Lady With Lavender, by William Henry Margetson, British 1861-1940
The one above is called "Lady With Lavender". Lavender was used for many different things, including keeping stored linen and clothing fresh. I like the architectural designs in this painting. It gives me an idea of the interiors of the era. There are reproductions of the mirror, table, columns and candlesticks sold today online and in stores. I would also like to sew a dress, using this painting for an idea.
I like the serenity of the women in their household settings, and the innocent joy on their faces. This one, above, is a lady making a salad' by William Henry Margetson.
A lady taking tea, by William Henry Margetson
The Morning Walk by William Henry Margetson
A Stitch in Time by William Henry Margetson
It appears she is stitching the hem of her dress or repairing something on her clothing.
At the Cottage Door by William Henry Margetson
The dress looks a bit like the garden party dress of 1910, which I have a pattern for. I would like to make this dress.
Margetson also painted this one, below. I would like to make a similar dress for someone and have her model it on the sunny beach just like this painting.
It would be nice to see young ladies walking on the beach in clothes like this...it would inspire a painter. This is also by William Henry Margetson
This one, and the first one, are my favorites because they seem to represent a feeling of the new day.
View from my house today.
It is quite dark and cold outside, and not a flower in bloom, so I have used a tissue paper flower in my tea setting today.You can find easy instructions to make these, on the web. My older post is here: http://homeliving.blogspot.com/search?q=Tissue+paper+flower.
I was reading about how people spent their winters in the previous century, and found out that entertaining and luncheons and teas were common activities. People spent the winter months going out, socializing, or hosting get-togethers in their own homes.
People in my area are sometimes reluctant to leave their warm homes to come out to mine for tea, but I always set out an extra cup just in case someone comes during my lunch time or tea break.
Today I got out old silver pieces that were given to me, or that I found at Goodwill and yard sales, to give a bit more brightness to the tea setting. Served is "Very Berry" herbal tea, with sandwiches and cara-cara orange slices, which is perfect for a day lacking in sunshine and color. Our commercial bread is soft enough that there is no need to trim off the crusts. Potato bread and other -unbleached flour type of breads are perfect for tea sandwiches.
The best way to appreciate being in the house on a very cold, gray day, is to walk to the mail box and back, in the fog and gloom. By the time you get back inside, you will notice how bright, warm and cheerful the house is.
These days people still ask to speak to the lady of the house when they phone or come to the door. It shows respect for the woman who runs the home. No one ever refers to the lady of the house as the maid or the housekeeper, babysitter, nurse or interior decorator. They always want to speak to the woman who guides the home. The lady of the house does all those things, and more, but it is such an honor to be referred to as the lady of the house. She works hard to make it a beautiful place to preside over and reside in.
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12 comments:
I love the freshness of color in these paintings.
They are lovely ladies. Your posts are inspiring, and calming, and I always want to put on the kettle, and reach for my pretty tea things when I read them. Thank you, again!
Dear Lady Lydia, I must say the idea of the Lady of the house is quite charming! I really felt inspired to think of trying to have a few more social tea gatherings this winter!
You really do always show the sunshine in everything you do!
PS. Please come for tea anytime!!
Blessings, Roxy
Wonderful post, thank you, it has really given me a quiet calmness to face the rest of the day.
Blessings
I lovely set of paintings of young ladies at home. I particular like the first one with the lavender. They all have pleasant and joyful smiles.
Your afternoon tea looks very inviting.
Oh, I really enjoy your blogs Lydia. So refreshing and calming.
I've tasted those Cara Cara oranges and they are ever so sweet. They really look pretty on the dish with the tiny tea sandwich too.
I find I have a little more time in the winter for socializing.
Hoping to get the Christmas tree down this weekend. Then back to the sewing machine and fabrics.
Thank you for the lovely post. Have a good week in Jesus.
Mrs. J.
Sometimes when people call and my husband answers, he asks, "Do you want to speak to the man in charge, of the woman who knows what's going on?" lol. He says that while he knows HE is the leader of our household, he also knows that I'm the one behind the scenes making sure it runs right!
Husbands used to say, " talk to the boss " when affectionately and respectfully referring to their wives.nthe would say " I will have to ask my better half"
Sometimes my father in-law would call on the phone and want to know what the "Boss" was doing? With a chuckle, I simply stated, "she is talking on the phone to you".
I was the guide and guard of the home. After a while he figured it out and asked for my husband by name.
Mrs.J
I love the dresses that the ladies are wearing in Lady in Lavender and the lady on the beach and the lady that's at the door. If I lived close to you, I would love to model one of these dresses or pay you to sew me one. Thank you for sharing the sunshine with us today.
I really enjoyed these paintings so thank you for introducing me to them. I too am fascinated by the interiors and the domestic lives they show. You may also like another British artist - Harold Knight - he was husband to Dame Laura Knight. He was a very precise painter and many of his subjects were of women reading or sewing. He seemed to enjoy the concentrated look on their faces.
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