Yesterday evening I read more of ‘Great Expectations’ and can now post five more of Charles Keeping’s superb illustrations.
In ‘Wemmick’s arm was straying from the path of virtue’ the artist uses a double page spread to indicate space between the elements of the scene.
‘He hugged himself with both his arms, looking back at me for recognition’
‘We sat down to consider the question, What was to be done?’. Here space is indicated by a significant empty chair.
‘I looked stonily at the opposite wall, and forced myself to silence’ might be seen as an example of passive aggression.
‘All that water-side region was unknown ground to me’, nevertheless, it is not beyond Mr Keeping’s imagination.
On what was probably the gloomiest day yet of our current stretch, we took a forest drive after shopping at Tesco.
Given that the camera usually picks up more light than does the human eye I have chosen not to brighten any of today’s images from mid-afternoon. Jackie parked the car along Forest Road while
I wandered about a stretch of woodland the images of which reflected the mood of the day.
The last of these carries the reflection of the Modus which Jackie had brought down the sloping road to pick me up.
This was Burley Road at 3.30 p.m.
Back along Forest Road ponies remained unperturbed by the cars or their headlights.
One we had seen earlier planted firmly across the road had turned her attention to the other side of a plastic fence.
More lichen brightened a stone on the opposite side of the road.
Further along ponies partook of provisions of hay.
This evening we dined on roast lamb; mint sauce; Crisp Yorkshire pudding; perfectly boiled potatoes, carrots , and cauliflower; and tasty gravy, with which I drank more of the Shiraz, and Jackie drank more of the Chenin Blanc.
I enlarged the next to last picture to really look at those ponies – Fantastic and beautiful animals!!
Thank you very much, GP
Eerie is what I would call a day like this. I’m happy to be in a warmer climate.
Thanks a lot, Chrissy
In the last picture, does the pony on the left have a black head and mane with a white body, or are my eyes playing tricks on me?
I do think you are right, Liz. It is the same pony on the left of the penultimate picture, looking at us. Thanks very much
You’re welcome, Derrick. I’d never seen equine coloring like that before.
Nor me
The forest photos are actually quite beautiful, Derrick. Nature as it was meant to be. I hope that you guys get some sunshine and warmer weather soon! And, dinner sounds delicious as always, Jackie! ☺️??
Thank you so much from us both, John
It really was a gloomy old day
Thanks a lot, Sheree
Ah, Dickens! Why am I reading contemporary fiction at all? Also like Dumas, among several others. The drawing are superb.
Lovely to see your wet and mossy topography–glad you went out and about. The ponies are so sturdy and perhaps hearty at heart. 🙂
Thank you so much, Cynthia. I like Dumas, too.
Gloomy is right. Even so, the horses are stars.
Thanks very much, Laurie
I think your ‘expectations’ are too great for light levels at this time of year, Derrick –
Your photos are SO atmospheric and beautiful… and I always love your reflection images.
But I think that today’s reflections are far from ones of a gloomy day!!
Thank you so much, Emma
The mosses and lichens really stand out in light like you had. Beautiful.
Thank you very much, Lisa
Definitely an early night. You look to have been even gloomier then us and I thought we were as gloomy as could be. I liked the cheery lichen.
Thanks a lot, Mr T
The ponies make up for the gloomy weather. Fantastic shots today!
Thank you very much, Jill.
I find the moody day photos have their own beauty. Good job, Derrick.
Many thanks, Byung
Beautiful moss pictures. Also love the stream one.
Thanks very much, Mrs W.
Your welcome.
I like how nature decorated stones – the still ones gathering moss and the one with golden lichen. Thanks to whoever gave hay to the ponies.
Thanks very much, JoAnna
Loved “Great Expectations.” To this day I can’t get the image of Miss Havisham’s wedding table out of my mind’s eye.
Thanks very much, Judy. In Miss H and Magwitch this book has two lasting images.
It’s been so long since I read the book that I had to look up who Magwitch was. Yes. I remembered him as a character but not his name.
On a demi-dark day, you have chosen subjects that are in synch with the prevailing mood. The lighted up cars look alive. Ponies seem unperturbed as ever. Charles Keeping is brilliant as ever.
Thank you very much, Uma.
