If there are two things in life that I love doing —— they’re picking up sticks for the fire and gathering 19th century pictures, even older! Of course, both activities are governed by the state of my liquidity and the will of the wind plus one other thing —— providence; I believe it!

So much of my journey through ‘Brontëland’ has been all about timing – as in there seems to be an order to the arrival of the pictures that I’ve researched in relation to the ‘lost’ portrait of Emily Brontë – as in each one seemingly has happened of its own volition. Whenever a picture ‘happens’ —— I have the strangest feeling that my hand has been guided.

The latest happening – is a beautiful drawing after the ‘Wood-Nymph’ by Samuel Woodfoode RA. Someone that I have never met in a physical sense – kindly messaged me on the 2nd of October 2020 —— about a somewhat familiar drawing with ‘no name’……that messenger was Gerda from the Netherlands @‘Black Hat Gallery’ —— and this is the very drawing reproduced here with Gerda’s kind permission.🎩 

After a series of interesting exchanges available to read here at the foot of: http://somethingaboutdartmoor.com/2020/04/12/a-bevy-of-bonnets-for-easter-sunday-the-pamela-hat/ 

…you’ll read how we got our wires crossed a bit – as in we both identified Gerda’s drawing independently —— yet despite the miles that separate us – somehow we did it together if that makes sense!

It’s clear that the series of ‘Bonnet Portraits’ that I have ardently researched since July 2016 —— have been copied of a sort —— nay descended —— from an engraving of Samuel Woodforde’s original painting of the ‘Wood-Nymph’. Unfortunately, I have not been able to source any reference or image of Woodforde’s original – however the engraving, is a different matter. Here is an original Georgian engraving of Woodforde’s ‘Wood-Nymph’, engraved by John Raphael Smith —— and published in 1787 —— no less!

A very same print of Samuel Woodforde’s ‘Wood-Nymph’ in The British Museum collection can be viewed here: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1940-1109-63

As far as I’m concerned, Samuel Woodforde’s ‘Wood-Nymph’ only reinforces the argument FOR the ‘lost’ portrait of Emily Brontë; it’s what Charlotte did —— she copied engravings then made them her Own. I can just imagine Charlotte seeing her sister, ‘Emily’ looking back at her from Smith’s engraving of Woodforde’s ‘Wood-Nymph’ —— that no doubt was reproduced in one of the Literary Annuals that all the Brontës siblings loved to leaf through and ‘meticulously’ copy the engravings therein.

This detached spine belongs to a timeworn 1832 edition of ‘The New Year’s Gift’ literary annual – which contains the engraving of ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ née Emily Anderson as its frontispiece. 

Emily was ever happiest being at home —— and out walking over the Moor beyond the Parsonage. For all Emily’s extraordinary writing prowess and intellectual giftedness – she was also a domestic goddess; collecting wood for the hearth would have been a routine task for Emily – a ‘chore’ that I think Emily would have robustly embraced —— and taken great pleasure in gathering underarm.I can’t help but notice in the case of ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ and the ‘Bonnet Portrait’ – there is a ‘churchman’ link —— a thread ——  that runs through both pictures other than the obvious; pater of the Brontës, Revd. Patrick Brontë!

‘Little Red Riding Hood’ is after an engraving of Sir Thomas Lawrence’s original portrait of Emily Anderson —— another cleryman’s daughter. Very little is known about ‘Emily Anderson’ – other than she was born around 1805 to 1810 to the Rev. William Anderson of Udale, Cromarty Bay, Firth, Scotland. I think Emily Anderson was just the kind of figure that would have fired Charlotte’s fascination and imagination —— even her name ‘Emily’.🔥

Artist, Samuel Woodforde was the nephew of diarist, Revd James Woodforde —— James Woodforde (B:1740 –D:1803) was an English clergyman, known as the author of ‘The Diary of a Country Parson’ —— published in the early part of the 20th century.

Of course, Charlotte would not have read, Revd. James Woodforde’s diary —— but his nephew’s ‘Wood-Nymph’ is a different matter. The engraving as shown above was published in 1787 – twenty-nine years before Charlotte was even on’t World!

Talking of the World —— metaphysically speaking, it seemingly moves and revolves in mysterious ways around the ‘Bonnet’ – and in the case of Gerda and I —— it’s a mighty small one too! Thank you Gerda —— this post is dedicated to you! —— and your beautiful pencil drawing after Samuel Woodforde’s ‘Wood-Nymph’ —— still available to buy at the sign of the magick ‘Black Hat’!🎩

The state of my liquidity at present —— alas won’t allow me to buy Gerda’s beautiful pencil drawing – otherwise I’d readily snap it up —— but I can still go out collecting sticks!!! Finally, here’s one more link today —— to a post published on the 26th. April 2016. 

http://somethingaboutdartmoor.com/2016/04/26/a-faggot-for-the-fire/

‘Funny’ in hindsight —— how I didn’t set off on my ‘Bonnet’ journey until the 4th. July 2016!

Like I said at the start of this post – there is seemingly a providential order to the ‘Bonnet’ —— that dictates when stuff happens —— and from which direction —— much like the wind that blows where it will!💨

As a girl and as an adult, I’ve always lived in the country and gathered wood for a pastime —— it’s no chore, I love doing it!

So Smith’s 18th century engraving of Woodforde’s ‘Wood-Nymph’ —— has that strange feeling of looking into and back through an oval-shaped mirror…

Although, please don’t get me wrong —— I’m NO ‘Wood-Nymph’ to look at! —— but I am most definitely in spirit. Gosh! —— I even talk to trees; a conversation that invariably starts with “Thank you”!

I believe in providence, only in this instance I spell it Samuel Woodfordë!!! Thank’s Gerda for the ë-loan of your picture.

Of course, ‘The Bonnet Haters’ must make of Samuel Woodforde’s ‘Wood-Nymph’ —— and it’s relevance to the ‘Lost’ Portrait of Emily Brontë – what they will…

Some more Bob Dylan rolled-over from yesterday’s post, 5th October 2020; them ‘Bonnet Bells’ just keep on ringing…love this live performance.