut off access by tall-masted ships to the port facilities further up river. A committee was formed to find a solution to the river crossing problem, and it opened the design of the crossing to public competition - over 50 designs were submitted. On this day 1859 Charles Blondin became the first person to tightrope walk across Niagara Falls. It took him 8 minutes cross the 1,110ft rope, suspended 160ft above the falls, watched by an audience of over 20,000 people. On the return journey he stopped halfway to take photographs of the crowd, many of whom fainted. 1966 American heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson was born. Did you know …? Fingernails grow four times faster than toenails. Both grow faster in warm weather than in cold. 
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