Plenty of Nothing

The Wilton Diptych

A detail from the Wilton Diptych showing angels wearing the badge of Richard II. Watch a video about it here.

Lübecker Totentanz by Bernt Notke

Bernt Notke installed his Danse Macabre in Lübeck Cathedral around 1463. Here it is in situ in a black and white photo taken before the RAF destroyed the place on Palm Sunday in 1943. You can see the entire painting laid out flat here. Notke also did a Danse Macabre for St Nicholas' Church in Tallinn, Estonia. That one survives, in living colour.

Medieval Dundee

The Steeple Tower of St Mary's Church was built in the 1470s, but the rest of the church has burnt down several times, most recently in 1841. Source.

Mortonum iter ad Tannadice ad Dundee United lunctus ludunt.

Dundee United are second in the division with 41 points, three behind Raith Rovers but with a game in hand. Morton are sixth, 2 points out of fourth place. The Ton are seven games without a loss, league and cup, and have not been scored on in four games. If you include cup games Morton have more wins than losses this season.

2023-24 is half over. After 18 league matches Morton have 22 points, 20 goals for and 24 goals against, putting them on track for 44, 40 and 48. Their prospects for survival in the Championship and maybe even a promotion playoff are much better than they were after 12 games, when they looked to be headed for 24 points and relegation. But they're so streaky you have to expect another losing run and another winning streak before it's all over.

Raith Rovers are the only ones in the Championship with a win against Dundee United in league play so far this season. But Partick Thistle, Falkirk, Queen of the South and The Spartans have all beaten United in various cups, so the Tangerines are not invincible.

[Morton win 2 - 3 on an Oakley hat trick. Yas!]

The other Championship matches:

Queen's Park (10th) 2 - 1 Dunfermline (5th) (last night)

Airdrieonians (4th) [1 - 0] Raith Rovers (1st)

Ayr United (7th) [1 - 3] Inverness CT (8th)

Partick Thistle (3rd) [4 - 0] Arbroath (9th)

Other matches:

Forfar West End [0 - 4] East Craigie

Linlithgow Rose vs Cowdenbeath [postponed]

Coldstream [5 - 0] Peebles Rovers

Largs Thistle vs Beith Juniors [postponed]

Carluke Rovers [1 - 2] Easterhouse

Tne New Saints [8 - 0] Cardiff MU

FC Isle of Man [3 - 5] Carnock Richard

The Premiership is on winter break.

2023-24 Women's Scottish Cup, Round Three (tomorrow):

Queen's Park vs Bonnyrigg Rose [postponed]

ICT [0 - 12] Rangers

Partick Thistle [4 - 2] Motherwell

Livingston [wo/scr] Airdrie

Hibs [10 - 0] St Johnstone

Dyce [0 - 5] Dundee United

Westdyke [1 - 2] Stirling University

Hearts [9 - 0] Edinburgh Caledonia

Rossvale [0 - 10] Glasgow City

Boroughmuir Thistle [1 - 3] Aberdeen

Ayr United [0 - 7] Celtic

Glenrothes Strollers [1 - 3] Gartcairn

Glasgow Women [1 - 6] Spartans

East Fife [5 - 0] Renfrew

Stenhousemuir [0 - 7] Montrose

Kilmarnock [2 - 3] Hamilton Accies

Scottish Junior Cup, Round Four:

Johnstone Burgh vs Dundee Downfield [postponed]

Morton's best seasons by goals scored per league game:

1963-64        3.75        (135 goals in 36 games)

1899-00        3.67          (66 goals in 18 games)

1935-36        3.44        (117 goals in 34 games)

1894-95        3.28         (59 goals in 18 games)

1936-37        3.24        (110 goals in 34 games)

1966-67        2.97        (113 goals in 38 games)

1953-54        2.83         (85 goals in 30 games)

1962-63        2.78        (100 goals in 36 games)

1942-43        2.70         (81 goals in 30 games)

1952-53        2.63         (79 goals in 30 games)

Morton's best seasons by goals allowed per league game:

1966-67        0.53         (20 goals in 38 games)

2006-07        0.89         (32 goals in 36 games)

1994-95        0.92         (33 goals in 36 games)

2002-03        0.92         (33 goals in 36 games)

2005-06        0.92         (33 goals in 36 games)

