Sunday, August 25, 2013

Jane Morris (Burden) photographs by Emery Walker from National Portrait Gallery

Here are a few photographs of Mrs. William Morris, Jane Burden Morris, wife of William Morris, mother of May and Jenny Morris.
National Portrait Gallery, London, has several photographs of Jane Morris taken two years after the death of her husband, William Morris, which I can only guess is the reason she is dressed in a black dress and what looks like mourning garb. Her friend Emery Walker is the photographer listed and it looks as if the house may be their home, Kelmscott Manor.

 Jane Morris (née Burden)
by Sir Emery Walker
whole-plate glass negative, May 1898, NPG
This one just might be my favorite photograph of the series Jane Morris (née Burden)
by Sir Emery Walker
whole-plate glass negative, May 1898, NPG
 Jane Morris (née Burden)
by Sir Emery Walker
whole-plate glass negative, May 1898, NPG
 
  Jane Morris (née Burden)
by Sir Emery Walker
whole-plate glass negative, May 1898, NPG
  Jane Morris (née Burden)
by Sir Emery Walker
whole-plate glass negative, May 1898, NPG
 I'm sure I'm not the only one who looked at this and thought how similar it was to Evelyn De Morgan's study she painted for The Hour Glass later in 1904. Jane Morris (nee Burden), by Sir Emery Walker, whole-plate glass negative, May 1898, NPG

To see these photographs and more, go to National Portrait Gallery

Study for The Hour Glass by Evelyn De Morgan, 1898

The Hour Glass by Evelyn De Morgan, 1905 
My friend Hermes, has an interesting post about this particular painting over on his Jane Morris blog, The Hour Glass


5 comments:

Hermes said...

Very good post and background; glad to see these released at last. Wish she looked a bit more cheerful though.

Kimberly Eve said...

Aren't they wonderful! Yes, I know, if ever a photo of Jane Morris is found smiling, I'll be shocked! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

Judy said...

I had not seen these photos and the De Morgan ptg/drawing together. I now would have a strong hunch that De Morgan may have used the photos as reference point. Very interesting, Kimberly!

Kimberly Eve said...

Hi Judy,
Anything is possible. Jane Morris was a close friend of the de Morgan's. It is powerful when you see the photos of her with the paintings. So glad you stopped by.

Judy said...

They were indeed great friends.u

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