Thursday, 23 March 2023

Wheatley and Gillray – Georgian artists …

 

The two history talks I gave were about these two Georgian period artists … Francis Wheatley (1747 – 1801) and James Gillray (1756 – 1815) …


Francis Wheatley

We're learning something of the Georgian era (George I to George IV: 1714 - 1830) … which included the sub-period that is the Regency era (when George IV as Prince of Wales was regent during the illness of George III).




Some members of the group opt to give talks on different subjects - I'm usually the one that tends to break the mould … choosing something interests that me, rather than a subject suggested.



Chair Mender


Wheatley (1747 - 1801) was an English portrait and landscape painter, who was brought up in and around Covent Garden … where the poor would hawk their wares …





He had an eventful career when his low point came in 1789 he was elected to the Royal Academy in preference to the King's nominee … that was that – he never secured another commission from the aristocracy.


Preparing for market


His career unravelled … yet in the middle of all the turmoil he had created these 'Cries of London', which were exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1792 and 1795 …




It is thought that his third wife, who became, after his death, Clara Maria Pope, was his model for the female hawkers shown in these paintings. There's a ginger and white terrier that often occurs throughout the series.


Sweet Oranges


Various engravers of the time brought these 'Cries of London' to the public's attention – which have ever since remained in the nation's heart …





The ballad seller

and prevail as part of our historical culture … featuring on chocolate boxes, biscuit tins and prints often found hanging in the houses of elderly relatives and the seaside hotels of our British childhoods.




James Gillray


Next came James Gillray … a caricaturist and printmaker famous for his etched political and social satires, mostly published between 1792 – 1810.





He's been called “the father of the political cartoon” … and who, along with Hogarth, became the two most influential cartoonists of the era.



L'Assemblee Nationale (1804) -
was called "the most talented caricature
that has ever appeared" partly due to its
admirable likenesses.  The Prince of Wales
paid a large sum of money for it to be 
suppressed and its plate destroyed.

Gillray's targets were the great and the good, not excepting royalty. But his vision is often dark, his wit frequently cruel and even shockingly bawdy: some of his own contemporaries found his work repellent.



John Bull raising Napoleon's
head just after landing in
England (1803)


He changed his art from embracing the French Revolution to being no longer hostile to King George III … creating John Bull, defending the realm from the French and Napoleon …






It just happened that a new book by a young highly applauded historian, Alice Loxton, has come out … of which the convenor of our history group sent me the review … so having ordered her book it awaits my eyes to be read: Uproar!: Satire, Scandal and Printmakers in Georgian London.



The other particularly noteworthy aspect about Gillray - was that he was a skilful writer, taking great pains over the text that accompanied his works …



'Dublures' of Characters (1798)
To sum Gillray up – he was late Georgian Britain's funniest, most inventive, and most celebrated graphic satirist, continuing to influence cartoonists today.



For further reference – should anyone wish to read my talks … I'd be happy to send them to you (they're not long) … together with a list of slides that illustrated both talks.



Spitalfields Life – has further details on Francis Wheatley and his 'Cries of London' together with relevant art works …



There will be various reviews of Alice Loxton's book and articles about James Gillray on the net …. Wikipedia has plenty of Gillray's cartoons.



I will get back to 'Our English Language' … I have lots of books to read first … but posts will occur!



Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Wednesday, 15 March 2023

Canadian – Sussex – War Artists at Cuckmere Haven on the South Downs …

 

Canadians were stationed near here in both World Wars … we think of War but don't often relate to which one … sad, but true …


Cuckmere River running out to the
English Channel with its oxbow lakes
A blog post had sent me off to the Group of Seven landscape artists, who were prominent Canadian artists practising at the Algonquin School, Ontario (1920 – 1933) …


a group I had heard about because Emily Carr, the Modernist and Post-Impressionist style artist lived on Vancouver Island - where I encountered her, was associated with the group.


Frederick Varley's 'The Gas Chamber at
Seaford' (1918)
I am getting to my point for the post! … for whatever reason I decided to read on about the Group of Seven, then came across a view I immediately recognised … but it was of the Cuckmere Valley, Sussex in 1918 … so now … I looked further.



Lord Beaverbrook (1879 - 1964), a Canadian-British newspaper publisher, had recommended, Frederick Varley, (1881 – 1969), as a World War One war artist … hence he was commissioned to Sussex.


