Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
1863. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 34). Drawing of Ellen Smith.
1863. Retouched 1873. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 34). "Die Geliebte" aka "The Beloved" aka "The Bride". Models: Alice aka Alexa Wilding (age 16), Ellen Smith, Marie Ford Model, Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton (age 27) and Keomi aka Keytumas Gray (age 21).
Two Biblical texts are inscribed on the frame below the painting.
My beloved is mine and I am his. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: For thy love is better than wine. [The Song of Songs by King Solomon]
She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins that be her fellows shall bear her company, and shall be brought unto thee.
Before 5th February 1865. Edward Poynter 1st Baronet (age 28). "The Peacock Fan". Model Ellen Smith. See entry in George Price Boyce's diary.
The Diary of George Price Boyce 1865. 5th February 1865. Called on Poynter (age 28) to see his competition drawings for the Old Water Colour Society. One of them, that with Ellen Smith with fan in her hand [See Painting], very good. Called on Jopling.
The Diary of George Price Boyce 1865. 5th May 1865. Rossetti (age 36) sent for the study he gave me, a pencil head of Ellen Smith, said it was by inadvertence he had parted with it, as he particularly wished to dispose of it with other studies of the same picture (Bride in Song of Solomon) to the purchasers of the picture. He promised me good measure" in exchange. Dined at Mills' Coffee House. The beautiful Rafiaelesque girl has left—the waiter thinks for Australia. Alas!
The Diary of George Price Boyce 1865. 22nd May 1865. Rossetti (age 37) sent down by Pope 13 pencil studies of heads, of which 2 (one of Ellen Smith and another ¾ of a new model) are gifts.
The other 11, viz, 3 of Fanny Cornforth (age 30), 2 of Ellen Smith, 1 of Ada, 1 of Mrs. Morris of Upton, £10, 1 of the negro boy, 1 of a negro girl, 1 of Mrs. Eaton, and 1 of Marie Ford I pay £60 for.
The Diary of George Price Boyce 1865. 6th August 1865. Called on Gabriel Rossetti (age 37). He and Fanny1 only there. He was at work upon a drawing of a girl washing her hands, and of her lover; the former painted from Ellen Smith, the latter from Howell.
Note 1. Probably Fanny Waugh (age 32) who married William Holman Hunt (age 38) in December 1865.
The Diary of George Price Boyce 1865. 16th November 1865. Ellen Smith came to sit. Worked on old water colour head I made of her some time ago.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
1867. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 38). "Jolie Coeur". Model Ellen Smith.
1867. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 38). "A Chrismas Carol". Model Ellen Smith. Text bottom center: "Here a maid, well-apparelled, sings a song of Christ's birth with the tune of Bululalow: 'Jesus Christus hodie Natus est de Virgine'. i.e. 'Jesus Christ today was born of the Virgin.'".
1867. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 38). Chalk study for "A Chrismas Carol". Model Ellen Smith.
1867. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 38). "Ellen Smith" in chalk.
1867. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 38). Study for "A Chrismas Carol". Model Ellen Smith.