Painting of the Day: “The Center of Attraction,” James Hayllar, 1875

The Center of Attraction
James Hayllar, 1875
Purchased by Lord Leverhulme in 1891 from The Royal Academy.
The Lady Lever Art Gallery, Liverpool

Apparently, Lord Leverhulme and Mary of Teck shared a passion for collecting. Each of them amassed huge collections of gorgeous objects and did so with a distinct purpose in mind. Queen Mary, it is presumed, did so in order to preserve Britain’s history through the Royal Collection. Lord Leverhulme did so because he thought he could use the images to sell soap. And, they did just that for him. After all, who among us—either in the U.S. or U.K.—hasn’t used Lever Soap at one point in his or her lives?


This painting from 1875 by James Hayllar fit in with Leverhulme’s love of domestic scenes as well as his good marketing sense. Genre paintings such as this were quite the fashion in the late Nineteenth Century. They appealed to a mass market and elicited thoughts of happy, healthy families. Perfect to sell soap! And, an attractive piece of artwork. This, like many others, was retired from advertising use after a time and given to Leverhulme’s wife to add to her collection. It remains part of the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Liverpool.

Person of the Week: Victoria Rowell

Victoria Rowell

Actor, author and humanitarian Victoria Rowell, must have exceptionally good time management skills in order to accomplish everything that she does in a day. Her enviable work ethic is well-known to her many fans who recall her days of working on both a hit daytime drama, The Young and the Restless, while also filming for her Primetime show, Diagnosis Murder. What most people don’t realize is that not only was Rowell starring on both programs, she was also writing episodes of Diagnosis Murder as well as dedicating herself to her philanthropic efforts.


Rowell was born in Portland, Maine. At only sixteen days old, she and her two sisters were surrendered to Child Services and transferred into the care of a foster family. Miss Rowell thrived as a child, showing a great interest in artistic pursuits. At the age of eight she began ballet lessons and showed remarkable skill as a dancer. This led her to dance for American Ballet Theatre II and the Juilliard School of Music Dance Extension and ultimately toward teaching the art of dance for a time.

By the 1980’s, Miss Rowell’s grace and beauty caught the eye of directors and designers alike as she embarked on a new career as a model. Being in front of the camera agreed with Rowell who was soon cast in supporting roles on a variety of television programs. It wasn’t long before she was starring on The Young and the Restless as "Drucilla," a young lady with a troubled past and a bright future as a model.

The mother of two children, Rowell is often reminded of her own childhood and the time she spent with her foster family. In order to provide children in similar positions to her own, in 1990, Victoria Rowell introduced the Rowell Foster Children Positive Plan, a program designed to offer financial aid and counseling to foster children. Furthermore, the program helps to encourage children with artistic tendencies. With Rowell as a role-model, no doubt, many children will be inspired to pursue their dreams of working in the arts.

The University of Southern Maine, in 2006, awarded Rowell with an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters for her tireless work with foster children. For her tender spirit and artistic beauty, Victoria Rowell is our “Person of the Week.” To learn more about Miss Rowell, visit her official Web site.

Sculpture of the Day: King George IV’s “Mercury & Bacchus” Candelabrum

This magnificent centerpiece was the finest piece of King George IV’s fantastic set of plate. Thought it appears to have always been the monumental work that it is today, this is actually a marriage of two pieces to which additional parts were later added.

Candelabrum with
Figures of Mercury and
The Infant Bacchus,
Rundell, Bridge, & Rundell
1809-1810
1816-1817
The Royal Collection

In 1809, King George IV commissioned the goldsmiths at Rundell, Bridge & Rundell to create a group of mythological figures showing Mercury presenting the infant Bacchus to the nymphs after being removed from the thigh of his father, Jupiter.

In 1811, the sculptural groups—which included figures of piping fauns—were combined into one large centerpiece. By this point, the astronomical sum of over £3000 had been spent on this piece. By 1816, the piece was deemed not grand enough and Rundell’s was asked to create stems and upper branches to make the group into a candelabrum. And, so, we see it this way today.