Our iconic view from Seaford Head looking 
eastwards towards Eastbourne
Now – this coastline – the chalk downland above Eastbourne, where Beachy Head is to be found – is usually remembered for its film sets, as too tv background scenes, adverts … and a beauty spot for us all to visit …




c/o BBC March 2023

it too today retains its dangers … a new crack has opened up – danger on the cliffs, danger below …





This iconic view has over time drawn professional and amateur artists to spend time here enjoying painting en plein air. Graham Greene and H.G. Wells both referred to walking in this area …



Eric Ravilious (c 1939)
Cuckmere Haven
So to tie this in … Eric Ravilious (1903 - 1942), a British painter, designer, book illustrator and wood-engraver, grew up in Sussex being particularly known for his watercolours of the South Downs and love of the Seven Sisters' coastline and Downland …



He served as a war artist and was the first British artist to die on active service in WW II when the aircraft he was in was lost off Iceland.





I was surprised and interested to see Varley's art – 'The Gas Chamber at Seaford' – giving us an idea about the training for the mustard gas attacks that had started to be used in WW1 …



and being able to jot down a few notes here covering the above aspects … and a few more links to be found below should they interest you …


Seven Sisters chalk coastline looking west


Obviously there's another war link today … we have Ukraine refugees here … 


East Sussex WW1 - gas chamber information ... 

Eastbourne College - Summerdown WW1 camp 

Frederick Varley (1881 - 1969)   

Self-portrait ... found at this interesting website:  Thematic Stamp Collection ... details of Varley's self-portrait on the 17c stamp issued 1981 - painting completed c 1945

Eric Ravilious - a film entitled 'Drawn to War' ... preview of film here ... 

I'm recovering from being off colour and fed up with things ... but all well - and I'll get to the English language posts shortly ... have two talks to give on Monday ... after that!

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Tuesday, 28 February 2023

Our English Language – its rise … part 1

 

How on earth did we get from a language of 1,000+ years ago to the English we speak today – or do we speak English … is a tweet, or text message, or morse code a completely different language … who knows – come back in a thousand years and someone will be able to tell you!


Showing how explorers exploited our lands -
as they expanded their settlements
in 400 - 500 CE (AD)


All I can say is – I am so grateful I'm an English speaker in this day of the internet and books … I have no idea how I learnt to write in English or adapt my own style for my blog – life takes us on odd paths …



I spoke English – no choice there … parents did the same! At school we were taught grammar – I still don't understand it … but seem to have an intrinsic ability to cope …


The Tower of Babel by Pieter Brueghel the
elder (1563) - Humans have speculated about
the origin of language throughout history:
this is one such account
then throw in Latin – again I'm grateful I had that learning period … it helps with plant identification, some legal words – before French got added to the mix … then for some reason I decided to try Italian, after school came German – before Afrikaans – once I went off to South Africa …


Before the journey down to South Africa – I'd worked with East European countries … so those names had to be absorbed …

Globe showing the African
continent and the area of 
India and Asia



I've never learnt any of these languages, other than that Brit one, nor did I ever go across to the Indian and Asian continents to 'glance at' their languages.



You'll have realised I'm not a linguist … but I do love learning … however I won't go into things I have no idea about … so cannot easily expand on the above ideas, or the next paragraphs for that matter …


Old English epic poem -
Beowulf - in the tradition
of German heroic legend


Old English came about before William conquered back in 1066 AD … we might have been conquered over the centuries, but language adjusted … absorbed by our oral and rural life …





it might be that the conquerors quite liked the English roses they met and stayed on … ???!!!


Wild rambling roses
English is named after the Angles, one of the ancient Germanic peoples that migrated to our islands post the Roman era.



The second part of this will follow (if I remember!) ... 


Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Tuesday, 21 February 2023

Miscarriage of Justice ...

 

Free Chol Soo Lee – an American documentary film released late last year – has just been screened by our Film Society … how evocative, while being informative, it was … quite, quite extraordinary …




The Towner's guide review is as follows:






Julie Ha and Eugene Yi’s intelligent, insightful and vital documentary explores systemic racism within the American criminal justice system via the extraordinary story of one man.



In 1970s San Francisco, 20-year-old Korean immigrant Chol Soo Lee is convicted of a Chinatown gang murder after cursory racial profiling.



After spending years fighting to survive, investigative journalist K.W. Lee takes a special interest in his case, igniting Soo Lee’s hopes of acquittal and inspiring an unprecedented social justice movement that spanned generations.



At a moment when the Asian diaspora is experiencing a surge in racist violence following the pandemic, this extraordinarily moving documentary feels especially timely, a way of entering and understanding the long history of discrimination faced by this international community.



Exploring Soo Lee’s complex life after being freed, as well as his time in prison, Free Chol Soo Lee is a powerful indictment of systemic racism and the criminal justice system, and the stunning latest in a series of US films and TV series placing a contemporary lens on historic miscarriages of justice and bringing them back into the light.



