By this morning I had passed another eight of Charles Keeping’s illustrations on my journey through ‘Martin Chuzzlewit’ by Charles Dickens. I therefore scanned them.
In ‘The Honourable Elijah Pogram fled with such precipitation that he forgot his umbrella was up’, the artist manages to convey the lurch backwards that such a sudden stoppage would generate.
‘The old churches, roofs, and darkened chimney stacks of home’
‘This is kind indeed!’ said Tom, bending down to shake hands with her’, displays Keeping’s mastery of perspective, partly by means of stepping out of the frame.
‘On he went, looking up all the streets he came near’, shows a typical Keeping street scene.
‘He went every morning to a barber’s shop to get shaved’ features a barber’s pole of the design contemporary with Charles Dickens. The history and a modern illustration of such a red and white U.K. motif is featured in my post ‘Reprising Ice Cream Selection’. I understand that these colours are red, white, and blue in America.
‘It was a perfect treat to Tom to see her with her brows knit, and her rosy lips pursed up, kneading away at the crust’
‘Down among the steam-boats on a bright morning’ displays a rich range of human features.
‘ ‘Could you cut a man’s throat with such a thing as this?’ ‘ has us wondering what Jonas has in mind.
This afternoon, as part of my progress in weeding the Gazebo Path, the Head Gardener agreed that we should
leave the forget-me-nots where they are,
yet thin out ivy choking one owl, threatening another, and keeping the ornamental tortoise in hibernation.
I am making some sort of progress.
This evening we dined on oven battered cod and chips; garden peas; pickled onions and gherkins, with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank Calvet Prestige Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon Bordeaux 2018.
It’s all looking wonderful, and most inviting!
Thank you very much, Janet
Forget-me-nots are one of my favourites and I always leave them where they are.
Thanks a lot. Andrew. So do we.
Forget me nots are one of my favourites – available cheaply (as in free), decorative and perennial. What’s not to like?
Nothing. We have loads.
What a lovely view of your home and the path leading up to it!
Thank you very much, Anne.
You two have a beautiful home! The barber poles are so attractive, a barber nearby here has one with red and blue stripes. 🇬🇧😎
Thanks very much, John
I really like the drawings.
I’m pleased, Rabirius. Thanks a lot
Some sort of progress is much better than no progress, I think. I bet Jackie’s Cod and Chips are the best!
Thanks very much, Maj. Oven fish and chips are a good stand by
I adore the illustrations – one can almost feel the paper.
The very first thing that struck me with your barbershop photo was, ‘I wonder how tempting it was to call the shop Shears rather than Sears’ (clearly a surname). I rather like that the word ‘ears’ is there with the capital S tucked, like a lock of hair, behind it – or, rather in front of! My shop is called Van Gogh. It was already a barbershop and though I wasn’t so keen on the name, I decided to keep it. It has rather grown on me. One day I said to the previous owner that it is an amusing name. “Amusing?” he said. “How so?”
It barely seemed to need explaining, but I said, “Because Van Gogh cut his ear off and, you know, this is a barbershop. I like it.”
He looked at me as if I were mad and said, “I haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about!” ??
Your garden supper sounds divine.
Thanks very much, Nick. Shears would have been good, and what a pity the Van Gogh joke fell flat – especially as your name is so appropriate for cutting it.
🙂
What an industrious lad you are. Since Jacky is in charge of cooking, gardening, and perhaps chauffering, what are you in charge of?
Administration, finance, and dealing with associated problems 🙂 Thanks very much, Pat
Sounds like a fair trade. Hope both parties agree. 🙂
Yes. Jackie continued working for a few years after me and I did all the cooking then, but she is far better and that is fine by me 🙂
More expressive illustrations.
I really like your final photo. It makes me want to stroll up the path in your lovely garden. I also like the wheels and forget-me-nots.
Thank you very much, Merril
So interesting to hear about the history of the barbers pole!
I totally agree with The Head Gardener – ‘weeding’ and ‘Forget me nots’ do not fit in the same sentence 🙂
The path leading to your house is so inviting. My favourite gardens are, like yours, those with intrigue wherever one looks!