Truly the most ornate and intricate of George IV’s collection of silver-gilt banqueting pieces, the piece finds its way into use every so often for grand events. I’m sure it looks every bit as impressive as it did on George’s table.

Treat of the Week: A Lovely Clafoutis

If a Dutch Baby and a Flan went to France and got married, their offspring would be a clafoutis. The clafoutis, known in English-speaking countries as “clafouti,” is a French dessert baked in a buttered dish. The clafoutis usually features cherries smothered in a thick, custard-like batter. A traditional clafoutis includes the pits of the cherries as it is believed that the cherry pits offer a distinct flavor to the pastry. Without the pits, the clafoutis will have a mellower flavor.

As the clafoutis bakes, the custard rises above the fruit. The puffiness of the pastry fades as it cools. The dessert is served warm.

My mother’s version of the clafoutis includes dried cherries (sans the pits, thankfully) and sliced pears which have been fanned in the bottom of the dish before the batter is poured in. It’s a wonderful marriage between pancake and custard. Creamy, mildly-sweet and delightfully light, the clafoutis is the perfect Springtime dessert.

For clafoutis recipes, an online search will yield several options. Choose the one which most appeals to you. You can’t go wrong with any of them.

Punch's Cousin, Chapter 218

“You look almost pretty when you’re sleepin’.” Marie smiled at Marjani. “Almost.”


“How’d you get in here?” Marjani said, clearing her throat.

“Woman, I can get in anywhere I want. Don’t ya think that I can walk into any house in this city if I want to?” Marie Laveau answered proudly.

“What you want from me, Marie?” Marjani asked.

“You spilled my blood, Woman.” Marie frowned. “That wasn’t very kind of you—you who calls herself a healer.”

“I’m no healer.” Marjani got out of bed. “I’m someone who tries to make sick folk a little more comfortable. That’s all. I don’t heal nobody. If I was a healer, my daughter’d still be alive and my granddaughter wouldn’t be no orphan bein’ raised by an old woman.”

“She ain’t gonna be raised by no one by the time I’m done with ya.” Marie leaned back on the bed casually.

“You don’t scare me, Marie.” Marjani shook her head. “Now, you listen to me. I didn’t mean to hurt ya. For true, I didn’t. But, it was a question of loyalty. These fine folk been real kind to me. I was doin’ what I needed to do for to protect them. I’m sure even you can understand that.”

Marie laughed.

“Somethin’ funny?” Marjani scowled. “Marie, you got your loyalties, too. You tellin’ me that ain’t no one been hurt if they got in your path?”

“I don’t care ‘bout no one else, Woman.” Marie smirked. “I only care ‘bout my own hurt.”

“Marie Laveau,” Marjani said firmly. “I got things for to do. I got folk relyin’ on me and I ain’t got time to stand here and quarrel with ya ‘bout no petty vendetta you got. I’m sorry that you got hurt, I really am. It was an accident. If you’re gonna punish me for an accident, go on and do it. If you’re just here to talk at me and try to make me feel afraid, you’re wastin’ your time and mine. I done saw death head on. Nothin’ scares me. You can do what you want to me, but if you put my family in any path of danger, you’re gonna have more of a fight than you counted on. So, go on and do what you’re gonna do and let’s jus’ get it done with!”

Marie’s eyes widened. “Well, Woman. I don’t know whether to share a drink with ya or cut your throat. You got more gumption than I thought.”

“Honey, you better make up your mind, cuz I got somewhere else to be.”

At that very moment, Robert sputtered wake.

“Mornin’, Chum.” Punch whispered from the corner of the hotel room.

“What time is it?” Robert asked, smiling at Punch and Colin.

“Dunno.” Punch shrugged. “Sometime in the morning.”

“You should have awakened me.” Robert got out of bed.

“Needed the sleep, you did.” Punch grinned.

“Did you sleep?” Robert asked.

“For a spell.” Mr. Punch shrugged. “We’re not a sleepin’ people, me master and I.”

“True.” Robert chuckled.

“Has Marjani returned?” Robert asked, splashing water on his face.

