The Wild Garden
The Wild Garden, Cliftonville, Northamptonshire, circa 1950, is by the artist Anthony Ashworth Jackson-Stops (1914-1985) and is in the medium of oil on canvas and was purchased by the museum in 1950.
The image is of an overgrown garden but full of new flowers and abundant growth of leaves and grasses. This painting was chosen as Picture of the Month by Paul because of the feeling of Spring and the return of life, sunlight and the renewed growth of nature.
Men's Morocco Leather Babouches
Sir Henry Dryden of Canons Ashby near Daventry was a Victorian gentleman with a remarkable curiosity about the past. He was an effective local politician, acting as sheriff of Northampton and MP for Banbury, but his passion was for local history, mediaeval art and architecture. He recorded, drew and painted everything that fascinated him, amassing an enormously valuable collection of visual images of the past. At Canons Ashby he kept his own little museum room with a collection of curiosities from all over the British Isles and further a field. These shoes, a pair of men’s morocco leather babouches from Morocco, were part of his collection. They were donated to the Museum by his daughter Alice after his death in 1899.
Canons Ashby is now maintained by the National Trust and is displayed as it was in Sir Henry’s day. Why not visit and follow the new tour ‘A Journey Through a Curious Life’ and learn more about the life of Sir Henry and his Victorian family and servants?
For more details, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/canonsashby
Or call 01327 861900
Sketch for the Crucifixion by Graham Sutherland
The Sketch for the Crucifixion by Graham Sutherland (1903-1980) is in the medium of oil on board, dated 1946.
This work by Graham Sutherland was produced as a preliminary sketch for the large-scale crucifixion that can be seen in St Matthew’s Church, Northampton. This work directly led to Sutherland’s tapestry in Coventry Cathedral.
Chosen by Michael Loe of the Friends of Northampton Museum and Art Gallery because:
“I started college in Coventry in 1962, the year the new cathedral was consecrated. The whole of the cathedral was controversial, particularly Sutherland’s high-altar back-cloth. I was bowled over: I, a scientist, had discovered art! So finding a Sutherland sketch in the picture-store made my choice easy.
Elton John Shoes
I’m Still Standing! Happy Birthday Elton John for Sunday 25th March.
We have two pairs of shoes in the collection that have been worn by Elton John.
We have a pair of boots owned by Elton John, designed by Gianni Versace and worn by the Elton John lookalike Ray Johnson.
The Life & Sole shoe gallery was opened on 25 October 2002 by Elton lookalike Ray Johnson.
Ray, “call me Elton”, a well-known lookalike was resplendent in a purple suit and sporting the trademark hair and earring. Ray purchased the boots from an Elton John sale. He was kind enough to donate the boots to the Shoe Collection at the end of the evening.
The other boots are actually stilts that were worn by Elton John in the 1975 rock opera ‘Tommy‘. In the 1975 film Elton John played the Pinball Wizard Champion.
Sir Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, Middlesex, England. Reginald began playing piano when he was four, and at the age of 11, he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. He had previously attended Pinner County Grammar School. He stayed at the Academy for six years, before leaving to start a musical career.
In his four-decade career John has sold more than 250 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of all time. His single “Candle in the Wind 1997’’ has sold over 37 million copies, becoming the best selling single of all time. He has more than 50 Top 40 hits, including seven consecutive No. 1 US albums, 56 Top 40 singles, 16 Top 10, four No. 2 hits, and nine No. 1 hits. He has won five Grammy awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Tony Award.
National Wear Red Day
February is National Heart Month and Friday 24 February is the National Wear Red Day when thousands of people in the workplace, schools and across communities wear red for the charity British Heart Foundation.
Italian Red Patent Leather Mules
These Italian made mules in red patent leather are perfect for the National Wear Red day and of course for celebrating that other day in February associated with red – Valentine’s Day on the 14th February.
Red is a very powerful colour and is associated with danger, fiery heat and passion. Red is the colour of blood, and as such has strong symbolism for life and vitality. It brings focus to the essence of life and living with an emphasis on survival.
Girl with Strawberries
The Girl with Strawberries is attributed to the artist Charles Baxter (1809-1879) and is in the medium of oil on panel and was donated to the museum in 1940.
This painting was chosen as Picture of the Month by Wendy because she likes portraits of children that refelct the social history of the time.
Cover of Women's Institutes' Recipe Book, 1933
We’re not sure why, but recently, Northampton Museums and Art Gallery has been offered a good number of recipe books as donations! As a result, we thought we’d share some of the contents with you. Here is the recipe for a Good Northamptonshire Pudding taken from The Northamptonshire Federation of Women’s Institutes’ Recipe Book, 1933. This simple recipe is a steamed pudding flavoured with raspberry jam:
A Good Northamptonshire Pudding: 2ozs. butter, 4ozs. of flour, 3 ozs of castor sugar, and 2 eggs and 1 tablespoon of raspberry jam.
Cream the butter and sugar, let it stand for 15 minutes, then add the flour eggs alternately and lastly mix in the jam. Steam for 2 hours.
Cogenhoe WI contributed this recipe to the book.
