Mindfulness – Get a life, Fred!

Clive La PenséeJuly 28, 2021August 6, 2021Amazing Women, mindfulnessfred elwell, google, husband and wife, mary elwell, mindful, portraiture, RA, self protrait, SEO

The portrait below is of Mary Elwell and was executed by her husband, Fred. It reveals a wistful wife, thinking thoughts Fred must have wished he hadn’t captured. This time it’s not me being mindful, but Mary!

Is she thinking, ‘I wouldn’t mind so much, but I am better than him, so why aren’t I doing a self-portrait, and as a rich widow I brought the money into the marriage, which allows him to daub and me to organise the household.
‘Mustn’t complain. Good wives smile, for a quiet life.’
*Portrait of Mary by her husband, Fred Elwell RA. Beverley Art Gallery*.

*Mary and Fred, in Beverley Art Gallery*
Fred’s bust says, ‘Am I not a splendid fellow.’
Mary’s body-language, replies, ‘Really Fred. Get a life!’

Published by Clive La Pensée

Clive La Pensée, ex-science teacher, recognised writer on history of beer, novelist, expressionist, dreamer, believer in never giving up, empathiser, hopeful for a future without class, gender or racial prejudice. It's tough and at the moment, one has to remember distance travelled, rather than where we are at. View more posts