“Not yet.” Mr. Punch shook his head.

“Any sign of Ulrika or Iolanthe?” Robert continued, his voice muffled as he wiped his face with a flannel.

“Not sure. Not in here, anyway. Who knows what’s outside that door.” Mr. Punch said.

“I’d best get dressed,” Robert frowned. “Surely Adrienne and Cecil will be here shortly.”

“Provided they can get past Edward Cage’s men without bein’ followed.” Punch sighed.

Robert paused stiffly and stared at Mr. Punch.

“What is it, Chum?”

“Are we sure we want to go through with this?” Robert said softly. “This plan to pantomime our own deaths? We could be putting everyone we love in even more danger than they’re already in.”

“I don’t see no other way.” Mr. Punch took a deep breath.

“Why don’t we just leave?” Robert said quickly. “Just us and Colin. Let’s just slip away from here and leave?”

“And go where?” Mr. Punch asked.

“This is a big country.” Robert said. “We could go east. I understand New York is quite a lot like London. We might do well there.”

“And give up me master’s way of life? And Colin’s inheritance?” Punch asked.

“Why not?” Robert smiled. “I’m a physician. You—or Julian—is a talented jeweler. We can support ourselves. We can give Colin a good life on our own.”

“But…” Punch began. He stopped himself.

“Well?” Robert urged.



Did you miss Chapters 1-217? If so, you can read them here.

Goal for the Day: Protect Your Empire

Most of us don’t have the responsibility of acting for the greater good of millions of people, but we’re all still in control of our own empires—no matter how small. As monarch, it’s up to you to protect your empire and act in its best interest. Sometimes that may mean that you don’t get to do everything that you may want. Still, that’s acceptable because you’re trying to create something that will preserve the people you love and the way of life that you cherish.


Furnish your kingdom in a pleasing and comfortable way, make sure that it’s safe and secure, ensure that you and your subjects are nourished both physically and emotionally and never leave anyone in a situation that could endanger them.

They say, “heavy is the head that wears the crown,” but I feel that though that head may be heavy, the heart will always be light.

Object of the Day: A Tinted Photograph of Mary of Teck

My appreciation for Queen Mary, consort of King George V, is no secret. Without Mary of Teck, the Royal Collection would be half as spectacular as it is—if not more so. Though Mary is often criticized for the methods she used in obtaining many of the shiny, wonderful objects she added to the collection, you’ve got to give her credit for doing it. She was a very interesting woman whose first interest—aside from getting her hands on pretty things—was the well-being of the monarchy. Though she probably was not the most agreeable of people, she’s someone I would have liked to have known.

Mary of Teck was born Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes in 1867 at Kensington Palace to Prince Francis, Duke of Teck and Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge. Styled as Serene Highness, she was a princess of Teck, in the Kingdom of Württemberg. Known as “May” to her family, as a young woman she was engaged to the eldest son of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale—the heir to the throne. Six weeks after their engagement was announced, Prince Albert Victor died from a bout of pneumonia. May and Prince Albert Victor’s brother, Prince George, Duke of York, comforted one another during their time of grief. Soon, they had become quite close and announced their engagement. They married in 1893 at St. James Palace and May became the Duchess of York. Upon the death of King Edward VII, the Duke of York became King George V and his wife took the name Queen Mary so as not to be confused with her husband’s grandmother, Queen Victoria.

Mary survived two World Wars, the death of her husband, and the kerfuffle involving her son, the erstwhile King Edward VIII and his ever-so-charming wife, the American divorcee. She saw her husband’s wishes come to pass when their son, “Bertie” took the throne as King George VI and she survived his death as well. Determined to see her granddaughter Elizabeth ascend to the throne, Queen Mary died slightly before the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

I have several bits of Mary of Teck memorabilia. A more recent addition to the collection is this lovely tinted photograph of Mary from later in her life. The photograph was taken in the 1920’s by Hay Wrightson of London. Wrightson was a commercial photographer who worked from 1920-1929. He had a studio at 30 New Bond Street and took many photos of the Royal Family for commercial distribution.