Honeysuckle Hearsay and Start of Studying

Salutations,

I have not posted about Wightwick Manor in a while and as I had embarked on volunteering in a new room recently, I thought it was about time to update you. I was in one of the five beautifully attired guest bedrooms of the house- the Honeysuckle Room.

http://www.nationaltrustimages.org.uk/image/20861

This is a slightly outdated picture, the bed still resides within the room, but there is a different configuration, for example the room now incorporates a luxurious nineteenth century ottoman with Morris tulip pattern. If you want to see what the room looks like now I urge you to visit! Wightwick also has a new cafe with delicious meals and the best cakes, if you need another reason, apart from the awe inspiring house to entice you! The bed hanging are unfortunately difficult to observe in this photograph, but they are an elaborate and intricate embroidered design by May Morris, I was lucky enough to be able to look at them up close and it amazes me, the time and effort to make them, such a labour of love. What this example demonstrates is the quality of every fixture and fitting within this house, from the William Morris Sussex chairs, the Pre-Raphaelite paintings, the  hand-knotted Morris carpet, De Morgan tiles and finally the quotations that pervade most rooms, from Browning to Tennyson.,the house really is a Gesamtkunstwerk, a total work of art. Unfortunately Morris never visited the house but I'm sure he would be ecstatic that this place exists as a testament to the enduring appeal of his designs.

Of course I cannot post about Wightwick Manor without mentioning a striking picture that resides in this room, (I am a History of Art student!)  Evelyn De Morgan's, pastel drawing, Clytie. Clytie is a figure from Greek myth, described in Ovid's Metamorphosis, a nymph who fell in love with the sun-god Helios. In one version, Helios initially loves Clytie but forsakes her for Leucothoe. An angry and spurned Clytie seeks her revenge by visiting Leucothoe's father Orchamus and tells him her daughter has been tainted. Due to the shame the father feels she has brought on her family, he has his daughter buried alive in the earth. Clytie's actions, instead of winning back Helios's affections, as she wanted, caused him to despise her. She stood without food or drink on earth for nine days, turning her face in Helios's direction as the sun travelled across the sky every day, mourning his departure. After the ninth day, she became rooted to the spot and morphed into a plant, sometimes the plant is referred to is a sunflower, but there are varying descriptions. Ovid states: 

         'From that day she wasted away, for she was quite mad with love. She had no use for the company of nymphs, but sat upon the bare ground, night and day, under the open sky, her head uncovered, and her hair all disarrayed. For nine days she tasted neither food nor drink, but fed her hunger only on dew and tears. She never stirred from the ground: all she did was to gaze on the face of the sun god as he journeyed on, and turn her own face to follow him. Her limbs, they say, became rooted to the earth, and a wan pallor spread over part of her complexion, as she changed into a bloodless plant.... Though held fast by its root, this flower still turns to the sun, and although Clytie's form is altered, her love remains.'

(I paraphrased the details of the myth from Carrying the Torch by Steven Payne.)

I love the unconscious beauty of this image, the sunflowers engulfing her figure, supporting or being supported by her, the tragedy of a thwarted love. Clytie wishes to bathe in the warmth and glow of her beloved, gaining sustenance from him. The added detail of her cascading hair, the same colour as the petals of the sunflower, the tip of which just brushes the petal of a sunflower, suggests her kinship with the sunflowers and her subsequent transformation. Whilst, her body is basking in the rays of the sun she shields her face, as if to stifle her grief and tears, not being able to fully embrace his light in her human form. Poor woman, at least she had his love for a while, my love of Buster Keaton or Anton Walbrook remains unrequited! Clytie shows real dedication to her love, I can't imagine many girls would metamorphose into a plant just to bask in the rays of their beloved forever more!

Both images are copyright of the National Trust

http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/1288980

 Volunteering in the bedrooms is always a treat, as it feels more intimate to be able to spend long periods of time within these interiors, as if one was for example invited to stay in the room as a distinguished guest of the Mander Family, or more likely in my case, as a servant cleaning out the chamber pots!  Nevertheless, I always fantasise about being invited to the house for a weekend party, and of course this would be the guest bedroom I would get to stay in. I dream of draping myself over the ottoman, writing letters about the hi-jinks at the house, reading novels, and getting dressed up in an Edwardian or flapper dress for an elaborate and lively dinner party.

Here's my volunteering outfit, not quite the Edwardian or flapper dress I dream about owning but still a lovely bright colorful forties spotted dress, (I'm dotty for spots at the moment!) with amazing pockets that I could fit a lot of sweets in! The dress is actually too big so until I can get it taken in I have a large belt that helps to define my waist. I'm also wearing a red Laura Ashley Cardigan, they never fail to provide colourful vintage inspired knitwear. I'm wearing my red glass beaded necklace, I discussed in a previous post, and also my new shoes, Clark's Frothy Soda black leather shoes. I can't rave about these enough, they are very comfortable soft leather. I have had problems with my feet but these are great and really cushion my feet, they also give a nod to the twenties, which of course makes me love them more! 

As if you can't tell from these pictures, I'm still trying to improve my photography skills!

 I decided as I hadn't updated in quite a while to spoil you with two outfits in one post! I am once again embarking on another year of studies, I have just begun a Masters in the History of Art, so I thought it would be a good idea to show you a typical outfit I wear to university, well I don't always have time for the lipstick! The skirt is part of a 1940's suit, I love the cranberry colour and it goes very nicely with my blue cardigan, which I picked up from a local charity shop for £2 and then changed the buttons, to these fake pearls. I'm once again wearing my favourite pair of shoes my Melissa shoes designed by Vivienne Westwood. That very large bag I am carrying contains only a small number of the books I have been using recently for my research.

Also being England of course I had to wear a thick coat at the beginning of October  The coat was from Reiss a few years ago, I got it in the sale half price, a real bargain. The style of it and the geometric monochrome pattern, hints at the art deco, and the material is heavy and soft, a real sign of quality.

Of course it decided to rain the day I chose to wear lipstick, so this is me unsuccessfully trying to protect my hair and make up, I did realise that my hands are maybe not the best protection from the rain, and so went searching for my 1940's umbrella.

Yours still soggy,

Evalily Harlow xxx