A Life in Letters

Published: 11 August 2003

Whistler's Mother has been taking time out from her holiday in Glasgow to meet visitors to the University of Glasgow's Hunterian Art Gallery and to give a series of readings from her letters.

Whistler's Mother has been taking time out from her holiday in Glasgow to meet visitors to the University of Glasgow's Hunterian Art Gallery and to give a series of readings from her letters.

As part of the Hunterian's Whistler Centenary celebrations, Mrs Whistler is giving a series of free public performances entitled 'Listen with Mother' every Sunday afternoon in August. Each performance consists of short readings quoting from her letters. The performance centres on her son's famous portrait of her, Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1: 'it was a Mother's unceasing prayer while being the painter's model for the expression which makes the attractive charm.'

Our knowledge about Anna Whistler comes from brand new research carried out by Dr Georgia Toutziari, curator of the Hunterian Art Gallery's exhibition Anna Whistler - A Life and editor of the on-line edition of Anna Whistler's correspondence (www.whistler.gla.ac.uk/correspondence). Anna Whistler lived successively in America, Russia and England, travelled the high seas on the Cunard line, raised two sons, lost three in infancy, lived through the Civil War, and managed her son 'Jemie's' bohemian Chelsea household. In these dramatised readings, actress Eileen Leonard, conveys the spirit and personality of this famous woman and her life 'beyond the frame'. Her letters are both entertaining and informative, and give a taste of an eventful life and distinctive personality.

For anyone wanting to find out more about the portrait, a fascinating Study Day entitled 'Artists and their Mothers', looks at the stories behind the painting as well as the broader theme of artists and their mothers.

The study day will be held in the Hunterian Art Gallery on Saturday 23 August from 10.00am - 4.45pm and will feature guest speakers from Glasgow and London.

Places on 'Artists and their Mothers' cost £20.
To book, telephone 0141 330 3100.

'Listen with Mother' takes place every Sunday in August from 3.00pm - 4.00pm.
Admission is free and visitors are encouraged to come and go as they please.

For further information on Whistler Centenary 2003 visit www.whistler2003.com

For further information on the Readings and Study Day, please phone 0141 330 4547

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)


First published: 11 August 2003

<< August