Painting Inspired Sewing

Mother and Son

by Fritz Zuber-Buhler

Switzerland, 1822-1896

Tickling the Baby

by Franz Zuber-Buhler

Swiss

Innocence

by Frans Zuber-Buhler

For painting-inspired sewing, I've chosen the country styles of the Swiss painter, Frans Zuber-Buhler. In the previous post there are many paintings by Daniel Ridgeway Knight which have a similar style of country clothing. 

 To sew something similar in a modern dress, skirt, blouse or vest, I would suggest you look in the  costume section of a pattern pattern book and  adapt a pattern  to every-day wear by altering the length or the sleeves to modernize it. 

 Or, sew one of these Neue Mode patterns, which can be worn as casual clothing. These are not costumes, but this pattern company does have a costume section. This selection has the look of the 19th century country clothing, with the wearableness of current day needs.

This Neue Mode pattern is available in the U.S and Europe and looks similar to the country  clothing worn in the paintings. To make it look like a skirt and vest, just sew a different color skirt onto the bodice piece. Similar boots can be bought at discount stores everywhere.

Every year, pattern companies and department stores  have a version of the all-time classic peasant blouse and skirt. This Neue Mode pattern combines the two into a dress.

Most patterns need adjusting at the shoulder and neckline. You can see instructions here on a previous post.

Another interesting Neue Mode pattern.

These patterns have no seam allowance added on the pattern, so if you are used to sewing patterns which include seam allowance, you'll have to remember to cut a seam allowance one-half inch to five-eighths inch around the paper pattern.

This might be of interest to several ladies who asked about sewing similar clothes to the country fashions shown in paintings on this blog.

You might also look for "Lanz" designs and patterns, a Swiss based company.



Tea in Art

A Convivial

by  Otto Goldmann  (1844 - 1915) Germany

Try clicking this picture to enjoy a larger view. It was called a two-dimensional painting. There are a lot of interesting details in this picture, and if you are homeschooling, you might ask your children to list everything they see here,  as well as what relation the people might be to one another.

Painting With A Story

The Pride of Dijon

Hennessy, William... Irish, 1839-1917

I acquired a reproduction print of this painting at a thrift store, and was able to look more closely at the details. It looks like a relaxing scene, but there is a lot going on.

If  you will click on the picture and let it take you to the source at Allposters, then you can use the magnifier and look at every corner. The first thing you might see is that the rug on the floor has a fringe that is turned over on the lower right side, as if the hem of the lady's dress had swooped it over as she walked over it before she sat down.

The wind, as well, might be blowing, causing all the roses to fall on the floor of the patio  where the lady and gentleman are sitting. A little table to the right holds two cups, one with a spoon, and both seem to be placed on some kind of cloth. The man is dressed formally and the lady, holding a fan, is wrapped in a fine shawl. Her dress seems to reflect the pale pink roses that are growing along the trellis and fence. The couple may have been to a formal event and now are visiting outside as the day grows darker.

I really like the black, wrought-iron fence around the patio, and the landscaping beyond, with the little road or path in a curve. I cannot imagine what they would be talking about but it seems to be serious.

When I hung the picture, I added a little shelf next to it, on which I placed a fan of a similar style, and a tea cup with a pale pink rose,  and then draped an old scarf on the frame, all to reflect the theme of the picture.

William Hennessy was born in County Kilkenny but immigrated to Canada when his parents left Ireland. He was an honorary member of the American Society of Watercolor Painters.

A fan, cup, spoon and floral ornament echoes details of the painting.

Looking at Life in Paintings of the Past

Motherhood, by E. L. Henry, American  1841-1919

Memories by E.L. Henry

First Railroad Train by E.L. Henry

Woman With a Baby by E.L. Henry

Spinning Jenny 1874 by E.L. Henry

A Lover of Old China

Unexpected Visitor

E.L. Henry was an American illustrator and artist whose paintings told stories of the American life in the 19th century.

 I especially like "Unexpected Visitor" above because of the country surroundings, the design of the house, the grandmother on the front porch with her knitting, and the lady of the house with her apron, looking out to see who is driving up in the carriage. I always like to point out the distictive differences in the male and female clothing of the times, too, and the sweet scenes of home and family. A look at the painting "A Lover of Old China" made me wonder what "old china" would have been like to the people of that era, for what was new to them, is now antique to us.

Some of the paintings can be clicked on for a larger view, in which can be seen the details of the architecture, the interior design of window hangings, fireplace mantel arrangements, furnishings, rugs, tableware and much more. The styles of furniture, dishes and fabrics are still being produced today.

E.L. Henry was related by marriage to the author Grace Livingston Hill.

Read more about E.L. Henry

E.L. Henry Biography

The Story In the Paintings

click on for a larger view

Courtship, by Edmund Blair Leighton, English, 1853-1922

 This particular painting had some things going on inside it that I had not previously noticed, and I wanted to find out if anyone else sees it. What do you think is really happening in the background, and what do you think the young man in the main part of the painting, does for a living?  My guess is that the man in the background is waiting for the boat and he is not happy that the boatman is taking his time talking to the young lady. Many of the paintings of the past had an "inside story" that a studied view can reveal.

On the Home Front

 Morning Devotions

by Edward Prentiss

1797-1854

Lessons

By Helen Allingham

English, 1848-1926

Read more about this artist here http://www.helenallingham.com/Helen_Biography.htm

Ray of Sunlight, by Thomas Faed, Scotland,  1826-1900

Read more about this fine artist here http://www.freemanart.ca/faed.htm

Blue and White, by Louise Joplin

British, 1843-1933

Be sure to click on the pictures and look at all the wonderful details of things of the 1800's.

