May 2010

Murderers, Mistresses And Musketeers: The French Monarchy (1547-1643)

When I heard the title of the lecture “Murders, Mistresses & Musketeers – The French Monachy (1547 – 1643)” my imagination ranged through all sorts of channels of intrigue, trysts, betrayal and stories of the guillotine – to say nothing of D’Artagnan!  In reality our guest speaker this morning, Fenella Billington, M.A., gave us a beautifully illustrated lecture in Art History.

Beginning with Francois in 1547, we were led through one hundred years – the lives of six different French kings – their mistresses, their wives and their children.  These were turbulent times indeed, during which France suffered a series of religious wars.

Most of the monarchs died young – indeed many coming to the throne at such tender ages as four or six years, and already sickly children, many only lasted a matter of three or four years, to be succeeded by an equally unhealthy sibling.

Catherine de Medici figured largely and obviously had great influence over a long period of time, having married into the royal family; (many paintings of her are to be seen in the Louvre and elsewhere). She had been orphaned within two weeks of her birth in Florence, yet went on to be the instrument of an important alliance between France and Tuscany.

We also learned of the marriage of our own Mary, Queen is Scots, to Francois in 1558 when Mary was 15 years old but again, Francois was a sickly boy and at the age of 14 years he was mortally wounded in a joust, and took ten days to die.  Mary, Queens of Scots was now also Queen of France, but eventually, foolishly decided to return to England where, of course, she was executed years later by Elizabeth I.

France always seemed to be in a turmoil over religion which caused much intrigue and many murders -  some even ‘arranged’ by the king, who listened behind closed doors, having issued the invitation to the victim.

At last, in the days of our King Charles I,  Louis XIV became King of France at five years old, and managed to reign for 77 years – a record, it seems after all we had heard.

Fenella Billington spoke gently and expertly and throughout her talk she illustrated all she was telling us about with the most beautiful paintings (slides) of the people and places of which she was speaking.  I am sure everyone came away more knowledgeable, interested, and enthusiastic enough to make use of the list of ‘suggested reading’, which were put out for us to take home.

Written by Margaret Grant
Picture by Graham Parlett

Volunteers' Lunch

FDFAS Volunteers enjoyed their annual lunch party held in St Joan’s Church Hall in Farnham on 14 May 2010 and organised by Social Secretary Geraldine Williams.

Volunteers enjoyed their lunch	Social Secretary Geraldine Williams with Chairman Peter Duffy

Visit To Charleston Farmhouse, Berwick Church And Firle Place

On the 28th May 2010, fifty members of the society had a thoroughly interesting and enjoyable visit to East Sussex.  A complete lack of hold-ups on the motorways meant that we arrived early at Charleston and so had time to appreciate the densely-planted walled garden and enjoy coffee and biscuits in an orchard filled with Queen Anne’s Lace, while gazing across the Sussex fields in the May sunshine and breeze.  Idyllic, provided you had remembered a coat.

Charleston Farmhouse

The farmhouse, the country retreat and wartime hideout of the Bloomsbury set, proved fascinating.  Every inch of it was decorated, the walls painted with intricate designs and any wooden furniture stencilled, sometimes very beautifully.  A team of excellent guides tried to explain the mesh of affairs and liaisons involving Clive and Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant, Lytton Strachey and many others in virtually any combination.  E. M. Forster, T.S. Eliot, Julian Grenfell and, of course, Virginia Woolf, Vanessa Bell’s sister, were among the literary guests. It was a real powerhouse of modernism.  There were a few gems, such as a late self-portrait by Vanessa Bell, but it was the overall impact which was most striking.

Berwick Church

We then moved on a short distance to Berwick Church.  As conscientious objectors in both world wars, the Bloomsburys were obliged to undertake useful work.  With a mischievous sense of humour George Bell (no relation), the great Bishop of Chichester, commissioned these noted atheists to paint murals on the whitewashed walls of the local church.  The results could not be said to reach Italian standards, or even that of Hans Feibusch’s great Christ in Glory in St. Albans, Holborn, but it is interesting to see an English village church as full of colour as it would have been originally and the use of the villagers as models continues an old tradition.

Firle Place

And then for something completely different!  Firle Place is a Tudor house re-fashioned into an eighteenth-century mansion and packed with masterpieces from Van Dyck to John Piper.  With impeccable taste and a purse furnished by the lucrative office of Paymaster-General, when the Gage Family wanted a family portrait they commissioned the likes of Gainsborough and Reynolds.  Chippendale supplied much of the furniture and the house really is a treasure-chest in its beautiful setting at the foot of the South Downs.

Altogether it was a wonderful day and many thanks go to the organisers and the excellent coach driver.

Written by Jan Herbert
Photos ©2010 Nick Houston