Well .... did any of you watch the new series on TV last night about the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood? I'm a big fan of the PRB and it encouraged me to get out all my gorgeous books on the subject. Even DH became quite interested.I have a very old book about Rossetti which I bought about 30 years ago from a junk shop.
I've never really flicked all the way through it before and was rather surprised when this fell out...a postcard dated 1904. Its a picture of Bournemouth (where the book was first purchased).
The book was published in 1906 and the inscription inside is 1908.
Here's the man himself...a self-portrait from inside the book (it has tissue papers covering the pictures).
Here are my favourite paintings from this - which is my favourite PRB book.
Just look at those fabric folds in the detail!
Then I began to realise that one of the reasons I'd chosen all those paintings was because of fabric - the velvets, the satin and the embroidered cloth. And the worn and tattered skirt of Millais' 'The Blind Girl'. (Plus the lady in blue reminds me of how I feel in the mornings.)They were certainly a talented bunch of artists.....if you want to find out more about them look here.
I'm hoping to take DH to see one of the best collections of PRB paintings this Saturday - at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (fabulous place - and its all free!)
Just wanted to thank Tara at www.aquamarineart.blogspot.com (a new friend I met through Suzi's class) for giving info on her blog about Photoscape which you can download for free here. Thats how I've put some of my pictures into groups!!
18 comments:
Now aren't you clever with the Coffee decoration? It looks yummy, and I am sitting here with a cup of Vanilla Hazelnut :)
I have always admired the PR paintings but never taken the time to know more about them, that book is a wonderful treasure and to find the postcard yet another treasure :)
LMBO@ the lady in blue reminds you of how you look in the morning, I look the same way.
Hi, Linda! What a find! So cool to just happen across a vintage treasure like that postcard tumbling out of a favorite book! I love the painting of that lady in the boat on the lake. It really speaks to me! :-)
What a lovely find, and to think it was there all the time right under your nose lol! Thanks for sharing.
what a great find! such treasure. love your work. wanda
Very posh coffee! What a lovely surprise to find the postcard in the book and it had been there all the time without you realising - hidden treasure. The paintings are so romantic - lovely images.
There are a lot in Manchester too if you're ever up this way.
well there were but they've gone all 'outreach' now so i don't know if they still have them on show.
Hi Linda,
Oh what a wonderful find!! How much fun to work it into an art piece, perhaps with the self portrait? Now that is just way to cool. I know with your gift of story telling through your art you will most certainly create wonderful magic with it!! :)
I think you are right about the fabrics. That era's painting illicits tons of tactile memories for me.
Pattie ;)
Mazatlan Mx.
Thanks for the mention - glad to be of assistance! I love that painting of the Lady of Shallot (sp?).
What a wonderful blog you have. Your art is so lovely and the link to Itkupilli has changed my blog forever! Thank you for sharing. x
i haven't watched the drama but did see the 3 part art series tha was on a couple of weeks ago. i think you are right about the attraction being the fabrics. (and i love the red hair)
lady of Shalott is one of my favourites
Yes please, I'll have a cappucino with a four leafed clover...looks yummy!
What a gorgeous little book and those colour plates!!! I think this artist has an obsession with fabric too. Loooove how he paints fabric and especially the quilt/embroidered piece in the woman in the boat...from reading the comments 'The Lady of Shallot'.
Wonderful post.
Jacky xox
Dear Linda thankyou for your lovely message, next time Im down in Bakewell Ill get in touch and perhaps we could meet up.
Jim and I watched the programme by chance and both of us were hooked ~ your book looks amazing and what a fabulous self portrait, enjoy your trip to Birmingham and hope you gets lots of inspiration.
Judy xxx
ps the coffee looks very yummy :)
I'm sorry I missed your coffee :( .... I've been remiss on keeping up with things lately .... scrambling to leave on vacation I guess. Wow - some amazing finds here you lucky duck! The Lady of Shallot always reminds me of Anne of Green Gables and her wonderful imagination .....
sounds like a wonderful show....on one of my fav topics too...velvet and satin oh my!!!
trying to get that first stretch in in the am is easier on some days than others, isn't it :)
thank you for so many lovely links and lucky you with a treasure of a book like that...that postcard has been waiting for you to discover it!
Oooh I want to know more about this new show! I love the PRB very much. I am a huge fan of Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema. The Getty Museum, just a few miles away houses my favorite painting of all time... Spring! It's so magical. I love Waterhouse too and used a lot of those images when I first got into to collage and mixed media. So beautiful!
Oh, I'm annoyed I missed that TV programme.
Have you heard about
www.preraphaelites.org
it's the new or revamped (not sure which) Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery online resource. It uses Microsoft's silverlight programme so you can see the paintings in incredible close up.
I also love "The Lady Lever Art Gallery" in Port Sunlight nearish to Liverpool. They have a lot of PRB's including my favourites "The tree of forgiveness" and "The Beguiling of Merlin" by
Burne Jones.
I went to Birmingham to see them (PRB's), but the rooms were shut because of roof problems at the time!!
Just as well I didn't have to travel far in the first place.
Hope you have a great day there!
Gini
xx
wow, the coffee looks yummy, well done .
The PR paintings are stunning , they intrigue me , I adore them. I have some reprints , had them for years . I may hang them again, they hung in my old victorian house beautifully but for some reason I didnt hang them when i moved in here and i realise I miss them, so Thank you for reminding me I should dust them off and enjoy them again. Jaqi xx
Another huge PRB fan here too. what's not to love about the colours, themes and personal stories?
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