Barry of New Forest Chimney Sweeping & Repairs finished most of his work on our kitchen extension roof today. While he was doing so, I made him a set of A4 prints from my pictures of him from the last two days.
He sent me his own images of the new lead flashings and my mug. One of our problems has been the down pipe running rainwater directly onto the tiles. Barry will extend that on Monday.
Later, I read four more chapters of ‘Little Dorrit’, and scanned four more of Charles Keeping’s expressive illustrations.
Keeping has captured the rapt expression of this child-woman being read a story in ‘ ‘Lor!’, said Maggy, giving her knees a hug.’ Despite Maggy’s previous portrait having been full face, the artist has retained an instantly recognised likeness.
‘The private residence of Mr Pancks was in Pentonville’ where the artist could well have modelled these buildings on those still extant today.
‘Mr Henry Gowan seemed to have a malicious pleasure in playing off the three talkers against each other.’ The boy peeping over the group has been cleverly included in this picture – such is the artist’s attention to detail.
‘Parasite little tenements, with the cramp in their whole frame.’
This evening we dined on Jackie’s classic cottage pie; crunchy carrots and cauliflower; tender cabbage and runner beans, with tasty gravy. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden while I drank Chevalier de Fauvert Comté Tolosan Rouge 2019, a remarkably smooth low-priced Lidl find.
He has made a good job of that. You have the same sort of tiles as me so have to be careful water doesn’t get underneath and between.
Yes. Thanks a lot, Andrew
The artist’s attention to detail is, indeed, wonderful.
The buildings’ balconies, magnificent door and window frames, and smog in the air…
as well as the detail on the individuals attire, and fantastic expressions that give them so much character…
I’d love to be an artist!
I might have gone in for book illustration myself once, but I would not have been in Keeping’s league. Thanks very much, Emma
Very few would be in that league, but even to be half as talented would be wonderful!
Jackson Pollock would be the only artist I could ever attempt to aspire to, in a very humble way🙂
🙂
So enjoying those magnificent illustrations
Thanks very much, Sheree
Lor, great title, Derrick! 😮 😀
BRAVO to Barry for his good work!
Ha! you have Del Boy’s mug! Cool! Thanks to Britbox I know him! 😀
More great Keeping artwork! His detail, his people and their expressions, his buildings, etc…all fabulous! 🙂 Thank you for introducing me to Mr. Keeping!
One of my fav artists is Al Hirschfeld…I love his B&W drawings and caricatures.
(((HUGS))) to you and Jackie!
PS…Hope you are feeling well post shot!
I have no after effects from the shot, Carolyn. Al Hirschfeld is superb, too. Thanks very much X
What a beautiful book. I think I should read this, and I would like to find one with those illustrations!
https://www.hcbooksonline.com/product/little-dorrit-charles-dickens-folio-society-1986/
There are more. Make sure it is the Charles Keeping one – they have done others.
Thanks very much, Luanne
I like the writer a lot and he is excellently served by the illustrator. You seem to have been well served by your roofer.
Agreed on both counts. Thanks very much, Tootlepedal
The illustrations are arresting, but the prose has such a sparkle.
It does, indeed, Laurie. Thanks very much
The boy’s rounded eyes accentuate a contrast between the “diagreeable” and even malicious adults at the table and the innocent outside world. those are the people who see poverty-ridden tenements as “parasite.” These illustrations tempt me to read Dickens, Derrick.
I’m pleased, Dolly. I hope the snippets of text also help. Thanks very much.
They certainly do, as well as giving me a distinct feeling that the Russian translation in my mother’s collection was not the best.
My pleasure, Derrick.
🙂
These illustrations are such so wonderful
Thanks very much, Gary
Such beautifully expressive portraits in these illustrations. I’m glad the roof work is coming along–I had to look up Del Boy. 😀
Thanks very much, Merril. An English TV classic. comedy series
I’m glad Barry is almost done.
And I’m so pleased you’ve not suffered any after effects of the vaccination.
Thanks very much, Sue
The detail in these illustrations is wonderful! I enjoy looking at it in the buildings more than the scary faces.
Some of the faces are pretty scary, JoAnna. Thanks very much.
I was wondering about that pipe when I saw the photos in the earlier post. Glad Barry will be extending it off the tiles.
Jackie’s cooking sounds delicious!
Thank you very much, Lavinia. We thought that pipe must have contributed to the leaks, too.
I don’t think I would like to attend any of the dinner parties Keeping has portrayed.
I thought the same thing, Liz! 🙂
😀 And a discomfited time was had by all!
Indeed
🙂
Nor me, Liz. Thanks very much
You’re welcome, Derrick.
I’m happy Barry discovered your problem, Derrick. I might have to look for Chevalier de Fauvert Comté Tolosan Rouge 2019, a our Lidl.
Do – it scored highly in ours but was not expensive. Thanks very much, Jill
I liked the word ‘parasite’ being, perhaps, used as a malapropism of ‘paradise’. What an irony!
Good spot, John. Thanks a lot
The attention to detail extends to the dog sniffing at something in the street in the final picture. It has been fun seeing these lovely illustrations.
I’m pleased you spotted the dog, Anne. I have sometimes thought of drawing attention to the dogs and cats in the street scenes. Thanks very much.
You must have made Barry feel special.
More I get to see Charles Keeping’s illustrations, more I get determined to hunt for volumes containing the same. Thanks for introducing him to me.
There are lots on Google pages, Uma. Thanks very much
Ik wil toch ook eens een cottage pie proberen te maken … Enneu … , ik maak er een foto van, zodat Jackie het goed kan keuren … Wordt een beetje zo`n onbeholpen Hollandsche pie …
Als de Slegte (Ik denk het haast van niet!!!) iets heeft van Dickens bestel ik het ook. Ben de ‘Sprookjes’ van Godfried Bomans aan het lezen: Hij had wel veel gepubliceerd, hoor … Dickens? Zoiets kennen wij niet in Holland …
Ik kan wel wat laten zien: ‘JOHANNES’ “Er leefde eens een kikker, johannes geheten.” Eerste zin van een sprookje … Ja, leuk, hè … Nieuwsgierig? Dan blog ik het sprookje voor u in het Nederlands.
* http://www.friedabblog.wordpress.com * Amsterdam * 29-1-2021 *
Heel erg bedankt, Frieda. Ik heb niet gelezen Godfried Bomans
Het is een oude auteur uit mijn tijd en hij was geweldig populair in Holland. Ik zou zeggen: Googelen, want ik weet zeker te weten, dat hij in alle talen is vertaald, zeker te weten in het Engels … Geboren in 1905, gestorven in 1971 … Hartaanval! Hij maakte zich te druk … Te veel aandacht overal, kwam steeds met zijn kop op tv … Ik kijk het nog eventje na, want volgens mij stierf hij in 1961 … Ik verbaasde me er oprecht over, dat hij nog zo jong was …
Nee, Kutwijf is niet dood te knuppelen … Ik weet er alles van! Heel, veel liefs vanuit Holland!!!!
* http://www.friedabblog.wordpress.com * Amsterdam, 31-1-2021
Great post, I thought it was a magic eye picture at first where there are two women hidden in the design.
Thanks very much, Charlotte
I like the mug 🙂 Great illustrations and super delicious dinner!
Thank you very much, Ribana