Our Chairman sent out a reminder to members that they'd be missing out if they didn't get to see the 2nd showing … the early group all praised it to the rafters …We complete a reaction slip for each film society programme we watch … one member confirmed the film as 'totally engrossing and absorbing' …


Chol Soo Lee

Story telling at its best – but about a real person … I was completely bowled over … so I do hope you'll be able to look into this documentary (86 minutes) … I can't praise it enough … and cannot do anymore than recommend it and hope you all will make a plan to see it …



Mentally I came away wondering how on earth one man could have lived a normal life after being in prison and on death row for years … the torment he must have experienced …



then relate it to immigrants, and here to refugees, who have travelled vast distances, crossed seas … encountered who knows what …



coerced into actions they'd never normally take … I am so lucky I live in the world I do … this film and others, I hope, make us realise how fortunate we are … I'm going to hear a talk by an Afghan refugee tomorrow night …



Oh how I would like people to be kinder, more thoughtful, not jump to conclusions … think about things – would you like that to happen to you … we are not living in easy times …

Tony Serra - courtroom sketch



I was intrigued to learn about Tony Serra – the civil rights attorney, activist, tax resister – who came to defend Chol Soo Lee … another real-life character worth knowing about …



Chol Soo Lee – Wikipedia

The Towner Film section … Free Chol Soo Lee


Tony Serra - Wikipedia


Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Thursday, 16 February 2023

Write … Edit … Publish … Bloghop /IWSG hop: Gone with the Wind …

 

The 'Strandlopers' – roamed free along their South African coastline as their lore suggests – existing and depending upon natural availability – plants, herbs, animals and water … they would have been aware of the weather conditions …


Strandlopers - to be found in the 
Rijks Museum,  Amsterdam

those early days – the oceans were only known by the effect of the winds … with the celestial knowledge … as indigenous peoples in all countries of the world have their lore …




The Dutch came first to establish a maritime and trading base at Cape Town for the long journey to the far east – a victualling station for passing ships …



Very early Cape Town

in 1652 the early settlers immediately established a vegetable garden for their own use, as well as for purchase by traders … the gardens had vines and fruit trees for cultivation … especially lemons against scurvy.



Captain Cook travelling via the tip of South America only found New Zealand and Australia in 1769 – 1770 … Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese navigator, in 1520 as he rounded South America approached the Antarctic but was beaten back by the ice-floes …


Gale force winds ... 

European weather lore would have travelled with all explorers and seamen … and they would have learnt to adapt to their new lands.




The success of the gardens was not instantaneous … as the rigorous winter storms destroyed one crop after the other … but the vines thrived – the rootstock coming from Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Brazil …


Stellenbosch vineyard


The Cape area, despite its latitude, had a more European climate – a comfortable one … as the ocean current (the Benguela) cooled the coast down …



Those early pioneers realised that a strong wind often occurred from September to March – this is known as “the South-Easter” …


A tree bending wind (in England)


but because of a local belief that it clears Cape Town of pollution and pestilence it has become known as “the Cape Doctor”






Cape Fold belt - greatly influences 'Le Terroir'

and has the positive benefit of limiting the risk of various mildew and fungal grape diseases, as well as tempering humidity – as long as the grape vines are protected from the wind strength …



Climate, Soil, Tradition, Terrain

Today's understanding of “Le Terroir” (of the earth) scientifically has progressed beyond recognition … yet we need to remember our folklore … realising our forefathers' wisdom …



Gone with the Wind – 

but from me 'may Spring come soon!' ...



Taglinethe wind that blows no illswe could do with more of these winds in our world …



Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Monday, 30 January 2023

What's Been on Your Calendar – January 2023?

 

Life seems to rush by … and I gather it gets faster as one gets older …


Donna's badge for her WBOYC post


Donna with her blogging friends started this – at least two of them are on Vancouver Island, when I was there, but we only blog-connected as I was leaving …



Tai Chi - c/o Wiki solo forms -
Taolo form - painting from 1300s 

I keep myself rather well occupied, but need to do more walking, and thought I'd start Tai Chi, with Qigong, at home on a daily basis – something I used to do … and include breath exercises as an extra … I need to work a schedule out



Overview

For ten months of the year … I co-ordinate a dinner for our European Movement Members at a local hotel … we're only at 50 – 60 at the moment, but hope to climb back up.




I've omitted contact details for obvious
reasons, I hope -

This keeps me occupied for the first fortnight or so of each month – meaning there's no peace for the wicked in January – even if it's a birthday month.



I belong to the Eastbourne Meads, University of the Third Age and Bazza on his blog – gives an over of the organisation … for which I'm very grateful to be able to refer you to.



Eastbourne Meads U3A welcome
image - showing off Beachy Head
lighthouse by the white cliffs

Each group has different programmes depending on its members … I go to History (and give the odd talk), Memoir/Writing, Music Appreciation … I've just started, as our Geology/Life Science 'maestro' has just decided to stop – many of us will miss that class. For the next five months I'm organising the Speaker for our monthly meeting – I enjoy that.


