[Hardy-l] Agatha Thornycroft

[Rosemarie Morgan]

Many thanks for this Robert-

  I have fond memories of this portrait from the days when it hung in Jim 
Gibson's  living room -- when Jim being Jim used to rest his eyes on the 
voluptuous beauty with unconcealed relish. Her mouth is indeed a perfect 
"peony" (as Hardy describes Tess's mouth) and her figure supple and lithe 
--or lissom as TH would say.

Some one asked what Hardy's  wives would have thought of this beauty 
adorning their walls -- I dare say that any complaint would have been in 
vain given that the man of the house kept upon his desk throughout his 
entire life a silver inkstand engraved from Florence Henniker and given to 
him in the first year of their meeting!

Cheers
Rosemarie









3:49 PM 11/3/2007, Robert Goddard wrote:

>Dear All,
>
>The Dorset Echo has reported the unveiling at Max Gate of a portrait of 
>Agatha Thornycroft:
>
>http://www.thisisdorset.net/display.var.1797967.0.painting_of_hardys_tess_goes_on_show.php
>
>With best wishes,
>Robert Goddard
>UK.