Biography of Louisa Ruth Herbert 1831-1921

In 1831 Louisa Ruth Herbert was born.

Between 1855 and 1859. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 26). Louisa Ruth Herbert (age 24).

Diary of Ford Madox Brown. 19th February 1856. All day after the tickets for the Princess’ Theatre. In the evening went there to the Dress Circle with Emma & the 2 children & William Rossetti. Gabriel who had chiefly made up the party having decided that he could not go because he must go again that night to the strand Theatre to see a certain stunner.¹⁰ Katty after the play told William who was allud- ing to the Angels in Henry VIII “that she once saw some real angels up in the sky”.

Note 10. The Princess's Theatre was giving Shakespeare's Henry VIII with Mr and Mrs Charles Kean in the roles of Cardinal Wolsey and Queen Katherine. Meanwhile Rossetti had gone to admire his "Stunner No 1" Louisa Ruth Herbert (age 25), who was playing that evening in a "Favourite Commedietta", Time Tries all, and a farce, Never Despair.

1858. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 29). Louisa Ruth Herbert (age 27).

1858. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 29). "Mary Magdalene at the door of Simon the Pharisee". Model Louisa Ruth Herbert (age 27).

1858. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 29). "The Chapel before the Lists". Model Miss Herbert (age 27).

Letters of Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1858. On 1st June 1858 Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 30) wrote to William Bell Scott (age 47):

I am in the stunning position this morning of expecting the actual visit, at ½ past 11, of a model whom I have been longing to paint for years - Miss Herbert (age 27) of the Olympic Theatre - who has the most varied and highest expression I ever saw in a woman's face, besides abundant beauty, golden hair, etc. Did you ever see her? O my eye! she has sat to me now and will sit to me for Mary Magdalene in the picture I am beginning. Such luck!'.

The Diary of George Price Boyce 1858. 2nd June 1858. Rossetti called in the evening and stayed till about 12.30 chatting. He told me further particulars about Dickens, who it appears has left his wife and taken to Miss Fernan, the actress, with whom he is infatuated (platonically as he pretends). His daughters side or keep to him and his sons to their mother.¹⁸

Note 18. R. had induced, thro' intervention of Tom Taylor, Miss Herbert (age 27) (rightly Mrs. Crabbe, though she doesn't live with her husband) to sit to him for a picture he has commenced. He says she is perfectly beautiful, more so even than she looks on the stage. He made one or two rough pen and ink scratches whilst talking, one of a "Stunner" Oxford, which he tore in fragments, but which I recovered from the fire grate.¹⁹

Note 19. The Oxford "stunner" was presumably Jane Burden (age 18) whose arresting looks had attracted Rossetti when painting the Union murals, and who next year was to marry William Morris. Rossetti had admired his present model, "the beautiful Miss Herbert" (?1832-1921), for two years but till now had seen her only on the stage of the Strand and the Adelphi Theatres. After two years marriage she abandoned her husband Edward Crabb, a well-to-do stockbroker, and was set up by a wealthy lover in Cliveden Place (then Westbourne Place), Eaton Square. Her stage career was marked by equal success for now she was playing leads at the Olympic and before long would become manageress of the St. James's Theatre, engaging a little-known actor to join her company, one Henry Irving. Tom Taylor (1817-80), dramatist and editor of Punch, had befriended her and had now effected the introduction between artist and actress. Dazzled by her beauty, Rossetti recorded the likeness of this 'goddess' in a number of portrait studies. The work he was just now starting upon was Mary Magdalene at the door of Simon the Pharisee in which she sat for the Magdalene (Fitzwilliam; S.109).

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20th September 1858. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 30). Drawing of Louisa Ruth Herbert (age 27).

The Diary of George Price Boyce 1858. 15th December 1858. To Rossetti. The new things I noticed were an intensely impressive water colour of the Virgin in the house of John, the latter seated at the window and striking a light and looking out upon Jerusalem at twilight. The Virgin is spinning. A Knight girded for combat embracing his Lady Love. Several studies of Miss Herbert (age 27) (Mrs. Crabbe). A most beautiful pen and ink study of Topsy's (Morris's) "Stunner" at Oxford. He showed me some fine medieval drapery and some gorgeous Eastern pieces lent him from the India House. We went off at dusk and dined at the Cock, and afterwards adjourned to 24 Dean St., Soho, to see "Fanny." Interesting face and jolly hair and engaging disposition.²⁹

Note 28. The water-colour of Mary in the house of St. Jobn (Wilmington; S.110) had been nearly completed in November and in a fortnight's time would be hanging at the Hogarth Club. It is clear therefore that Boyce was writing from a faulty memory and that the action of the central figure (taken from Ruth Herbert) was even then as it is today. The spinning-wheel is on the extreme right but Mary has risen from her work and stands before the window filling a lamp with oil. Chapel before the Lists (Tate; S.99) is the second water-colour. The drawing of Jane Burden (age 19) is probably the study for Guenevere inscribed 'Oxford 1858' (National Gallery, Dublin; S.364).

Note 29.

1859. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 30). "Mary in the House of St John". Model Miss Herbert (age 28).

1876. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 47). Drawing of Louisa Ruth Herbert (age 45).

1877. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 48). Drawing of Louisa Ruth Herbert (age 46).

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.

In 1887 [her son-in-law] Brigadier-General Herbert Conyers Surtees (age 28) and [her daughter] Madeline Augusta Crabbe were married.

In 1921 Louisa Ruth Herbert (age 90) died.

[her daughter] Madeline Augusta Crabbe was born to Edward Crabbe and Louisa Ruth Herbert.