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On 16th May 1829 Emma Matilda Hill was born to Thomas Hill in Gloucestershire.
In April 1841 [her future husband] Ford Madox Brown (age 19) and Elizabeth Bromley (age 22) were married. They were half first cousins.
1849-1854. [her future husband] Ford Madox Brown (age 27). "Lear and Cordelia". Model for Cordelia Emma Matilda Hill (age 19).
Diary of Ford Madox Brown. 10th February 1849. Up late through foolery the night before. Began the veil of Cordelia, only laid in a part of it when a girl as loves me came in & disturbed me1 (3 hours).
Note 1. Very probably Emma Hill (age 19) whom he was later to marry. Though not mentioned by name she may have made her appearance as a model at the end of 1848. There exists a study of her head for Cordelia dated "Xmas/48" (Birmingham).
Diary of Ford Madox Brown. 8th July 1849. Cleaned Brushes — waited in vain for E1 to come back from the country. Began work after diner, scetched in some of the females preparatory for next day (5 hours).
Note 1. Presumably "Emma (age 20)".
Diary of Ford Madox Brown. 10th July 1849. Miss wild, did nothing in consequence of forgetting the time & walking too long in the park. After diner Emma (age 20) came back, went to the play.
Diary of Ford Madox Brown. 11th July 1849. Emma (age 20) came by 12, painted in the veil & afterwards the face from Emma the (ladye with ye red Head Dress1) (7 hours work).
Note 1. A reference to his painting Lear and Cordela.
On 11th November 1850 [her illegitimate daughter] Catherine Emily Brown was born illegitimately to [her future husband] Ford Madox Brown (age 29) and Emma Matilda Hill (age 21).
1851. Unfinished. [her future husband] Ford Madox Brown (age 29). "Take Your Son, Sir". Model Emma Matilda Hill (age 21).
1851. [her future husband] Ford Madox Brown (age 29). "Pretty Baa Lambs". Models: the artist's future wife Emma Matilda Hill (age 21) and their daughter [her illegitimate daughter] Catherine Emily Brown.
On 5th April 1853 Ford Madox Brown (age 31) and Emma Matilda Hill (age 23) were married at St Dunstan's in the West, Fleet Street [Map]. The witnesses were Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 24) and Thomas Seddon (age 31). Rector Edward Auriol (age 48) performed the ceremony.
Edward Auriol: On 27th February 1805 he was born to James Peter Auriol. In or before 1841 he was appointed Rector of St Dunstan's in the West, Fleet Street [Map]. In or before 1841 Edward Auriol and Georgina Morris were married. On 10th July 1880 Edward Auriol died.
1st May 1853. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 24). Drawing of Emma Matilda Hill (age 23).
1854 to 1855. [her husband] Ford Madox Brown (age 32). "Waiting: an English Fireside". Models: the artists wife Emma Matilda Hill (age 24) and daughter [her illegitimate daughter] Catherine Emily Brown (age 3).
1855. [her husband] Ford Madox Brown (age 33). "The Last of England". Modelled by himself and his wife Emma Matilda Hill (age 25). Inspired by the departure to Australia of his friend Thomas Woolner (age 29).
In 1855 [her son] Oliver Madox Brown was born to [her husband] Ford Madox Brown (age 33) and Emma Matilda Hill (age 25).
Diary of Ford Madox Brown. 27th January 1856. For want of a book I have omitted entries since the 6th inst. During this blank I worked two whole weeks (sundays included) at the reduction of King Lear, besides one even, also one eve at the present drawing of do. — also one good day at the "Hay Field" (100 hours). On Monday last White called but did not like the latter, said the hay was pink & he had never seen such. He seemed doubtful about the "Lear", said he would call again in a few days if I would make Kent's head & one of the officers & cordelia’s hands less red. He did not seem to have his wonted élan but ended by taking the pencil K Lear for £6.6/ minus 25 per cent discount which I now always allow him on the price. I succeeded in taking him to see Tom Seddons (age 34) pictures which he seemed to like very much but did not buy. After this he had not time to go to Woolners as he promised me, moreover he did not pay for the Chaucer picture, £45 of which still owing. He was to have paid on receiving it from Paris. Tuesday I did what he wished to the King Lear & after called on the Rossettis having a mind to try if Maria would undertake Lucy's Education inlieu of sending her to school. The room was too full to talk however & Bill with a man named Clayton4 jawed to nasiously about Ruskin & Art that I felt quite disgusted & said nothing.
Note 4. Owing to Emma Brown's (age 26) intemperance Brown wished Lucy to live away from home (Private Information). John Clayton (1827-1913) helped to found Clayton and Bell, glass painters, and was himself a painter on glass.
All About History Books
The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
1857. [her husband] Ford Madox Brown (age 35). "Stages of Cruelty". Models: the artists wife Emma Matilda Hill (age 27) and daughter [her illegitimate daughter] Catherine Emily Brown (age 6).
2nd April 1871. Census. 37 Fitzroy Square.
[her husband] Ford Madox Brown (age 49). Head. 49.
Emma Matilda Hill (age 41). Wife. 36.
[her step-daughter] Emma Lucy Madox Brown (age 27). Daughter. 26.
[her illegitimate daughter] Catherine Emily Brown (age 20). Daughter. 20.
[her son] Oliver Madox Brown (age 16). Son. 16.
Charloote Kirkby. Servant. 29.
Mary Ann Edwards. Servant. 19.
Oliver Madox Brown: In 1855 he was born to Ford Madox Brown and Emma Matilda Hill. In 1874 he died.
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1872. [her husband] Ford Madox Brown (age 50). "The Convalescent". Model Emma Matilda Hill (age 42). When he made this pastel, the artist wrote, "Now that she is lying in bed thinned with the fever she looks very pictorial and young as ever again."
On 3rd September 1872 [her son-in-law] Francis Heuffer (age 27) and [her illegitimate daughter] Catherine Emily Brown (age 21) were married. She the illegitmate daughter of [her husband] Ford Madox Brown (age 51) and Emma Matilda Hill (age 43).
In 1874 [her son] Oliver Madox Brown (age 19) died.
On 31st March 1874 William Michael Rossetti (age 44) and [her step-daughter] Emma Lucy Madox Brown (age 30) were married. She the daughter of [her husband] Ford Madox Brown (age 52) and Elizabeth Bromley.
On 11th October 1890 Emma Matilda Hill (age 61) died.
On 6th October 1893 [her former husband] Ford Madox Brown (age 72) died. He was buried at St Pancras and Islington Cemetery.