She had tried
to keep up her studies of art and to help her husband and Morris with their
work of producing arts and crafts… but motherhood took over more and more of he
life. She felt some resentment of her son, for taking up her time and making it
difficult for her to pursue an artistic career… but she felt guilty for being
selfish… She and Edward had another
child, a daughter, Margaret..
Later in the 1860s the family moved again, to Fulham, and
Edward tried to continue with his career.. But in spite of some success, he did
not exhibit much in the 1870s. His work
was criticised in the Press at times for its sensuality, and he and Georgiana had begun to draw apart. She was a devoted mother and wife.. But her
life was restricted by her gender.
Edward fell in love in the late 1860s with Maria Zambaco…a Greek girl
who was an artist and model, and they
considered running away together. She
was married but had left her husband. Edward
did try to leave his wife for her, but the intensity of the affair led to a
farcical conclusion. Maria tried to
persuade him to commit suicide with her and tried to drown herself… It caused a scandal and the police had had to
be called in…
The affair ended - yet there were still strong feelings
between the lovers and they remained friends…. Georgiana forgave her husband
and continued to love him.. But her marriage was not as close after the whole
impassioned and crazy affair. Georgie
was a serious minded rather puritanical woman...whereas her husband was less
dedicated to serious issues. She and Edward loved each other but were not all that compatible.
After the affair, she developed a close romantic friendship
with William Morris, whose wife was in love with Dante Gabriel Rossetti and who
was pursuing an affair with him…
No comments:
Post a Comment