Sailors in Art (part 1)

 Sailors in Art

(part 1)

Sailors have often been included in art from satirical prints and erotic art of the 20th century, there is something about sailors and their dress that captures the eye and the imagination of many artists.

While many of these images are fictional aspects of the uniform or sailors' attire are always recognisable due to their distinct nature. 

A Modern Harlots Progress

Why are there so many sailors in art, there are a number of reasons, their distinctive uniform and clothing make them stand out, but also in the late eighteenth century there were around 81000 British-owned ships, mainly merchant ships, with just over 400 Royal Navy ships, this means there were a lot of sailors.

The Sailors Farewell

Many of these images are of daily scenes of life, but the sailor has also often been the figure of erotic fiction and images, from John Cleland's Fanny Hill in 1740 (and its later illustrations by Edouard-Henri Avril) and Thomas Rowlandson erotiques such through to modern erotic work in drawn or even photographic media from the like of Tom of Finland.

More on Erotic sailor art here, note this page is Not Safe for Work and is of an adult nature 

Meetings and More

 Meetings and more 

What started out with a pleasant walk to my home station turned in to a rather soggy walk to university.

Friday was a day of training sessions an meetings to organise events for the academic society.

A Mixed Day

 

Starting with a chance to ctach up and chat to a friend briefly, which was lovely, I was then able to assist a fellow student with some SU admin.

The afternoon spent at a regional conference, where I was finally able to meet some of my fellow collegues from the educational charity I work for.  Which turned out to be a very productive and informative afternoon. Watch this space.

And the evening another two hours online, learning the imposrtance of a good Litrarture Review. It was interesting, a little scarfy and I suspect far more than I needed to know as seemed to be very much aimed at PhD students. Was it useful? I think so, I hope so, time will tell.

Trains

Trains

Trains may seem an odd subject for my blog, but I suspect I will mention them a lot. Not because I particularly love trains, I mean I like them, I spend a lot of my life on trains, or I would If they were not on strike (again).

Yes, rail strikes are the bain of my life at the moment. I understand the reasons and support many of them, but I need to get to University, I need to get to work, I need to get to the library. As a student who doesn't drive I need public transport, the buses are often cancelled or late, and the distance I travel means trains are essential. 

When trains are running they are often overcrowded, due to cancellations, fewer coaches than expected or simply that it's a busy time. This morning I spent my entire journey on one train in a stranger's armpit, thankfully he was a hygienic stranger and it was early in the day. 
Monday my journey involved being constantly whacked with a fellow passenger's backpack, please take bags off on busy trains, espev=cially if you have no concept of your extra hump. 
Does it make me want to learn to drive? honestly not really, I do generally enjoy my journies and find it a useful time to be able to read, make notes or simply research.  Even packed into a small corner I can read a book and add sticky tabs for later reference or listen to an audiobook, often both. 

The Duke of Brunswick's Hat

The Duke of Brunswick's Hat 

I'm currently reading a range of books, completely immersing myself in all things Royal Navy.  One book I found by chance online while looking for another book was 

We Joined the Navy, 

Traditions, Customs and nomenclature of the Royal Navy. 

Petty Officer Writer Robert Burgess & Leading Writer Roland Blackburn

1943

This hand little pocket-sized book is full of useful facts and information. Having gathered the relevant information I needed I was drawn to the "True Sailors Yarns, Customs and Traditions" chapter, knowing how sailers like to spin a good dit. One such dit caught my eye as relevant to my research.

The Duke of Brunswick's Hat

During Lord Howe's famous victory of the "Glorious First of June" an incident occurred which again illustrates the Bristish Sailors indomitable light-heartedness, even in the stress of the fiercest action. The (HMS) Brunswick had for its figure-head an effigy of its namesake, the Duke of Brunswick, and when the ship was locked in a close-range duel with the French Vengeur the "Duke's" gorgeous gold-laced hat was shot off.