Re our 'maestro' – as a final farewell he made an interesting comment … saying that although it was a lot of work (he was very,very thorough!) … he'd loved doing it – as he learnt so much … remind you all of us: bloggers?! I feel like I'm getting a University degree – granted an eclectic one to put it mildly – but 'boy' have I learnt.


Just finishing off the artwork 'Dance Diagonal'
as the new piece of art for the Towner Art Gallery

I go to the local film society films – exceedingly interesting – held in the local art gallery, as too various other more avant-garde films …



Fuseli's 'NightMare' painted 1790-91
one of his variations on the theme
(Erasmus Darwin underscored
his short poem 'Night-Mare')

Then finally I belong to a Read Aloud group in the library – we bring something relevant to that week's topic to read … tomorrow is Dreams/ Nightmares – a few minutes worth of reading … we don't discuss much – as the schedule doesn't allow.  (Tomorrow's reading solved -on looking for an appropriate image!)



Well obviously not finally … meet ups with friends and family as far as we can all tie in ...and a few other societies I try and keep up with …



Penguin Classics

Also I'm incredibly lucky as I can walk or bus to most things … being one of the eldest left in the clan, I've done my caring role – and so can spend a little time on me. Lots to read too …



This was longer than intended … but c'est la vie … this year I must be more organised – re diaries … my online one prompts me … but most is in my head … that curious brain I'm very thankful for … I have a paper one I want to start using …


Donna's Retirement Reflections blog ... 

Bazza's blog: To Discover Ice - University of the Third Age (U3A) ... 

Big Think - How You Breathe ... 


Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Sunday, 22 January 2023

Africa, Memoir Writing, Journaling, Swashbuckling stories …

 

A life of adventures – whether we're blogging, writing short stories or novels …

'On Leopard Rock' – Wilbur Smith's autobiography


Recommended by me
to all writers to consider
we're travelling as life ages … our life changes, we grow, we think … we wonder …


I enjoyed his books, then got a little bored at the 'sameness' … now decades later, after coming across an article on his passing, which led me to decide that I needed to read his autobiography …



I have the same feelings … b-u-t …....related to his life's journey, by realising how much education I'd missed by not absorbing the information his dering-do storytelling offered …


Wise old owl - by Jamet

In case you have not come across his books – I'd recommend the autobiography – for a number of reasons … 'On Leopard Rock' …


He's still pretty pleased with himself … but he's that kind of author … he is authoritative: so be it.


He gives us an overview of how he approaches his legendary and highly respected research … of what he does when the muse dries up – he escapes, often to lands anew …


Typical creation made by Gilbert

Obviously he writes about Africa … the subject he knows well … he had plenty of rejections early on, before settling on writing 'what he knew'  thus, in earnest, began his writing career …


The Courtney family – 1960s Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) 

The Ballantyne series - this is a crossover series between two families – set in southern Africa, but then historically relating it back to the Anglo-Sudan War (1881-1899) …


He gives us an Ancient Egyptian series …


the Hester Cross series covers Somalia/Africa...


then there are 12 stand alone books …


This last book – his autobiography 'On Leopard Rock – a Life of Adventures': there are 17 chapters … his memoir of his life …


Card made by Pascaline


Now on to his latest publisher – Bonnier Books UK – they'd acquired world all-language rights to ten new books from Wilbur Smith, his wife and business director Niso Smith, and their agent …



As Bonnier's confirms Wilbur Smith is a writer known for his meticulous details; he could spend days, even months, researching things. History, and especially African culture, fascinated him …


I'm ashamed I'd never heard of Bonniers – but they're a Swedish publishing house … established in 1804 – they now have representations around the world.


Their website is informative … history they describe 'by our rich literary heritage, but never bound by convention' …


... while the details set out under Wilbur Smith's book site … are to put it mildly comprehensive – per the link.


Wilbur and Niso

One last idea for you to consider … you'll have to read the book as to how he met his fourth, and last wife … a lawyer: Mokhiniso Rakimova – who now run his business and Foundation …

She, if you want to learn more, … is Niso a Tadjik – persian-speaking Iranian ethnic group native to central Asia … Afghanistan, Tajikstan and Uzbekistan …


So much to appreciate in this world … and I'm only suggesting that you read this one book – til you get hooked into broadening your horizons! Enjoy …


The note that came with the cards
I ordered: "Cards from Africa"

Thanks for reading … lots here I know – but I wanted to post … and I'm lending the book later this week to an African lover – a friend who lived in Zimbabwe and Namibia for many a year …


Cards for Africa - come from Rwanda ... a small country in the middle of Africa - west of Kenya, east of the Congo ... as described from the heart of Africa using handmade paper recycled from local of office waste ... made by cheerful young folk ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories