What a great piece. I came to Cedric Morris via Maggi Hambling's pictures of him as he was dying, and love his work - both painting and iris breeding. And those slide - what a treasured possession, thank you for sharing.
Those drawings are so tender, aren't they? There is a wonderful portrait of a laughing Lett that she did too that looks vaguely demonic but you can see what a hoot he was! Thank you very much.
Even though it’s taken me two weeks to get round to reading it, for several miscellaneous reasons, it’s lit up my whole morning today. Especially the paintings, your own as well as Cedric Morriss’. I’d never heard of him before this gardening year I’m having, but now keep reading of him. Here and in recent biographies of Valerie Finnis and Beth Chatto. Though I won’t be able to get to the Suffolk Exhibition I feel like I’ve walked around it (and its aubergine) walls with you.
Well, Ronnie, you have quite made my day! He knew so many wonderful gardeners and clearly loved sharing his knowledge and love of plants with others. I love that his work isn't strictly botanical but he somehow manages to capture their character. Have you read " Dear Friend and Gardener" by Beth Chatto and Christopher Lloyd? It is a delight.
I’ve just bought and started that. It’s in the shed with a small selection of other books by them both, my principal advisors and storytellers while I’m there.
I’ve just discovered the work of Cedric Morris and I’m currently reading Ronald Blythe so it feels like a real coincidence to find you mentioning both. Looking forward to a planned trip to see the exhibition in Sudbury in a couple of weeks.
Such a fascinating piece Deborah. I knew nothing of Cedric Morris so found it especially interesting and hopefully I’ll make it to the exhibition which I think I would enjoy. I love your old paintings too!
A silly little aside, but I once played the part of Maria Marten in an AmDram melodrama called ‘Murder in the Red Barn’
Sorry Gina to be so late I replying, I have been slayed by Covid...The exhibition is marvellous and am tempted to go again before it closes. His work is so vibrant.
Please don’t apologise! I’m sometimes weeks behind! Sorry to hear you’ve had Covid and hope you’re feeling better soon. There seems to be a lot of it about at the moment
Thanks for this lovely piece Deborah, both your paintings and Cedric Morris’s are so beautiful. Sorry to hear about the slides though. I will look out for the Kathleen Hale autobiography now (I’m a fan of Orlando the marmalade cat!) - Benton End sounds fabulous.
It is such a wonderful book and a fascinating glimpse in to art school in the 1920's. I love the Orlando books too and my cat Grace was named after his love!
How beautiful is this post, both the art and the words, thank you so much for expanding my knowledge of this artist today and fire the beautiful bursting colors, too.
We’ve been using some of Maggie Hambling’s paintings at church recently as there are a number in the Methodist Modern Art Collection. There’s some talk of trying to bring some of the collection and mount an exhibition!
Thank you for these posts, Deborah. Sometimes it feels as though beauty and art (and gardening and plant breeding are also arts) is lost in all the noise around us in the world.
Oh, thank you! All of this is completely new to me. The story of the school is just what I needed: a reminder of very good things that people create in the world. And the images are beautiful. I’m sorry for the ones that could not be revived physically, but it sounds as though they have been revived in other, less tangible but no less important ways.
Ps, in Swedish August is sometimes referred to as “rot month” because the air is warm and often full of moisture, and food and other things do not last in the same way as they do during other months of the year.
Your paintings are wonderful & I can see why you found the work of Cedric Morris such an inspiration. I would have loved to have visited Benton End when the Art school was in full swing!
Thank you, Nick! I shall be the first at the door when it reopens next year!
What a great piece. I came to Cedric Morris via Maggi Hambling's pictures of him as he was dying, and love his work - both painting and iris breeding. And those slide - what a treasured possession, thank you for sharing.
Those drawings are so tender, aren't they? There is a wonderful portrait of a laughing Lett that she did too that looks vaguely demonic but you can see what a hoot he was! Thank you very much.
Gorgeous, Deborah. And thank you for the lovely mention, so appreciated! (as is your title...)
Profoundly amused by the rabbit being called Maria Marten.
You are very welcome! Isn't it marvellous that he called her that? I think he must have been great fun.
It's hilarious, I loved it and indeed everything about your piece!
This is glorious, thank you Deborah.
Even though it’s taken me two weeks to get round to reading it, for several miscellaneous reasons, it’s lit up my whole morning today. Especially the paintings, your own as well as Cedric Morriss’. I’d never heard of him before this gardening year I’m having, but now keep reading of him. Here and in recent biographies of Valerie Finnis and Beth Chatto. Though I won’t be able to get to the Suffolk Exhibition I feel like I’ve walked around it (and its aubergine) walls with you.
