Diary of Mary Ann Flaxman in Switzerland and Germany, written in the Almanach de Lausanne
Diary of Mary Ann Flaxman in Weimar, Bruckenau and Lausanne, and travelling back across Germany to Cuxhaven to return to England. The diary for 1806 part is written in the Almanach de Lausanne for that year; the 1805 diary is written on blank pages bound in towards the end of the volume.
The brief diary relates to the Hare family's stay in Germany and Switzerland, and their return to England after the death of Mrs Hare in April 1806 (see the Biographical History). It includes:
- (fols. 51-58v) residence in Weimar, Jan-Apr 1805
- (fols. 54v-58v) journey to Basle, with a stay in Bruckenau from 27 Jul to 23 Aug
- (fols. 1-11) residence in Lausanne, Jan-Jun 1806
- (fol. 14v) note of river crossings; mentions passing through French troops
- (fol. 14v-19v) Journey across Germany to Cuxhaven, June to July, and then to England by ship, arriving at Gravesend July 1806.
- (fol. 31) brief entry relating to London visit, Nov 1806
- (fols. 29v, 34-35v) sketches, comprising a view from offshore, probably of Orfordness, various figures, apparently ship passengers, and a woman carrying a bucket or bag. Probably sketched on the journey from Germany to England in July 1806. The travellers depicted may represent members of the Hare family.
- (inside front cover, fols. 1v, 22v-23, 54, 57v) accounts of expenditure
Dates
- Creation: 1805-1806
Extent
1 volume
Language of Materials
- English
Preferred Citation
Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. Eng. misc. f. 48, fols. 1-2].
Shelfmark:
MS. Eng. misc. f. 48
Collection ID (for staff)
CMD ID 12683
Abstract
Diary of Mary Ann Flaxman in Weimar, Bruckenau and Lausanne, and travelling back across Germany to Cuxhaven to return to England, 1805-1806.
Biographical / Historical
The attribution of the authorship of this brief diary is derived from internal evidence. Mary Ann Flaxman (1768-1833) was the half sister of the sculptor, decorative designer, and illustrator John Flaxman (1755-1826). She was an artist herself (see the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography under john Flaxman for further details). She was governess to the children of the Hare family of Hurstmonceaux Place. Francis Hare Naylor and his wife Georgiana, who was suffering from a progressive eye disease, left Hurstmonceaux in 1804 and travelled with their family to Weimar. In 1805 they removed to Lausanne, where Georgiana died on 6 April 1806 (see fol. 10, where 'poor Mrs H expired').
Other Finding Aids
This is a recataloguing of an entry in M. Clapinson and T.D. Rogers, Summary Catalogue of Post-Medieval Western Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library Oxford. Acquisitions 1916-1975. (Oxford, 1991), vol. 1, p. 673, SC 45961. The diary was purchased in 1921, and the author remained unidentified until now.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Bought, P.J. & A.E. Dobell, April 1921
Bibliography
- Augustus J.C. Hare, Memorials of a Quiet Life (London, 1872)
- Augustus J.C. Hare, Story of My Life (London, 1896-1900)
Subject
- Flaxman | Mary Ann | 1768-1833 (Person)
- Hare Naylor family | of Herstmonceux, Sussex (Family)
- Title
- Diary of Mary Ann Flaxman in Weimar, Lausanne and travelling back to England, 1805-1806
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Mike Webb
- Date
- 2018
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk