London exhibitions of two women artistes of the past

Jane Austen and Julia Margaret Cameron are distinguished women in their fields of artistic expression, and I admire them greatly.

- By NAN

The first from the time as a teenager when I read several novels from her collected work while confined to segregation and bed with an attack of measles. The admiration and appreciation of Austen's writing increased as the years went by. The second, when a niece and nephew invited me for a holiday in Boganwantalawa and en route we visited the colonial era unique St Mary's Churchyard where Julia Margaret is buried alongside her husband, Charles Hay Cameron. Interest was further increased when discussions were had with a friend who lived in Windsor and visited the Cameron's home in the Isle of White which is now a museum. He knew much about her and kindled my interest further.

This article was initiated by two articles from the NYTimes about them. I am not writing about the exhibitions held at the Morgan Library & Museum organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London of many of portraitist Cameron's photographs, in acknowledgement that she was a pioneering great photographer. The same museum held the exhibition titled "A lively mind: Jane Austen at 250." which celebrates the landmark birth anniversary of the author. The NYT articles were by Arthur Lubow (June 19) and Diana Cole (June 23) respectively.

Jane Austen (1775-1817)