21st C
As far as historical research is concerned a writer is at the mercy of all other writers interested in the same subject. It is impossible to keep up to date because new research reveals previously unknown detail all the time, as in the following instance.
Some months ago I wrote here that neither Margaret Gainsborough nor her husband the renowned portraitist had ever left these shores. I was wrong. Susan Sloman, a specialist in eighteenth century art, published a new book "Gainsborough's Landscapes: Themes and Variations," in 2011 to mark the opening of an exhibition of Gainsborough's work currently showing at the Holburne Museum in Bath.
At the opening of the display Susan Sloman told me she had recently discovered that Thomas Gainsborough had, contrary to my earlier comments, visited Europe, but only once, and then late in life, in 1783, five years before his death. I was really intrigued to learn of this, as I had often wondered why he had never travelled beyond the land of his birth. And I am still puzzled by his failure to visit more of Europe's excellent collections of great art in the 18th C.
There is no evidence to indicate that Margaret accompanied him on this brief trip to Antwerp, the sole reason for the journey appearing to be his desire to see one particular painting then hanging in Antwerp cathedral, Ruben's DESCENT FROM THE CROSS, widely recognized at the time as a fine example of good composition.
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LIVING WITH MRS THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH IN THE CIRCUS, BATH, 18TH /21ST C By VIVIENNE RAE-ELLIS The following is a work in progress, to be published here in instalments. The manuscript has not been submitted to any publisher. References and bibliography will be published following the final chapter. 1) go to the Manuscript below right.. 2) Start from the top entry.. 3) Read down through the manuscript
The Circus
About Me
- Vivienne Rae-Ellis FRGS
- I am an ex-pat Tasmanian author who has lived in England since 1987. I have had eleven books published in seventeen editions by publishers who include Faber&Faber, Heinemann, Hamish Hamilton, Robert Hale, University Of Melbourne, University of Yale, Angus Robertson and the Australian Institute Of Aboriginal Studies. Subjects include biographies of three famous Australians: Trucanini, the last Aboriginal Tasmanian to live and die on the island; Louisa Anne Meredith, Australia's first resident female author, and George Augustus Robinson, Chief Protector of the Aborigines in the 1830's. Published work includes books for adults and for children based on the history of Australia; the paranormal;and Public Libraries.
