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One month and a few days and my thesis will be handed in.  It’s weird how concentrating for so long on one topic can make your brain go a bit loopy - I’ve noticed lately I’ve turned into a bit of a ditz when it comes to everyday stuff, my hand-writing has become increasingly small and tense looking, and I’m turning into a grumpy old man.

I was asked yesterday to give a talk to the current undergraduates who are considering taking an honours year next year - it was really hard to put a positive spin on something that I know many people don’t handle too well.  Half of this year’s class has dropped out or changed their load to part-time; those that are still full-time (like me) have quit jobs, lost boyfriends/girlfriends, had falling-outs with friends and family, developed stress-related illnesses, and so forth.  As Geoff put it yesterday, “It’s the most intense year of your academic career - you’re expected to write around 35,000 words in total in a very short amount of time, and it’s expected to be of a first class standard… so really have a good think about your own life and whether you’re ready to make that sacrifice.”

Having said that, I could honestly say to the undergrads that while it is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, I am incredibly proud of myself for being almost finished - ‘no pain, no gain’ has become a bit of a motto.

Anyway, I promise that once the thesis is handed in (25th October) I’m going to be back to normal… at least for a week, after that I’m leaving the country!!

Over the last few weeks I’ve been trying to collect some good quality images of Victorian-period paintings of Tudor scenes - for example, a 19th century interpretation of a scene from Shakespeare, or a negative portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I. I need these images to show at my thesis presentation in two weeks time, so it’s a necessity that they are large and water-mark free. Aside from the fact that there are very few images online of paintings by the more obscure 19th century historical artists, I’ve run into all sorts of problems with Art-poster websites (’select your size, frame and paper and we’ll print it for you for $39.95!!’).

After a good few hours of searching I eventually began relying almost soley on two sites in particular, Art Renewal International (which has high resolution images of the majority of artists’ major works as well as biographical information) and the Tate Collection (not as thorough as Art Renewal as it only deals with paintings in the Tate gallery, but still worth taking a look!).

Below is one of the best results from my search, ‘The Execution of Lady Jane Grey’ by Paul Delaroche. Although historically inaccurate (Jane was executed outside and had a large audience of Catholic clergy and members from the court) - it is incredibly evocative and is a good example of the nineteenth century worship of the feminine form.

‘The Execution of Lady Jane Grey’ by Paul Delaroche (1834) - Image courtesy Art Renewal International