My Grandmother Allen

[poliphilo]

This is my grandmother Allen- a studio portrait. She hated having her picture taken- don't we all?- and particularly despised this one. Sorry, Granny, but your great grandson would like to see you.



She was born Mary Vectis Jackson. Vectis is the Roman name for the Isle of Wight- where she grew up. There's a family story- religiously passed down- about some Jackson relative who once shared the deck of the Isle of Wight ferry with no less a person than Alfred Lord Tennyson but was too timid to approach him.  

She trained as a woodcarver- I have examples of her work- married late and was widowed early. She was a lovely person- artistic, strong-willed and- from a small boy's perspective- lots of fun.

Comments

[idahoswede.livejournal.com]

Reminds me a little of Ingrid Bergman.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I see what you mean.

It's the pose, isn't it?- Inn of the Seventh Happiness.

[idahoswede.livejournal.com]

Jawline and mouth especially.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

That was going to be my comment.
:)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The photographer has lit her like a filmstar.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

Can you take pictures of the woodcarvings you have that she made, please? How unusual for a woman to do that back then.
Strong-willed indeed. I like that!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'll take some pictures. Not now. It's gone dark and I'd prefer to use daylight.

[mummm.livejournal.com]

But that is absolutely beautiful!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's handsome, isn't it?

But it's not really the woman I knew.

[sina-says.livejournal.com]

she looks like she's stifling a smile. like maybe she knows something you don't.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

She probably thought all that posing was rather ridiculous.

[oakmouse]

My, what a lovely face! She looks as though she had a good sense of humor, and a streak of mischief in her.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes, good sense of humour, a mischievous streak- that's exactly how she was.

She had a hard life, but she never gave up, never groused.