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The Paper Garden

Mrs. Delany Begins Her Life's Work at 72
Jan 22, 2012kmoyer rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A very interesting read – one of a new ‘hybrid’ style which combines traditional biography with personal reflections and philosophical themes. There are so many aspects covered: the lifestyle & roles of an English gentlewoman in the 1700s, the society itself that she moved in (how the nation was so enthralled with the natural world – obsessed with both the discovery of new plants, animals, rocks & fossils and the desire to study and classify them all being just one example) and how the result of these pursuits can be seen in modern establishments and structures like the British museum and Kew Gardens. A study of the pictures created by Mrs. Delany is intriguing in itself – how they are assembled, with such detail and skill using a newly created technique she developed from to her need to ‘do something’ /express herself when she was immobilized due to a swollen foot yet also unable to take up her previous pursuits of needlepoint and painting as her age limited her ability to use paintbrush or needle. The artistry involved in making authentic representations of these plants, the sheer volume produced and the fact they, along with so much of her correspondences, are still intact several hundred years later is extraordinary. Also, the fact she undertook such an impressive endeavor and gained such pleasure and recognition from it in her early 70’s, after experiencing many of life’s hardships, is also very inspiring. The author chose an interesting way to organize her material – selecting one picture as a starting point to describe and reflect upon each phase in Mrs. Delany’s life, and through this, sharing connections and reflections on her own life experiences. I felt some of this commentary to be a little out of context, but overall, much food for thought. The author also effectively shows how, whilst tracking down information, and investigating new avenues of interest, one is able to connect with many different people and gain new friendships that make life more interesting and meaningful. It is profound to consider how connections with the past can be maintained down through generations and how the life of one person can remain an influence on so many other people’s lives today. In the case of Mrs. Delany, her descendants retained her letters, made ‘pilgrimages’ to view her pictures at the Museum and found inspiration, meaning and work through editing her letters and discussing her work. Many others have also been inspired: from the individuals who continue to safeguard, maintain and show her work at the Museum, through to the author of this book and a researcher into how the paper used by Mrs. Delany was made and where it was sourced from