Mrs. Delaney: Her Life and Her Flowers [Paperback]

Ruth Hayden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 22, 2000

Mary Delany's "paper mosaics" of flowers, made from hundreds of pieces of cut coloured paper, were the crowning achievement of a long and creative life. Mrs Delaney was 72 before she embarked on the 1000 flower collages, but she had already made a name for herself with her exquisite works of embroidery, decorative shellwork and landscape sketches. Through a study of Mrs Delany's correspondence, Ruth Hayden recaptures the atmosphere of privileged society in 18th-century England. Mrs Delany's perspective and lively letters to her sister Anne and her niece Mary reveal her often strong views on the events of the period and on the social life of her circle. Luminaries of social, political and artistic life enliven her correspondence. She was a friend of Handel and the correspondent of Swift. Her deep friendship with the Duchess of Portland brought her into contact with some of the greatest botanical artists and botanists of the time, including Sir Joseph Banks, who collected species from around the world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: British Museum Press (May 22, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714126276
• ISBN-13: 978-0714126272
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #432,767 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get To Know Mary Delany & Her World, May 22, 2010

By 

artfulusedbooks - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Mrs. Delaney: Her Life and Her Flowers (Paperback)

I may be the only reader who came to this book AFTER reading the majestic "Mrs. Delany & Her Circle" of 2009. THIS book was first published in 1980, and it has been reprinted several times.

Here Ruth Hayden tells the story of Mary Delany's life in 18th-century England & Ireland. She brings her subject to life with frequent excerpts from Delany's letters and many illustrations of Delany's beautiful flower collages and other works of art.

This is a book to curl up with--an engaging story, engagingly told.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing woman, wonderful book, June 17, 2011

By 

Z. Miles (Pedlar Mills, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Mrs. Delaney: Her Life and Her Flowers (Paperback)

I read this book after reading a newer book about Mary Delaney that was rather unsatisfactory. This book is the one to read to learn about Mary Delaney's life, her world and her art. Her descendent, Ruth Hayden, has thoroughly researched Mary Delaney's life and the society in which she lived. Mrs. Hayden writes with skill, keeping Mary Delaney's story at the forefront and using the historical information to give the reader insight. The book is full of illustrations: contemporary drawings of court life and society, fabric and coverlets designed by Mary Delaney, and full color plates of her paper art. Mary Delaney's story will particularly interest women, as she was married at 17 to a detestable man in his 60's, and after his death, chose independence for twenty years before marrying the love of her life. She didn't create her paper art until she was in her 70's, which is all the more amazing when one realize that in the 1700's, people in their 70's weren't as fit as they are today, and bifocals didn't exist. The book I ordered came from England, but it was well-worth the wait.