Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1940 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
35x35cm drawing, pencil on paper.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Caryll Houselander was born on September 29, 1901, in Bath, England, to Gertrude Provis Houselander and Willmott Houselander. After her parents' separation, Houselander was sent to a French-run convent boarding school in Olton (1913-1915) until she became ill and paused her education to live in a convalescent home. In 1917, she moved to an English convent school, but dropped out to begin working that same year. Despite lacking formal theological education, Houselander went on to make significant contributions to various religious periodicals and published multiple books throughout her adult life. She was a Catholic artist, mystic, and spiritual writer. Her first book, "This War is the Passion," was published in 1941. Houselander's work often explored the theme of finding Christ in humanity and emphasized the importance of empathy in the modern age. Her writings provided comfort and guidance to many individuals during and after the World Wars. Houselander passed away on October 12, 1954, at the age of 53.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated by Margot King.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Like the other pencil sketches in this series, this was produced as a study for a series of coloured drawings of the Stations of the Cross. The coloured drawings were created for Lydwine van Kersbergen, Doddridge Farm, Libertyville Il and presumably lost in torpedo attack while en route to U.S.A. in 1941.
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Notes area
Note
This piece depicts the Twelfth Station and bears significant similarities to item 9, but differs in a few key ways.
Unlike in Item 9, the figures on either side of Jesus are drawn in great detail here, and the background is bare. The cross and Jesus are not shaded in, and there is no colour added to the drawing.
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Dates of creation revision deletion
Created by A Mociani 18 March 2025.
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Sources
King, M. (2002). Caryll Houselander Art Work. Peregrina Publishing Co.