Descending the Slopes of Mt. Koskioskos

by Percy Spence (Australia) 1868-1933

Frozen Landscape

by Johannes Bartholemaus Duntz

Germany, 1823-1895

The Sewing Class

by Carl Frederick Aargaard, Denmark (1818-1889)

 

Quiet Afternoon Together

by George Goodwin Kilburne

1839-1924

This is a collection of paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries, showing women in various forms of work and leisure, at home.

 Every era has had its  share of  " wars and rumors of wars," (Matthew 24:6) and every woman who has ever lived on the earth has lived in a time when there has been something going on that threatened her home life.  During these times, women knew it was especially important to be there for their families and to keep their home life stable.

In times such as these,  we must remember to pray for those in political office, (First Timothy 2:2) who are appointed to serve us and carry out God's will. They are not to be a terror to those who are doing what is good and Biblical, but to those who do evil. According to the Bible, the purpose of earthly government is to reward the good and punish the wicked.  (Romans 13: 3-4)  As members of congress,  judges and the executive office move further  away from the Articles of Confederation which formed the Constitution, we need to remind them of the dangers of communism and socialism. Through blogging and email, women at home can warn of the unbiblical role of government in private enterprise and in home life.

We also need to remind people within our sphere of influence that no matter how utopian something sounds, it is wrong if it allows the government to intervene where God has already jurisdicted. God has wisely created the family to serve the social, economic, educational and spiritual needs of the home.  There is a danger each time the government tries to provide services to replace the functions that belong to the home and to God. The government has no business becoming father and mother to its citizens, from birth to death.  Knowing that this had been attempted other countries in the past, (with tragic results) our forefathers wisely planned a different kind of government that would have the least interference in the personal lives of people: in their homes, their businesses, their property, their religion and the education of their children. 

There is always something the women at home can do, to alleviate sufferring under an oppressive or tyrannical government. As mentioned previously, they can always pray. The Bible says to pray without ceasing. (First Thessalonians 5:17). When a prayer seems to be unanswered, someone may get discouraged. We are not supposed to pray just one time and give up if there is no anwer.  We are to continue to pray.

Political uncertainty and terror stops you in your tracks, but the beauty of the Bible is that it provides comfort and guidance for this very thing. Much of the New Testament was written during the time of the Caesars, (many who were harsh rulers), to give Christians stability and show them how to live during uncertain times. During this time, prison guards were amazed to find the imprisoned Christians singing in their cells. (Acts 16). No matter what, Christians have a job to do, and a purpose in life.

The things that the early Christians during times of terror were told to do were things like:  The older women were to teach the younger women about marriage, motherhood and housekeeping. The younger women were to marry, bear children and keep house. Men were told to provide for their own families. Children were told to honor their parents. Mothers were to teach their daughters how to be good homemakers and prepare them to be wives and mothers.  The Bible warned about being lazy, and commanded people to work with their own hands and to mind their own business.  Knowing that most of the people in the Bible lived during some sort of political upheaval and persecution,  make a big difference in your motivation at home.

  God wanted his people to be rich in good works and to pray for the government.During those trying times when rulers were against them,  he  commanded fathers to bring their children up in the teachings of the Bible. These things do not come natural in terrible times, but like Moses, Elijah, God gives us  something  worthwhile to do when in times of uncertainty. It is in the doing of these things that life becomes worth living and even beautiful. The commands of God were written to people in trials. They were still to do their duty before God.  No matter what happens, we are to glorify God and to praise him  and to teach what is right, while we live.

The adults of the past had reassuring words for children who worried about the events of the world.  Some of you might remember them saying things like, "The Bible says there will be wars and rumors of wars, and that evil men will wax worse and worse, (2nd Timothy 3:13)  til the end of time.  These things will always go on, in every generation.  Meanwhile, our duty is to live right and to show a good example to others." 

 Homemakers have a big job to do, to keep the house in order and to teach good values to their children. If there are no children at home, her role is still impor

tant, for she owns the world of her home. It is her domain and she can rule it. She can clean it, decorate it, furnish it, maintain it, and share it. She can use her home as a classroom to teach other women and young girls.   She can also affect the world if she particiates in free  enterprise, by shopping or selling the products of her hands.  Blogging and email give the homemaker a window to the world and a chance to influence others for good.

If a woman will teach her own children at home, she can help change the world in just a few years, by showing them the difference between Biblical economics and Communism. She will then turn out a generation of young men and women who will not look to government to provide for them, but will creatively work with all their might in free enterprise.  She will produce a generation that will help govern a free society.

From the home front, much can be done to counteract the world's sorrows. Study the paintings above.  In the times they were painted, there were terrible things going on in world. Yet the artists were still able to portray something normal and good. I think this is what we should do, in times of crisis.

We should do something really normal: fix a meal, clean a room, have a tea party for women to brighten up their lives,  re-decorate, sort things, sew a dress, teach a young girl, write a letter, and provide some sanity to the lives of others. Protect your family from the constant stress of the government media.  It is designed to keep everyone upset all the time and to mobilize people to stand in long lines for rice, corn or so-called health treatments.  Each year they broadcast some new, future calamity which does not actually materialize. Women at home must be wise and realize it is a distraction to their real purpose in life, and cling to that which is good.  (Romans 12:9)  We are to center our thoughts on whatever is good, pure and lovely. Home is the perfect place for this.

Paintings are available at allposters.com and will be made available soon at http://www.lovelywhatevers.blogspot.com/  Check that site for more lovely paintings of life in 18th and 19th centuries.