Well, Ronnie, you have quite made my day! He knew so many wonderful gardeners and clearly loved sharing his knowledge and love of plants with others. I love that his work isn't strictly botanical but he somehow manages to capture their character. Have you read " Dear Friend and Gardener" by Beth Chatto and Christopher Lloyd? It is a delight.
I’ve just bought and started that. It’s in the shed with a small selection of other books by them both, my principal advisors and storytellers while I’m there.
I’ve just discovered the work of Cedric Morris and I’m currently reading Ronald Blythe so it feels like a real coincidence to find you mentioning both. Looking forward to a planned trip to see the exhibition in Sudbury in a couple of weeks.
I love the writing of Ronald Blythe. I meant to include this https://youtu.be/AWELT2Nh5qM?si=Af34df07S2hk0ioE
which is one of many snippets of him talking about his life and work. I am sure you will love the exhibition!
Such a fascinating piece Deborah. I knew nothing of Cedric Morris so found it especially interesting and hopefully I’ll make it to the exhibition which I think I would enjoy. I love your old paintings too!
A silly little aside, but I once played the part of Maria Marten in an AmDram melodrama called ‘Murder in the Red Barn’
Sorry Gina to be so late I replying, I have been slayed by Covid...The exhibition is marvellous and am tempted to go again before it closes. His work is so vibrant.
How marvellous about Maria Marten!
Please don’t apologise! I’m sometimes weeks behind! Sorry to hear you’ve had Covid and hope you’re feeling better soon. There seems to be a lot of it about at the moment
Thank you, Gina. A week has passed in a blur! X
Thank you so much for this wonderful memoir
Thank you very much for taking the time to read it.
Thanks for this lovely piece Deborah, both your paintings and Cedric Morris’s are so beautiful. Sorry to hear about the slides though. I will look out for the Kathleen Hale autobiography now (I’m a fan of Orlando the marmalade cat!) - Benton End sounds fabulous.
It is such a wonderful book and a fascinating glimpse in to art school in the 1920's. I love the Orlando books too and my cat Grace was named after his love!
How beautiful is this post, both the art and the words, thank you so much for expanding my knowledge of this artist today and fire the beautiful bursting colors, too.
I am so pleased you like his work too! I love his colour palette, and somehow his choices make the paintings sing, they are joyful.
Joyful is a great word to describe them!
Thank you for revealing all these stories to the uninitiated! Fascinating to learn about Cendric Morris and his school.
I am so pleased his work is receiving such deserved attention, it is such a tonic to see. His life was so remarkable, filled with creativity.
Wow so interesting, thank you for sharing so much about this artist. I must look more into his work.
Thank you, David, very much. Happy discovering!
We’ve been using some of Maggie Hambling’s paintings at church recently as there are a number in the Methodist Modern Art Collection. There’s some talk of trying to bring some of the collection and mount an exhibition!
Wouldn't that be marvellous? Her drawings are wonderful, especially those of Cedric Morris at the end of his life, which are so moving. Thank you very much for the restack, David. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1985-0330-28
This looks like a great exhibition - will have to see if we can fit a trip in before it closes.
I do hope you can, it is quite marvellous!
Thank you for these posts, Deborah. Sometimes it feels as though beauty and art (and gardening and plant breeding are also arts) is lost in all the noise around us in the world.
The news is so hard at the moment and immersing myself in this was very comforting and it was lovely to lose myself for a while in his world.
Oh, thank you! All of this is completely new to me. The story of the school is just what I needed: a reminder of very good things that people create in the world. And the images are beautiful. I’m sorry for the ones that could not be revived physically, but it sounds as though they have been revived in other, less tangible but no less important ways.
I am so pleased to introduce you to this marvellous artist. The paintings are so vibrant and they just make you smile.
I confess I was so excited at the prospect of having copies of my paintings, but I have the memories of them and that is just as important.
Thank you very much for your chering comments.
Ps, in Swedish August is sometimes referred to as “rot month” because the air is warm and often full of moisture, and food and other things do not last in the same way as they do during other months of the year.
How right the Swedish have it! It is my least favourite month and always need a boost to see me through!
Your paintings are wonderful & I can see why you found the work of Cedric Morris such an inspiration. I would have loved to have visited Benton End when the Art school was in full swing!