Character : This gorgeous picture was drawn of me and my sisters as we attended the private viewing of Sidney Darrell’s works at the Berkeley Galleries. He extended an invitation after our attendance at show sunday. I decided to keep this image because I want it to be known that I attended in my bonnet as I requested. My sisters are always roping me into things, a great example being this photography business in the first place. I never wanted to do anything of the sorts for us meek girls are not cut out for it. Why bother when all the men’s businesses down the street get more attention than we do? However, I will admit the occasion was refreshing. It was a nice change to be among distinguished people who knew how to put together an event. I do hope no one reads this, but as the oldest, I am concerned about Phyllis’ interest for Sidney Darrell or rather Sidney Darrells’ attention for Phyllis, however I do enjoy tagging along for her sittings. Gertrude is more concerned than any of us, but why wouldn’t she be? She is always wanting to be in control of everything, especially the photography business. I am in good hope Mr. Darrell could see Phyllis as a good wife and likewise, so that maybe one of us can be advancing our lives and our wealth. I still await Mr. Marsh, so I am of no help in progressing the marital status of my sisters and I. The private viewing was pleasant nonetheless and we keep seeing more and more of Sydney Darrell and Lord Watergate since this event.
Scholar entry: It is interesting to note the differences between Fanny and Gertrude Lorimer based on the entry I found once again in Fanny Lorimer’s scrapbook. Fanny is seemingly more on the reserved side and as discussed, also of the Old Woman mindset, or just overall more traditional. Gertrude on the other hand is pushing to be in control in this instance and she is an advocate for expanding the photography business while trying to keep her sister away from a man. Gertrude is seen as a New Woman in the sense that she has more progressive views and seems to drive her focus to protecting her family and making money while someone like Fanny is waiting on her future husband. Women during this Victorian time were supposed to marry to accrue wealth, however the single sisters have to make due for themselves. “The Education and Employment of Women,” by Josephine E. Butler states,“The common objection brought before the society for promoting the employment of women is that a risk would be thus incurred of decreasing the employment of men.” This proves that during this time men were the workers and money makers while women were supposed to stay home. In the case of the Lorimer sisters, they were making money which threatened the men in society and people did not want to get the sisters to photograph all that much due to the fact that they were women. Although the business got decent attention, it was always a slight competition between the businesses that were male owned and the ones that were run by women, hence the heavy attention from the men in Fanny Lorimer’s entry. Overall, many advancements have been made since the Victorian era and it is not seen as profound anymore if a woman owns a business.
Butler, Josephine Elizabeth Grey, 1828-1906. The Education And Employment of Women. London: Macmillan, 1868.
Du Maurier, George. Philip was audaciously mimicking Mrs. Winnington to her face. 1863. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, Cornhill Magazine, http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print. Accessed 2023.