The sketch of the two men with their backs to the fire remind me of a Highland Gathering when a particularly pompous chap was inspecting my son’s pipe band in the category of Dress and Discipline. He walked around them a few times and then barked “Your men are undressed!” This was a reference to the fact that the bottom button of their waistcoats were undone. The Pipe Major looked him in the eye and barked back “They are not married sir!” It is a tradition in their band that only married men (and women) do up their bottom button.
Wonderful riposte, Anne. Thanks very much
I love this story. Thank you for sharing.
You always find and share beauty…even on the gloomy days. 🙂
I hope the pretty ponies will always be safe on the roads. They are a bright spot…as are the lights from the cars.
I wonder what the white pony saw and was so interested in. Something worth a closer look. 🙂
I wonder how long it took Mr. Keeping to recreate that newspaper! That intrigued me!
How wonderful to hear the news read aloud. 🙂
(((HUGS)))
? ? ?
Thank you so much, Carolyn. I imagine Mr Keeping worked very quickly – all seems to have come very easily, but that is probably wishful thinking. X
It is so dark here as well, although this morning it is perhaps a little brighter with the moon visible low in the sky. The illustration of Mill Pond Bank is superb. So much detail with so few strokes of the pen.
Thank you very much, John
A gloomy day indeed – much like a few of ours recently. I hope that we will all be experiencing a lift from the spring that is just around the corner. 🙂
It may be gloomy, but those forest pictures seem always to have something magical!
More evocative drawings–the waterfront caught my eye.
It does look like a very gloomy day, but brightened by moss and lichen, and those ponies, of course.
Not so bad here in the east Derrick and some sunshine today!
Your Dickens illustrations are growing on me. Particularly liked today’s selections. The pictures are wonderful. It’s amazing how some low light and moisture can really pop lichen to the forefront. Great pictures. I’m impressed that Jackie would move the Modus to pick you up rather than expecting you to walk back. Do you have a signal that says, ‘I’m tired and would appreciate a lift?’
The epitome of dreary. I was called to the bone just looking at your collection. At least you had a warm, hearty meal at the end of the day.
It’s always easier to get to that greener grass on the ‘other side’ when the barrier’s plastic rather than barbed wire!
🙂 Indeed. Thanks very much, Linda
Wonderful illustrations.. And yes the weather until today has been very gloomy… Today however the Sun came out to play…
Loved all the horses Derrick.. and Yummmmm… We had roasted lamb at the weekend and made lamb stew with the left overs…
Have a great rest of the week Derrick.. 🙂
Thank you very much, Sue. We had sun the next day, too.
We did too Derrick.. 🙂
Shorter, longer, and gloomier days must be a challenge, Derrick. I’m glad you are making the most of them.
Many thanks, Alys
Gloomiest is a perfect description for your day and the proof is in your photos. Love the photos of the ponies and the dreariness of the forest. A perfect hot meal to end a gloomy day.
Thanks very much, Eugi
That was a gloomy day, but the forest is always a pleasure to see, especially the ponies, in any weather. Spring is coming, February 2nd, a cross-quarter day, is almost here!
Your Michael’s tree is happily growing and the daffodils are up several inches. I will send a photo when they bloom.
Thank you so much, Lavinia
Lichens, endless beauty!
Thanks very much, Sylvie
Fog and gloom always changes the day. Here not so much gloom in the winter unless the sun never appears. Fog opens the day, but often has gone by lunchtime. These are sea fogs due the narrowed point of my city coastline.
Thank you very much, Catherine.
It’s been a foggy gloomy week here too, although lunchtime was cheerier, we actually saw the sun for a while.
I was delighted to see the ponies having their supplement of hay.
Thank you very much, Sue
Good heavens that IS gloomy. The lichen is the brightest thing around.
Yes, Crystal. The middle of a gloomy stretch. Thanks a lot
I’m liking the lichen. Dead and decaying forest wood can make nice photo subjects. Derrick, your road looks very narrow. There must be drivers practicing lots of courtesy, moving side to side to let on comers pass. I love lamb. Yummy!
Thanks very much, Steve. A whole new experience of driving
I think it’s kind of nice, maybe reminds people of what good manners are…then, again…
Mostly it does – although Jackie has twice had her wing mirror smashed by people who didn’t stop.
Well, that’s not nice. Good thing that we don’t have ‘wing’ mirrors. But we do have ‘side view’ mirrors?…
🙂