|
             
Copyright
Helen Forder
2004
|
|
Mrs.
Delany ... continued
|
|
page 2
|
|
Mrs. Delany was a prolific
letter-writer, many of the long and detailed letters being to her sister Ann,
who married John D'Ewes in 1840. After this much loved sister's death the
correspondence continued with Ann's daughter Mary. The Autobiography
and Correspondence of Mary Granville, Mrs. Delany was edited by Lady
Llanofer and published in 6 volumes in 1861 and 62. They give an insight
into life at the court of King George III and Queen Charlotte and contain
references to some of the leading people of the day.
|
The
Autobiography of Mrs. Delany
|
|
Throughout her life Mary
Delany had shown considerable talent as an artist, an embroideress, a
botanist and a musician. She spent much time 'knotting' [see below]*, which was
considered an elegant occupation for aristocratic ladies and there are many
references to the craft in her letters. An example of her work is the Delany
Quilt which is now in the Ulster Museum, Belfast.
|
|
When she was in her seventies,
Mrs. Delany devised a means of cutting tiny pieces of paper to create
flower collages. She produced several volumes of these 'paper mosaic'
plants and flowers, and such was her attention to detail that King George
III wanted these volumes preserved in the British Museum 'as a standard work of art unparalleled for accuracy of
drawing, form, and perspective, as well as colouring, truth of outline, and
close resemblance to nature'.
|
|
These ten volumes were at
Llanofer for many years, and it was not until after Lady Llanofer's death
in 1896 that under the terms of her will they were given to the trustees of
the British Museum. She requested that they be 'placed with the collection of rare prints and drawings,
and not with those of botanic specimens'.
Sir George Scharf, to whom Lady Llanofer bequeathed £50, was asked 'personally to secure satisfactory arrangements for
these valuable works'.
|
|
The portrait of Mrs. Delany
painted by Opie was also mentioned in Lady Llanofer's will. 'She bequeathed to the trustees of the National Portrait
Gallery the portrait at Great Stanhope Street of Mary Granville (Mrs.
Delany) by Opie, with a frame designed after her death by Horace Walpole
for her surviving friend the Countess of Bute.'.
|
|
At the time of Lady Llanofer's
death in 1896, there was a portrait at Llanofer of Ann Granville, which had
been painted from life by Ann's sister, Mrs. Delany. This too was
bequeathed to the National Portrait Gallery by Lady Llanofer with the wish
that 'Sir George Scharf should make the
arrangements for placing these pictures safely and satisfactorily in the
National Portrait Gallery, and that the portrait of Ann Granville would be
placed immediately under that of her sister, and that a tablet would be
attached to the same to identify her'.
Both excerpts from The
Times July 22nd 1896.
|
|
* Knotting: A fairly thick thread is wound
onto a large open-ended shuttle, about 4"- 6" long, and then
special knots are made at intervals. The knotted thread is then couched
down on to fabric to make a raised pattern of flowers, leaves and scrolls.
See Ring of Tatters
|
|
back 1 2
Return to FAMILY Page
|
|
