Posts by Madeleine Muzdakis

Madeleine Muzdakis

Madeleine Muzdakis is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and a historian of early modern Britain & the Atlantic world. She holds a BA in History and Mathematics from Brown University and an MA in European & Russian Studies from Yale University. Madeleine has worked in archives and museums for years with a particular focus on photography and arts education. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking, film photography, and studying law while cuddling with her cat Georgia.
Landscape Photography
June 20, 2021

Photographer Braves Sub-Zero Temperatures to Capture the Winter in Ladakh, India

In northern India lies Ladakh, a territory full of high-altitude plateaus, lakes, and mountain ranges. Within the oft-contested Kashmir region, it is one of the few places in the country where a photographer might encounter frozen lakes and extreme winter weather. IT professional and landscape photographer Venkitesh Ramachandran has made it his goal to photograph India's hidden gems—among them Ladakh in winter.

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Landscape Photography
June 13, 2021

Desolate Landscape Photos Evoke Suspenseful Film Stills From Classic Cinema [Interview]

The fields and forests of southern Europe have a cinematic quality. From mountains to villages, photographer Henri Prestes has traveled southern Europe photographing landscapes with a fantastical quality. The Portuguese fine art photographer's work includes a few scattered humans—lonely figures who almost seem part of the melancholy landscapes around them. His series The Velvet Kingdom is an ongoing exploration of these moody, majestic landscapes.

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Ancient Art
June 6, 2021

9 Facts About the Pantheon, the Iconic Roman Church That Barely Survived the Dark Ages

The city of Rome is full of ancient buildings and modern churches—including some sites that are both. Among the most magnificent historical houses of worship is the Pantheon. Built by the Romans likely as a temple or political space, the domed structure continues to fascinate engineers for its gravity-defying signature dome. The Pantheon is also a significant historical landmark that draws lines of continuity from polytheistic Rome through the Dark Ages to Renaissance opulence.

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Books
May 30, 2021

Herbals: Elegant Illustrated Manuscripts That Once Dominated Medicine

If you were sick in medieval times, how would you be treated? Likely with a “physick,” tonic, or salve. These medicines would often be prepared by local apothecaries, wise women, or savvy housewives. They were based on herbs and other ingredients, some of which may seem quite strange to those used to modern medicine. To cure a headache, you might try a concoction including bishopwort and garlic.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.