Memoir of Montague Stanley
CT828.S83D7
The Memoir of Montague Stanley A.R.S.A (Association of the Royal Scottish Academy) by Rev David Thomas Kerr (D.T.K) Drummond was published in Edinburgh in 1848 by W.P. Kennedy Hamilton, Adams, and co. It is a commentary and collection of Montague Stanley’s art.
Montague Stanley
Stanley was born in Dundee on January 5, 1809, and died in 1844. He went to school in Scotland and was known as a landscape artist, actor, and evangelist. He was a member of the Royal Scottish Academy, which promoted contemporary Scottish art. His art seems to have had a significant meaning to Christians, including the Author D.T.K. Drummond. Many of his works were burnt while being transported to Edinburgh, making this copy of the Memoir of Montague Stanley a rare collection of landscape portraits.
Physical Description
This edition of the book is bound in cloth. The binding is worn and dark with signs of use. For example, many scuff marks can be seen in this image of the spine. The head and tail of the book are worn down showing signs of frequent use. The outside cover has floral embellishments and faded corners. The title on the spine is gilded.
Religious Significance
D.T.K. Drummond’s Memoir of Montague Stanley was regarded as “refreshing and eloquent” in the newspaper article found in the book (left). It was significant to many Christians because it served as a reminder to many about the presence of God through art. Many people believed that God himself had given Stanley the ability to paint such landscapes.
Origin: The Publisher
Hamilton, Adams, and co. was a popular publishing company in the 19th century. They focused on publishing accessible books that related to Christianity and the Church of Scotland. They have published approximately 78 works, including The Art of Preaching and more memoirs of important religious figures.
Provenance
Harriet Elizabeth Leathes
There is a bookplate located on the inside cover of the book belonging to a woman named Harriet Elizabeth Leathes. Harriet was born in England in 1784 and died in Suffolk in 1852. She was a member of the prominent Leathes family who lived in Herringfleet, a former parish in Suffolk. Her brother was John Francis Leathes, the lord of the manor. In 1822, John Commissioned the building of St. Margaret’s for his two sisters, Harriet and Louisa to live.
Harriet was a Christian, and many of her family members were involved in the church, including her brother Rev. Edward Leathes. From the inscription on her gravestone, it can be inferred that Harriet was an example to many others. She was a single woman and was very close with her sister, they are buried together.
She is believed to be the first owner of the book and it is evident within the provenance that she admired Montague Stanley and his art. She used the book to collect pieces of his art, along with many newspaper articles about him.
After the death of the sisters, the house was occupied by Capt. Hill Mussenden Leathes 1859-64. It is difficult to trace what happened to the book after Harriet’s passing.
The book is embellished with a unique form of provenance, Extra-Illustrations. Extra-illustrations are extra pictures or articles from different sources that are inserted into the book. The following are images of the many examples of extra-illustrations throughout the book. There are two additional leaves inserted into the book to provide extra space for more paste-ins.
Personal Significance
Although the book is not embellished and elaborate, this individual copy was very important to the owner, Harriet Leathes. She was passionate about the art of Montague Stanley and its significance to her faith. The book is filled with multiple images pasted in by the owner, as well as many positive book reviews.
The image above is drawn in pencil as opposed to the printed images in the rest of the book. It is autographed by Montague Stanley and the title is written by hand. This could mean that Harriet may have known or come into contact with Montague Stanley.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Professor Brockey, Tad Boehmer, and the Michigan State University Special Collections library. Also to the MSU LEADR Lab, Leah Welch, and Eric Alstrom for assisting me in my research.
Citations
“Extra-Illustration.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, July 24, 2021.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extra-illustration.
“Harriet Elizabeth Leathes (1784-1852) – Find a…” Find a Grave. Accessed November 28, 2021.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/131159097/harriet-elizabeth-leathes.
“History of Herringfleet.” History of Herringfleet and St. Olaves – part 10: Some interesting buildings. Accessed November 28, 2021.
http://lothingland.co.uk/hso10.htm.
Robert Adamson & David Octavius Hill. “Montague Stanley, 1809 – 1844. Actor, Landscape Painter and Evangelist [b]” National Galleries of Scotland. National Galleries of Scotland. Accessed November 28, 2021.
https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/67862/montague-stanley-1809-1844-actor-landscape-painter-and-evangelist-b.