Thank you so much, Emma. We are all agreed on forget-me-nots 🙂
Gorgeous photos, Derrick. Your home is so welcoming. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks to you, too, Jill
You are making GREAT progress! Way to go! 🙂
Owls!!! YAY!!! 🙂 I always love seeing the owls in your garden! And hope Mr. Tortoise is enjoying his hibernation.
Yes, I agree on leaving the Forget-Me-Nots there to do their thing. They have an important job. 🙂
I’ve always thought barber poles were cheery.
That umbrella illustration…I’ve seen people do that before. Ha and Yikes. 🙂
(((HUGS))) and YAY on Jackie’s Fish’n’Chips! Any leftovers?! If so, pass ’em my way, please! 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn. Not even a pea left over.
He is a wonderful illustrator.
He certainly was. Thanks very much, Tootlepedal
I continue to enjoy Charles Keeping’s illustrations, Derrick! The gardens look beautiful, and I am sure spring, with all that growth, is providing a lot of work out there for you and Jackie.
How is the new drain pipe over the extension working?
Battered cod and chips and peas sounds wonderful!
Thanks very much, Lavinia. I’ll let you know when it next rains!!
I’m totally fascinated Keeping’s detailed drawings of the sailing ships masts and riggings…
Thank you very much, Ivor
I’m glad the forget-me-nots are staying where they are – just a little outside the boundary and adding to the natural flow of your lovely garden.
That is so right, JoAnna. Thank you very much.
That was my thought about the forget-me-nots as well, JoAnna.
I love meandering garden paths with a natural flow like Derrick and Jackie’s.
As do I. There is always a surprise around every bend.
Thank you, too, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Thanks again, JoAnna
🙂 Mine, too, but I had to check
One must always check with the Head Gardener in these matters. 🙂
🙂
Charles Dickens’ times have burst forth aided by the illustrations of Charles Keeping. I’d never before known the history and significance of a barber’s pole, nor was I aware of the ongoing struggle for the right to use it as a totem. I was of course entirely ignorant of the medico-cosmetic abilities of doctor-barbers of the yore. Needless to say, I am feeling as wide-eyed as Jackie’s owls who of course must be cleared of the over-ambitious ivies. Meanwhile, you have rendered a fine job to the Gazebo path not unlike a barber’s.
An extremely thorough and neatly constructed eloquent set om comments, Uma. Thank you very much.
A lovely home.
Thank you very much, Rupali
Charles Keeping seems to have the knack of making most of the population look a pretty shabby and slightly desperate lot. Perhaps they were!
Perhaps so, John. He is faithful to Dickens. Thanks very much
How nice to get a glimpse of your cozy home.
The barber poles here are mainly red, white and blue.
Thanks very much, Yvonne
For a moment there I thought you’d been for a haircut too.
I just love every part of your garden.
Thank you very much, Sue
I really like that wheel-lined path, and always a treat to see some of Jackie’s owls.
Thank you very much, Laurie
What a fairy tale home! Just beautiful. And Charles Keeping was talented at “settings” as well as “characters.”
Thanks very much, Luanne
I have enjoyed this set of Keeping’s fabulous illustrations, especially the one with umbrella and the faces of the crowd ‘down among the steamboats.’ There are two theories about American barber poles; the first is a patriotic one, and the second is as even more bloodthirsty than the British. Which one do you prefer, Derrick?
I suppose I lean towards the patriotic, Dolly. Thanks very much
My pleasure, Derrick.
Whoa…if you had asked me I would have said our barber polls are red and white. You made me do a quick search. Huh. I was wrong.
I love a little Dickens.
Thanks very much, dunelight
I was particularly struck by ‘The old churches, roofs, and darkened chimney stacks of home’.
Thanks very much, Liz. Keeping is great on locations
You’re welcome, Derrick.
You struck several chords with me today, Derrick! I am increasingly enchanted by Keeping’s illustrations; they are truly magnificent! And your garden is also a masterpiece; puts ours to shame, but then we have only lived in this house for a couple of years – we are working diligently on the gardens. And… I am a collector of business cards, and one of my favored ‘categories’ is ‘barber poles.’ So the title and header photo caused me to linger delightedly.
Thank you!!
I’m pleased, Ed. Thank you very much, too