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Rating: 
Summary: Excellent in Beauty and Historical Value
Review: "Country Flowers of a Victorian Lady" is a wonderful book of botanical watercolors made as a personal album by Fanny Robinson in the latter half of the 1800's. Watercolor painting at that time was considered an acceptable and edifying pastime for women both young and old, and this grouping of flower portraits is superb. The comentaries on the facing pages offer quality insight into the hidden meanings of the flower groupings and educated speculation on the unknown aspects surrounding each picture.
I highly recommend this book for flower lovers, watercolor painting enthusiasts, and students of victorian culture. I participate in historic role acting, and this is one book I will request be added to the library of training materials for the program.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent in Beauty and Historical Value
Review: "Country Flowers of a Victorian Lady" is a wonderful book of botanical watercolors made as a personal album by Fanny Robinson in the latter half of the 1800's. Watercolor painting at that time was considered an acceptable and edifying pastime for women both young and old, and this grouping of flower portraits is superb. The comentaries on the facing pages offer quality insight into the hidden meanings of the flower groupings and educated speculation on the unknown aspects surrounding each picture.
I highly recommend this book for flower lovers, watercolor painting enthusiasts, and students of victorian culture. I participate in historic role acting, and this is one book I will request be added to the library of training materials for the program.
Rating:
Summary: Mixed Emotions~
Review: "Exqusite" is one of the many words I could use to describe this book. The most beautiful collection of Victorian watercolors one will ever see. The images were taken directly from an album that was created by Fanny Robinson (1802-1872) entitled "The Book of Memory". The author wove a mystery throughout her album. Each gorgeous watercolor is accompanied by a handwritten poem, which leaves the reader musing as to whom, or what, the verses were written. Was it a lost love...? a faded youth....?She added a phrase on the front of her "Book of Memory" that is so very true "O, like a book of sport thou'lt read me o're ! but theres more in me than thou'lt understand". The Language of Flowers has never been more beautifully...or dramatically, illustrated. I will treasure this book, and a copy for my daughter is inevitible. I wish I could rate it more than five stars...
Rating:
Summary: Mixed Emotions~
Review: "Exqusite" is one of the many words I could use to describe this book. The most beautiful collection of Victorian watercolors one will ever see. The images were taken directly from an album that was created by Fanny Robinson (1802-1872) entitled "The Book of Memory". The author wove a mystery throughout her album. Each gorgeous watercolor is accompanied by a handwritten poem, which leaves the reader musing as to whom, or what, the verses were written. Was it a lost love...? a faded youth....? She added a phrase on the front of her "Book of Memory" that is so very true "O, like a book of sport thou'lt read me o're ! but theres more in me than thou'lt understand". The Language of Flowers has never been more beautifully...or dramatically, illustrated. I will treasure this book, and a copy for my daughter is inevitible. I wish I could rate it more than five stars...
Rating:
Summary: A nice look at the Victorian lady and her watercolors
Review: I love flowers and keep a journal myself, so it was a nice treat to find this book. The artist and domestic poet was Fanny Robinson, and her book reminds us all of how shallow modern life can be. Oh, we can make fun of these Victorian domestic ladies, sitting alone, doing their watercolors and romantic verse, but when you think about it seriously, it was active and not passive as many of our feminist lives are now. We work and struggle for power, recognition, and money. But we never slow down to take in life's simple pleasures, to stop and just be. This book is an inspiration to me in many ways. It has taught me to sit alone again, to write real letters, and to paint the flowers that I grow in my garden. It has inspired me to slow down, to not analyze everything, to turn off the TV, and be more at one with my community, my own neighbors, and yes, my garden.
My world has become small in its largeness. Fanny Robinson's paintings are beautiful. Her scroll work a delight, and her poems heartfelt. If you think her trite, then try to do the work she did yourself. You will find it a difficult task for our modern hands. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. A lovely book for all fans of flowers and Victoriana.
Rating:
Summary: A nice look at the Victorian lady and her watercolors
Review: I love flowers and keep a journal myself, so it was a nice treat to find this book. The artist and domestic poet was Fanny Robinson, and her book reminds us all of how shallow modern life can be. Oh, we can make fun of these Victorian domestic ladies, sitting alone, doing their watercolors and romantic verse, but when you think about it seriously, it was active and not passive as many of our feminist lives are now. We work and struggle for power, recognition, and money. But we never slow down to take in life's simple pleasures, to stop and just be. This book is an inspiration to me in many ways. It has taught me to sit alone again, to write real letters, and to paint the flowers that I grow in my garden. It has inspired me to slow down, to not analyze everything, to turn off the TV, and be more at one with my community, my own neighbors, and yes, my garden.
My world has become small in its largeness. Fanny Robinson's paintings are beautiful. Her scroll work a delight, and her poems heartfelt. If you think her trite, then try to do the work she did yourself. You will find it a difficult task for our modern hands. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. A lovely book for all fans of flowers and Victoriana.
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