Introduction to Jane Austen’s Character
A portrait of the only Jane Austen character of "explicitly African descent" was unveiled to mark 250 years since the author was born. The fictional Miss Lambe, a wealthy heiress, was described in Austen’s last book Sanditon as "young, sweet and thin", which is still unfinished because the author died before the end.
The Artist’s Inspiration
The artist Lela Harris created the portrait on a collage of old paper from Harewood House, the former West Yorkshire home of an aristocratic slave owner – in an allusion to Harewood’s "complex colonial history". Ms. Harris said that she "admired" how Austen introduced Miss Lambe into the book for her ethnicity without "fanfare" and tried to channel this into the portrait.
Historical Context and Fashion
The contemporary artist said that she was also inspired by fashion, which was portrayed in Lady’s magazine, a popular female title, read from the 1770s and taken by embroidery patterns. The magazine ran from 1770 to 1832 and contained fiction, poems, essays, news and articles about fashion and music. The research of the University of York has underlined how influential the lady’s magazine was at that time and how much it was estimated by Austen.
Influence of Lady’s Magazine on Austen’s Work
Professor Jennie Batchelor from the Department of English and Related Literature said: "Austen has moved many aspects of the magazine into her novels, which contained the characters and even the title of one of her most popular works, meaning and sensitivity." She discussed a fashion plate, which was called "Sea-Sea-side walking dress" in 1819 in the magazine, and noted that although the picture was printed a few years after Austen’s death in 1817, it was typical of the fashionable styles of the late 1810s.
The Portrait and Its Significance
Ms. Harris’ portrait of Miss Lambe remains unfinished and repeats both the incomplete nature of the Sanditon novel and the "historical extinction of women with color from archive areas". Ms. Harris, the Artist-in Residence, said: "With this portrait I really spoiled my inner Austen fan girl. It was a real pleasure to use papers from Harewood’s stationery from the 20th century." Professor Batchelor added: "We have been waiting for an artist to bring Miss Lambe to life for centuries, and I can’t imagine any better homage than Lela’s breathtaking, richly structured and delicate portrait of the only figure, explicitly presenting a Jane Austen character."
The Exhibition
The portrait is part of the Austen and Turner exhibition: an encounter of the country house that runs in the Harewood House until October 19. The exhibition is a celebration of Jane Austen’s life and work, and the portrait of Miss Lambe is a significant addition to the show. Jane Austen was born 250 years ago on December 16, 1775, and her legacy continues to inspire artists and authors to this day.
