Leslie, Mary, 1833-1907

Abstract:

The collection comprises sketchbooks, writings, and correspondence by Charles Robert Leslie (1794-1859) and his family.

Scope and Contents:

Mary Leslie writes to her father to tell him that she has had "three dips in the sea" and adds a few other details about an apparent seaside trip. She includes a small sketch at the top of the letter, saying "I drew the little chur[ch] this morning..." The tone and handwriting of this letter suggest that it was written when Mary was still quite young.

Scope and Contents: Mary writes while visiting Bradford in Chepstow, Wales. She reports that "Braddy" has taken her to "Beachley, where there is a long pier reaching out into the river..." She says that there is to be a flower show at "the castle" in the next week, and anticipates a visit to the show, when Bradford will "have a holyday." She writes of drawing flowers, amply supplied by "the Miss Phillips," and of sketching "Miss Kinbys garden." Mary writes of an odd parlor trick or prank played by a lady in the...

Scope and Contents: Mary writes a short note to thank her father for money that he sent, saying that it was lucky that he addressed it to her and not to Bradford, as he was "at the bridge" and unavailable. As part of a five year apprenticeship to Isambard Brunel, Bradford was working, in 1851 and 1852, an assistant engineer at Chepstow Bridge; it is likely that the mention of him being at the bridge refers to this post. She includes a sketch of "the Castle as it appeared yesterday from Tutshill during the...

Scope and Contents: Mary writes while on a visit to her brother, Bradford, who was at this time working as an engineer on a bridge in Chepstow, Wales. She reports that Bradford has taken her to Wyndcliff. She describes the beautiful view and includes a small watercolor illustration to show the rainbow that appeared after "a heavy storm" from which she and Bradford were forced to seek shelter while sketching. She writes of observing the robins in the area. She expresses sympathy about her mother's toothache...

Scope and Contents: In this undated letter, Mary writes to her mother while on a visit, perhaps to relatives. She includes a graphite sketch of a mother with two children, indicating that they are part of the Mason family. She says that the last time she was "here," the eldest child was the "little boy I drew" but has now grown big. She reports that "we are enjoying ourselves very much..." She discusses a hunting excursion on donkeys, and asks her mother not to worry about sending her paint box to her, as it is...

Scope and Contents: Mary writes to her mother, sending the letter with Bradford as he heads home for a visit. Mary reports on a recent event (perhaps the opening) at the Chepstow Bridge, saying that it "looked beautiful all decorated with flags, I was just in time to see the first engine driven across..." She asks her mother to send along a "blue band," part of a dress that she has received from home, but whose "defect" can only be concealed with the missing band. She comments on the pleasant "bauuing" of the...

Scope and Contents: Mary writes to her mother, relaying a "funny story" that she says is related to one that her sister Caroline has included in a recent letter to Bradford. The story concerns a little girl who had her pet sparrows baked into a pudding for her birthday. The rather macabre tale, Mary reflects, is "not such a funny one as Caroline's, but it sounded much better than I can write it." Mary writes about her drawing habits of late, copying faces out of books by Chalon and Lewis. She reports on a fair...

Scope and Contents:

A watercolor illustration remains on this fragment of a letter from Mary Leslie to her mother. The illustration shows a man dressed in a sort of 17th century military costume sitting high in a tree. The letter has been cut down so that only the fragment with the illustration remains. The handwriting that is visible and the style of letter seems similar to those found in Mary's letters home from Chepstow, in 1851-2.

Scope and Contents: The album is inscribed at front: "Eleven drawings & two cuttings, 1865." In fact, the album comprises 16 drawings and two cut-paper works, to which have been inserted three additional sheets containing five more drawings. About half of the drawings are finished in watercolor. Most of the drawings depict young ladies in various fashions; some depict children. The two cut-paper works depict a wading bird and a semi-abstract collection of flowers. At the end is tipped in a printed page of...

Scope and Contents: This small sketchbook contains 72 mounted illustrations, which include pen and ink drawings, graphite sketches, watercolors, and cut-paper works.The cut-paper works include finely detailed textual and graphic pieces, such as a small mounted image of flowers and thistles which bears the legend, "Dieu et mon Droit." Another cut out piece depicts the scene of a hunt (perhaps inspired by the paintings of Stubbs), with a ferocious lion leaping to sink his teeth into a racing...

Scope and Contents: Attributed to George Leslie but bearing strong resemblances to the work of Mary Leslie, this manuscript appears to be a mockup for an unpublished edition of Chaucer's poem, "The Flower and the Leaf." The poem is copied out by hand in a small, cursive hand, and each page has illustrated panels depicting scenes from the poem, with decorative borders. The intricate details and carefully drawn figures in medieval costume evoke the Victorian fascination and interpretation of medieval aesthetics....

Scope and Contents: Manuscript treatise, bound by hand. Mary Leslie declares, "I am going to lay before you...my inexpeareanced [sic] thoughts on the subject of painting." It is likely that Mary created this piece while still a young child. She writes of her previous ignorance, looking at "those unatureal [sic] painters, Landsear [sic], Redgrave, Danby, and many others..." Mary goes on to praise Raphael for his lack of affectation, and then speaks warmly of Turner and Constable, writing that she has heard...