GENTLEMEN & LADIES WALKING ABOUT

 

Yet another chance for me to share some of my favorites. J

Couple with a Bustle – artist unk.

Are they headed for church or Fifth Avenue in New York?  Perhaps both.  St. Patrick’s Cathedral is on 5th Avenue and they decorate beautifully for Easter with hundreds of lilies – at least they did when I was there in 1992. - Not sure about the artist’s signature?

Differing ideas of a ‘walk’ – artist unk

Another lady with a muff strolling the avenue with her fella - artist unk.  The muffs of this lady and the one above appear to be fur.  I have a beautiful tucked white satin muff.  I rarely have occasion to use it, but my hands feel so warm and cozy slipped into it when I do.  

Strolling sweethearts. – Victor Gabriel Gilbert

Flowers for my lovely – artist unk.

“Romance not going well” – Carl Schweninger, Jr.

“The Garden of Eden” – Hugh Goldman Rivière

“Winter Romance” – Alan Maley

“A Midnight Clear” – Karen L. King

“Winter Impressions” – Maley

“New Year’s Eve” – Maley

“You Walk Well“ – W.T. Smedley.

Some gentlemen meet some Ladies” – W.T. Smedley.

William Thomas Smedley, March 26, 1858 – March 26, 1920.  I wondered if there might be a connection to my Great Grandfather, John Kinsey Smedley?  A quick search didn’t find much except that William Thomas Smedley was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania of a Quaker. I checked my records of Smedley ancestors.  The ‘original’ George Smedley came to Philadelphia in or around 1682 at William Penn’s invitation as a member of the Friends Society (Quakers)!  He had two sons, George and Thomas.  George had a son, William.  William had Peter, Peter had Joel, and perhaps (?) Joel’s son was William Thomas, the artist?  My line is through Thomas.  He had John.  John had Isaac.  Isaac had Jeffrey.  And Jeffrey had my great grandfather, John Kinsey Smedley.  If Joel’s son was William Thomas Smedley, the artist, then he and my great grandfather would have been 4th cousins.   One of my cousins has the complete compiled ancestry of the Smedley family in a book.  Maybe she’ll check this out for me.  It appears likely there is a connection of some sort somewhere along the line and it’d be fun to know where.

:-> 

La Nightingail

Walking in the rain with a yellow umbrella.  This painting isn’t ‘old’ so I’m using it as a P.S.  But it has a certain charm and beyond that, it features a yellow umbrella which reminds me of a favorite yellow umbrella I had once upon a time - yellow happening to be my favorite color. J

Hope everyone had a Happy, good-eats, Thanksgiving!


Comments

  1. Barbara RogersNovember 24, 2023 at 4:47 PM

    Isn't it great to figure out possible family connections to someone talented or famous? I have a Grisham cousin from Mississippi, but unfortunately John Grisham didn't seem to have many ancestors in that area. Love all the couples doing what couples do when getting to know one another. Nothing like a walk to be beyond the prying ears of relations, and not to cause raised eyebrows if there is visiting a coffee or tea room.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. La NightingailNovember 27, 2023 at 9:08 AM

      Taking a walk with someone is the perfect way to get to know someone. You're doing something - walking - so you're not just sitting somewhere quietly. Talk flows much easier. The same thing applies if you're sitting in a public place having tea or coffee or eating a meal. Talk just seems to come easier.

      Delete
  2. Molly's CanopyNovember 26, 2023 at 9:21 AM

    You have captured a romantic mood for the holiday season! Although I love history, my personal favorite is the P.S. painting. I hope you find a connection for your Smedley relative.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. La NightingailNovember 27, 2023 at 9:10 AM

      My cousin with the Smedley book of ancestors is already looking into it for me and we're both hoping to find a connection somewhere.

      Delete
  3. Mike BrubakerNovember 26, 2023 at 5:47 PM

    All very appealing art that evokes a sentimental past. But couples in our modern time, instead of holding books, canes, or umbrellas, would be clutching a smartphone trying to read their GPS coordinates!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. La NightingailNovember 27, 2023 at 9:02 AM

      I hate to admit it, but you're right about people and their cell phones. They gab with friends on them while they shop which is annoying because they aren't paying attention to other shoppers around them, oblivious to the fact they're blocking an aisle or a spot by a shelf where another shopper needs to pick up something. They stare at their phones in the waiting rooms of doctors & dentists. Their heads are bent over them while walking their dogs up and down the streets of our subdivision. It's truly amazing and not in a good way. And the really worrisome place is, of course, in the car while they're driving. Even with strict rules and punishments for doing so, too many people still do it. But it is what it is and it ain't going away. Me? I still have an old fashioned flip phone that I use as a phone, period, and that suits me just fine. :)

      Delete

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