Friday, January 21, 2022

"Four Ladies Having Tea" by Thomas Fogarty


I hadn't checked for tea images on the Library of Congress website lately, so when I tried to play catch-up this week, I found "Four Ladies Having Tea," a pen and ink drawing by Thomas Fogarty. According to the LOC, it was created or published sometime between 1890 and 1938 and was published in the Ladies Home Journal (no issue date given).

I wish the image were a little clearer (click here if you'd like to enlarge it from the LOC website), but from what I can see, the lovely thing about this drawing is that the three women at left seem very eager to visit with the woman at right, and she looks quite happy to be addressing them.

But here's a question for you. That chair in the foreground … Dark-Dress Lady couldn't be perched on the very-very front of the chair, could she? I mean, she'd be tipping over into the tea table like a teapot, right? And her shawl is clearly spilling over into the chair, so no one else could possibly sit there, it appears. I have a feeling there's more to this drawing than meets the eye. What are your thoughts?

8 comments:

  1. Since the tea table is on her right, I don't think she'd accidentally lean into the tea table; but I do think it's interesting that she has her left leg crossed over the right at the knee. With her shoe tipped, I can imagine she's jiggling that foot!

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  2. The whole scene looks like a preliminary sketch to me. The artist appears to be trying out some different perspectives,and hasn't quite figured out how his final drawing will look. Maybe the Dark-Dress Lady is on a separate stool that is covered by her dress, and she isn't sitting on that chair at all? A lot of things look rather off-kilter.

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  3. I'm 5' 2" and have a friend, Joy, who is 5' 10". We were having lunch with a couple other ladies. She made the comment, "look how dainty DeeDee sits on the edge of her chair." I told her I sit like that since it's the only way my feet will touch the floor. She laughed, because she had never thought of that. Maybe this lady is short!

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  4. Seems like interesting conversation! Discussing tea or sweets? Anyway,I love the fashions! DonnaZ

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  5. Great find! They definitely are sitting on the edge of their chair as the lady holds court.

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  6. “Holding court” nails it, Marilyn!!

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