#thomas mclean

The Fashion Behind but not Behind the Fashion: 1829–T'is Thus to Follow the Mode

Artist: William Heath ('Paul Pry') (British, Northumbria 1794/95–1840 Hampstead) Publisher: Thomas McLean (British, 1788–1875) Subject: Francis Beaumont (British, 1584–1616) Subject: John Fletcher (British, 1579–1625)

May 1829

medea went underground centuries ago. she decided to play a long game. gaia is a woman. first goddess, first titan, what-have-you, but still unmistakably a woman. she never had those shackles medea had to deal with but she understands. that's all she ever wanted.

some poisons require gentle hands.

for example, find one of the aphrodite's brats. the one who is promising to be powerful, the one from the prophecy. charm her father. become a stepmother. become a sweetest poison for her, for him, for both of them. medea had children, medea remembers how to be a wife. despite centuries passing it didn't change much. all tristane wanted was a pretty face, warm heart, warm hands and somebody to take care of things he didn't want to think of.

all piper wanted was a mother.

thomas mclean was an outlier, however, because a man was snide, sharp and hated her just from one look. or maybe that was just grief from losing his own beloved wife. (christians, you know? so angry against somebody they haven't even met. angry enough to desecrate a grave.)

first, try to kill the girl.

try to kill her discreetly because her mother, while being an absolute bitch, is known for being an unpredictable bitch. a bitch who can check up on girl at any moment and who can wreck shit if she finds out that her death was unnatural.

she's five and children can be so fragile. by the time she's six, her health is frail. feed her poison slowly, drop by drop. watch her health decline. prepare the final dose.

find out that girl survived that. months go by and she's alive. barely but still. test her. ask her questions: did you see somebody? did somebody take your "medicine" away?

medea gets no answers and gets mad.

gaia laughs at the complaints and says in a dream:

'why not use her alive?'

Decorative Sunday

This week we present chromolithographs from Specimens of Ornamental Art: Selected from the Best Models of the Classical Epochs by Lewis Gruner with an explanatory text by Emil Braun, published in London by Thomas McLean in 1850. The large folio has 80 plates featuring decorative art examples from different centuries. Some of the examples we are showcasing today include painted details of the church of St. Francesco D’Assisi and Church of St. Andrea in the 13th century; and ceiling details of Church of St. Francesco at Lodi in the 14th century. 

The author Lewis Gruner was also known as Ludwig Gruner (1801-1882). He was a German engraver, lithographer, and art historian. He was also the trusted advisor to Prince Albert on art and design, and the Specimens of Ornamental Art is dedicated to the prince.

Emil Braun wrote in the preface:

“Ornamental art must be considered as originally the offspring of High Art, though now, in great measure, detached from its parent stock. It is become altogether a new branch, which has a free and independent sphere for its development, and enters into a not unsuccessful rivalry with sculpture and painting. Yielding to them, without dispute, the honours belonging to the more elevated department of historical composition, it surpasses them in regard to its wider range of influence; and, in proportion to the humility of the position which it assumes, does its own peculiar value become more conspicuous.”

You can browse many digitized images of Specimens of Ornamental Art online through the New York Public Library’s Digital Collections.

 View more posts about decorative arts and pattern books.

Ten years later...

The Horticultural Fate–dedicated to the Rainer Family

Various artists/makers

Artist: William Heath ('Paul Pry') (British, Northumbria 1794/95–1840 Hampstead)

Publisher: Thomas McLean (British, 1788–1875)

June 30, 1829

Dry Nurses

Artist: John Doyle (Irish, Dublin 1797–1868 London)

Publisher: Thomas McLean (British, 1788–1875)

Lithographer: Alfred Ducôte (British, active 1830–40)

Dispersion of the Thimble Rig

Artist: John Doyle (Irish, Dublin 1797–1868 London)

Publisher: Thomas McLean (British, 1788–1875)

July 14, 1834

"None But the Brave Deserve the Fair" – Mr. E. Landseer's admired Picture seen in a new point of view

August 15, 1838

Artist: John Doyle (Irish, Dublin 1797–1868 London)

Publisher: Thomas McLean (British, 1788–1875)

Lithographer: Alfred Ducôte (British, active 1830–40)

Subject: Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (British, 1769–1852)

Subject: Sir Robert Peel (British, Bury 1788–1850 London)