DOI Heft:
Nr. 146 (May 1905)
DOI Artikel:Morris, A. F.: A versatile art worker: Mrs. Traquair
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20711#0358
Mrs. Traquatr
INITIAL LETTER DESIGNED BY MRS. TRAQUAIR
her demand met with courteous if amused attention,
and a slight discussion as to monetary and other
difficulties ensued, which she concluded by saying,
" Well! if I am to paint these walls, no one in
Edinburgh can prevent me; and if I am not
going to paint them, no one in Edinburgh can
make me !"
With such a fund of enthusiasm, it is not sur-
prising that Mrs. Traquair eventually secured,
and has lately successfully completed, the task she
craved for. It was a notable one for a woman, the
wall spaces in the Cathedral being very large. It
occupied her about four years, but even with that
extensive work upon her hands, she yet found time
to carry on those other branches of art in which
she takes a keen interest.
JEWEL DESIGNED BY MRS. TRAQUAIR
34°
Curiously enough her other work is of a nature
that calls for the minutest handling, such as missal
illumination, book binding and enamelling. Her
earliest efforts were mostly of this order, but her
training in every branch of art has been very
elementary. Of Irish birth, she lived a quiet
life as a girl, and betrayed no special artistic
capacity until one day, after a visit to an exhibition
in Dublin, she became possessed by a desire to
paint. Beauty of form roused her latent powers ;
she was allowed to join the Dublin School of Art,
but her quickly ensuing marriage caused a break
for many years in the development of her artistic
inclinations, which found vent only in the drawing of
fish skeletons and other natural-history specimens
PAINTED PANEL BY MRS. TRAQUAIR
(In possession of R. S. Lorimer, Esq.)
that came under her husband's observation in his
geological pursuits.
Neither exciting nor satisfying work this ; and,
after some thirteen or fourteen years had elapsed,
her soul rebelled, and, her children being then past
the age when they required constant care, she
commenced her missal painting, seeking and finding
her own salvation, guided only by her powers of
observation, love of line and of harmonious colour-
ing ; she seized on new materials as they came to her
knowledge, each one exciting her as opening up
INITIAL LETTER DESIGNED BY MRS. TRAQUAIR
her demand met with courteous if amused attention,
and a slight discussion as to monetary and other
difficulties ensued, which she concluded by saying,
" Well! if I am to paint these walls, no one in
Edinburgh can prevent me; and if I am not
going to paint them, no one in Edinburgh can
make me !"
With such a fund of enthusiasm, it is not sur-
prising that Mrs. Traquair eventually secured,
and has lately successfully completed, the task she
craved for. It was a notable one for a woman, the
wall spaces in the Cathedral being very large. It
occupied her about four years, but even with that
extensive work upon her hands, she yet found time
to carry on those other branches of art in which
she takes a keen interest.
JEWEL DESIGNED BY MRS. TRAQUAIR
34°
Curiously enough her other work is of a nature
that calls for the minutest handling, such as missal
illumination, book binding and enamelling. Her
earliest efforts were mostly of this order, but her
training in every branch of art has been very
elementary. Of Irish birth, she lived a quiet
life as a girl, and betrayed no special artistic
capacity until one day, after a visit to an exhibition
in Dublin, she became possessed by a desire to
paint. Beauty of form roused her latent powers ;
she was allowed to join the Dublin School of Art,
but her quickly ensuing marriage caused a break
for many years in the development of her artistic
inclinations, which found vent only in the drawing of
fish skeletons and other natural-history specimens
PAINTED PANEL BY MRS. TRAQUAIR
(In possession of R. S. Lorimer, Esq.)
that came under her husband's observation in his
geological pursuits.
Neither exciting nor satisfying work this ; and,
after some thirteen or fourteen years had elapsed,
her soul rebelled, and, her children being then past
the age when they required constant care, she
commenced her missal painting, seeking and finding
her own salvation, guided only by her powers of
observation, love of line and of harmonious colour-
ing ; she seized on new materials as they came to her
knowledge, each one exciting her as opening up