1915-16        0.95         (35 goals in 37 games)

1916-17        1.03         (39 goals in 38 games)

1963-64        1.03         (37 goals in 36 games)

2004-05        1.03         (37 goals in 36 games)

1977-78        1.08         (42 goals in 39 games)

Historical matches:

1945/1/1        Morton 3 - 0 St Mirren

1945/1/2        Morton 3 - 0 Albion Rovers

1945/1/6        Celtic 6 - 1 Morton

1968/1/1        Morton 3 - 2 Kilmarnock

1968/1/2        Motherwell 2 - 1 Morton

1968/1/6        Morton 2 - 0 Partick Thistle

Arthurlie FC 1891-92:

1892/5/7        Motherwell 1 - 5 Arthurlie    ScF

1892/4/30      St Mirren 2 - 1 Arthurlie    PChCup R1

1892/4/16      Albion Rovers 6 - 1 Arthurlie    ScF

1892/4/9        Arthurlie 8 - 0 Clydebank    ScF

1892/4/2        Glasgow Wanderers 1 - 2 Arthurlie    ScF

1892/3/26      Hurlford 1 - 6 Arthurlie    ScF

1892/3/19      Arthurlie 5 - 4 Falkirk    ScF

1892/3/5        Burbank Swifts 4 - 4 Arthurlie    ScF

1892/2/27      Arthurlie 3 - 1 Pollokshaws    ScF

1892/2/20      Motherwell 2 - 2 Arthurlie    friendly

1892/2/13      Arthurlie 9 - 0 Glasgow Wanderers    ScF

1892/2/6        Arthurlie 3 - 0 Royal Albert    ScF

1892/1/30      Kilmarnock Athletic 1 - 1 Arthurlie    ScF

1892/1/23      Arthurlie 7 - 1 Wishaw Thistle    ScF

1892/1/9        Clyde 6 - 4 Arthurlie    friendly

1891/12/26    Arthurlie 10 - 2 Motherwell    ScF

1891/12/19    St Mirren 5 - 0 Arthurlie    RCup R3

1891/12/13?    Arthurlie 6 - 0 Barrhead Corinthians    RCup R2

1891/12/12    Arthurlie 1 - 2 St Mirren (abandoned)    RCup R3

1891/12/5      Clydebank 1 - 3 Arthurlie    ScF

1891/11/28    2nd Lochwinnoch 7 - 1 2nd Arthurlie    friendly

1891/11/22    Arthurlie 8 - 0 Barrhead Corinthians (protested)    RCup R2

1891/11/14    Arthurlie 8 - 0 Burnbank Swifts    ScF

1891/10/31    bye    RCup R1

1891/10/24    Pollokshaws 2 - 4 Arthurlie    ScF

1891/10/10    Arthurlie 1 - 1 Hurlford    ScF

1891/10/3      Falkirk 2 - 4 Arthurlie    ScF

1891/9/26      Wishaw Thistle 5 - 2 Arthurlie    SCup PR2

1891/9/19      Arthurlie 3 - 2 Albion Rovers    ScF

1891/9/12      Arthurlie 3 - 1 Beith    SCup PR1 replay

1891/9/5        Beith 2 - 2 Arthurlie    SCup PR1

1891/8/29      Arthurlie 9 - 1 Kilmarnock Athletic    ScF

1891/8/22      Royal Albert 4 - 2 Arthurlie    ScF

1891/8/8        Wishaw Thistle 6 - 2 Arthurlie    ScF

(Sources: Scottish Football Historical Archive for the Scottish Federation, Renfrewshire Cup, and Paisley Charity Cup; The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Scottish Cup; Glasgow Herald for 1891/11/28 and 1892/1/9)

Eleonora d'Arborea

Eleanora ruled the Judgedom of Arborea in Sardinia in the late 14th century. Source.

Mourner by Claus de Werve

An alabaster figure by Claus de Werve from the tomb of Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. Source.

La Décapole: Mulhouse

Mulhouse has been at various times part of Switzerland, Germany and France. Source.

La Décapole: Munster

Source.

La Décapole: Colmar

Medieval buildings in Colmar. Note the TV antenna. Source.

La Décapole: Turckheim

Source.

Magna Carta

The text of Magna Carta was issued on this date in 1215, but Penguin didn't get the paperback rights until 800 years later.