Alice Meynell (née Thompson)
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Alice Meynell (née Thompson)
by Walter Stoneman, for James Russell & Sons
bromide print, circa 1916
5 7/8 in. x 4 1/8 in. (148 mm x 105 mm) image size
Photographs Collection
NPG Ax39226
Sitterback to top
- Alice Meynell (née Thompson) (1847-1922), Poet, essayist and journalist. Sitter in 7 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- James Russell & Sons (active 1850s-1940s), Photographers. Artist or producer associated with 692 portraits.
- Walter Stoneman (1876-1958), Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 18527 portraits, Sitter in 8 portraits.
This portraitback to top
This image by Walter Stoneman was taken as part of the National Photographic Record which began in 1917 with the aim of documenting the celebrities of the day. Meynell’s portrait is rich in symbolism; the lily represents both her Catholic faith (as an icon of the Virgin Mary) and her connections to late-Victorian aestheticism. Despite being photographed knitting, Meynell’s daughter later claimed her mother was hopeless at needlework.
Portrait setback to top
Events of 1916back to top
Current affairs
As war drags on with heavy losses conscription is introduced with the Military Service Act. Conscientious objectors who refused to fight were compelled to do non-military war work, and some were jailed.British Summer Time is introduced, putting the clocks forward an hour during the summer in order to capitalise on daylight hours.
Art and science
C. Hubert H. Parry sets William Blake's poem, Jerusalem, to music popularising the poem and tune as a patriotic English anthem. On hearing Edward Elgar's orchestrated version in 1922, King George V suggested that it replace God Save the King as the National Anthem.International
The Irish Citizen Army starts a Nationalist rebellion in Dublin: The Easter Rising.Massive losses are suffered on the Western Front at the battles of the Somme and Verdun.
The Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire (1916-18) led by Prince Faisal is assisted by T.E. Lawrence, who became known as Lawrence of Arabia.
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