Atonement: Coming of Age as a Writer

Briony as a Young Writer: British Library 

July 28- Day 1

The Magna Carta inspired many key documents throughout history, including: the U.S. Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence. 

Coming of Age during War: Imperial War Museum

July 28- Day 2

This fishing boat, Tamzine, is the smallest surviving 'Little Ship' that helping rescue soldiers, like Robbie in Atonement, from Dunkirk in 1940. 

This Elsie Hewland painting depicts schoolchildren getting ready for nursery school; nursery schools were essential during the war for working mothers. Just as in the novel, wartime changed the lives of even the youngest Britons. 

Briony's Atonement: Florence Nightingale Museum

July 30- Day 3

Just as Briony in Atonement, as a child, Florence Nightingale was an avid young collector. Similar to Florence's collection depicted here, Briony kept her more obscure treasures in "An old tin petty cash box..." 

Florence Nightingale was famous for her work at Scutari, a Military Hospital in Turkey, during the Crimean War.  The 'Lady-in-Chief' improved medical and sanitary arrangements, set up food kitchens, washed linen and clothes, wrote home on behalf of the soldiers, and introduced reading rooms.

A Room with a View: Coming of Age as a Traveller

Lucy as Grand Tourist: John Soane Museum
July 21- Day 1

Images of bribery are abound in this satirical scene depicted in the second painting of Hogarth's Election Series, Canvassing for Votes. Those who went on a grand tour learned about democracy (fairness and morals as a culture), and bribery certainly is not acceptable! 

Lucy as Traveller: National Gallery
July 22- Day 2

In Apollo and Daphne (1470-80) by Antonino del Pollaiuolo, the image exhibits the battle between chastity and lust, as Apollo pursues Daphne and she transforms into a tree to preserve her purity. 

In The Combat of Love and Chastity by Gherado di Giovanni del Fora, love cannot penetrate the shield of chastity. The idea of the shield parallels Charlotte and her Victorian ideals in A Room with a View as she tries to protect Lucy from George. 

Lucy on Views: Tate Britain
July 23- Day 3

Rome, from the Vatican. Raffaelle, Accompanied by La Fornarina, Preparing his Pictures for the Decoration of the Loggia (1820) by Turner uses the people in the center of the painting as the focus point, showing that the people and the culture are what one should focus on when traveling. 

Palestrina - Composition by Turner (1828) continues to present the idea that as a traveller one should focus more on the journey and the experiences gained rather than the "tourist attractions", as the viewer's eye is drawn toward to the people and the road.

Brideshead Revisited: Coming of Age as a Skeptic/Believer

Charles as a Skeptic: Oxford University
July 14 - Day 1

The Great Quadrangle was indeed great. The grandiose Gothic architecture exuded wealth and privilege and really helped me visualize how the good 'ol Oxford boys, Charles and Sebastian, lived.

The Mercury Fountain in the Quad served as a great reminder of the Catholic symbolism of fountains in our novel this week. In the novel the aesthetic beauty of Brideshead draws Charles in and leads him to the Catholic faith. In a similar manner, the beauty of Christ Church's campus tends to draw one in. As we left, I heard many people in our group chatting about wanting to attend Oxford! 

Charles as a Skeptic/Believer: Eltham Palace
July 15 - Day 2

In our novel, Brideshead is an estate similar to the palace, as both of the homes "grew silently with the centuries, catching the best of each generation" (Waugh, Ch. 1). Basically, as time passed, and with each resident, these places grew and changed and became sort of a patchwork of the past. In this photo the medieval architecture beautifully clashes with the Baroque. 

Charles as a Believer: Hampton Court Palace 

July 16 - Day 3

Similar to Eltham palace, Hampton Court was also a hodge-podge of eras and styles. Here the quirky Tudor style peaks out behind the streamline Baroque style. 

I found these photos to be particularly interesting. Depending on how one looks at the palace, the different architecture causes it to look like two completely different palaces: the Tudor Palace or the Baroque Palace -- a constant battle between Catholicism and Protestantism. 

Jane Eyre: Coming of Age as a Worker

Jane as an Orphan: Foundling Museum 

July 7 - Day 1

A painting I like to call "Who Dat?" It is more commonly known as  "Foundling Restored to its Mother" (1848) by Emma Brownlow. 

Jane as a Governess: Geffrye Museum 
July 8 - Day 2

This photo depicts a leisured lady, also known as one who is compelled to sit many hours with her hands before her whilst gazing coyly at pretty pink flowers.

Start 'em young. In this painting a very young girl recieves a piano lesson. In 19th C England, decorative arts were highly valued.  

Although difficult to see, these birds incased in glass sat atop a table in a typical mid-1800s drawing room. Just as in Jane Eyre, a refined and confined Victorian woman lived like a caged bird. 

Jane as Beloved: Tate Britain 

July 9 - Day 3

"Past and Present" by Augustus Leopold Egg (1858): this series shows the discovery of a woman's infidelity and its consequences. Naughty, naughty.