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This 18th-century windmill produces pigments the old-fashioned way: with wind power. The windmill has a fascinating history tied to the Dutch Golden Age when the Netherlands was not only a maritime power but also a center for fine arts, supplying vibrant pigments to the likes of Rembrandt and Vermeer. A windmill was initially built at […]
The oldest working camera obscura in the world is located on the grounds of the Dumfries Museum, a local history museum, in Dumfries, Scotland. The main part of the museum has large and varied collections relating to local history from the pre-historic era to recent times but the camera obscura is the star of the show. […]
While the Netherlands is the country most known for its windmills, they were originally invented by the Persians. More surprisingly, some of them are still turning after 1,000 years. The ancient world holds many wonders of technology, and some are only now coming back to the surface like the Antikythera Mechanism. Milling grain with wind […]
When the Knights of St. John controlled the islands of Malta, they oversaw the construction of many public works buildings that would benefit the general populace. One of their projects was the construction of windmills for providing flour, and these buildings became central parts of the villages in which they were located. These Maltese windmills […]