Now a sailor can stand so much, but there comes a point where a halt must be called, and this was the point. It was little short of sacrilege that any Frenchman should dare so to affront the Duke. A meeting was instantly held, in midst of flying shot and all kinds of missiles, and finally, a stern-faced deputation approached the Captain. Their request must not bot be considered flippant, for these trifles matter much to Jack. They asked the Captain for a loan of his own personal gold-laced hat to replace that so blatantly removed by cannonball !! The request was granted, the hat produced and nailed firmly in place on the effigy's recently bald head. There it stuck until the conclusion of the action when it was returned, , none the worse for wear, to the Captain. 

The 'Brunswick' and the 'Vengeur du Peuple' at the Battle of the First of June, 1794 

Situation of HMS Brunswick 1 of June 1794

 

I can not find any reference to this incident anywhere else, so have no idea if the story is true or not. However the Captain of the Briunswich for the battle of the Glorious First of June was John Harvey, who dies from his wounds in the battle, with Lieutenant William Edward Cracraft taking command of the ship for the remainder of the battle, so maybe it was his hat. 

Captain John Harvey 

Is it true, maybe, maybe not, but it is a good dit and that's what the navy does best. 

Teaching

 I am feeling really proud of my students most of whom hadn't used a sewing machine a few weeks ago, but all have now made a bag of their own design. 

Here are a few of their great bags.

First Supervision

 First Supervision today.

Today was my first supervision meeting and my second ever meeting with my supervisor.  I was nervous and excited, and if I'm honest feeling completely out of my depth. Did I need to be worried? No of course not. My supervisor is lovely and put me at ease, we had a good chat, and she set me some tasks for our next meeting in two weeks.

Three pages of notes, to write up, definitely looking forward to the year ahead.

Plans and Trips

 London

I spent a large part of the day planning my first research trip to London. Not sure of the dates yet, but have been building a list of places I need to visit and resources I need to see. What started out as a couple of nights away is now up to five nights. 

There are the obvious must-visit places such as National Maritime Museum Greenwich, but then other places such as Cutty Sark and The Tower of London have crept in. 

Also after the Westminster Effigies talk, I attended I now need to go and see these, though this is relevant as they have an effigy of Horatio Nelson, complete with a Bicorn (More on him later).

Then comes accommodation and travel, so much to consider. 

Cookies, well Biscuits

 Whilst browsing for a gift for a former sailor I stumbled across this cookie cutter. 

I may have to get one as it is relevant to my research, he is wearing a Bicorn, though it's obviously an early career Nelson. 

Nelson Cookie Cutter

Well That was a busy week

My degree officially starts today the 1st October, but last week was so busy, yet satisfying and oddly relaxing, I've missed being really busy.

Starting Monday with a one-to-one session on getting into teaching with lots of great advice, do I want to be a teacher, honestly I am not sure yet. That said I am really enjoying teaching, and new experiences, training and qualifications are always a bonus. 

The chat was really useful and certainly gave me some thinking points and areas for further investigation.

Tuesday was a successful day at work with my students, most of whom had never touched a sewing machine before, all designing and making their own bags. I was really impressed with this and very proud of them all.

Wednesday started with a two-hour online training session on Period dignity and Menopause from BECTU, found this surprisingly interesting and learned a lot, much of which I have already passed on to others. 

From this, I dashed to a coordinators meeting for our academic society, and this went well. Then onto another meeting, while also taking part in an online Postgrad catch-up meeting

Thursday a meeting with my volunteer manager and mentor, for the sports volunteering I am doing, followed by a little spare time to dash into town to buy materials for the session I was running later in the day. Then a meeting with a  theatre company about a project for the academic society. I did however manage to have a brief lunch with a friend before delivering a session on Yarncrafts for the school of applied sciences, this was well received with some students asking for another session.

Before in the evening when I discovered I now have access to SkillsForge, so the evening was spent updating that and booking courses. 

Friday a day off, that isn't a day off in the way other people have a day off, that means a day of floristry ready for a family wedding. 

Friday evening a little light research and reading, some more time booking training on SkillsForge, and some Society organisation. 

The future

 Not actually started my degree yet, but I'm planning for the future. Is that wrong? I'm not sure.

Assuming I pass and survive the Masters, what's next?

I had thought of a PhD, but now I'm now thinking of a teaching degree as well. Again teaching is not a new idea, as I have considered it before, but now I'm thinking maybe teaching then PhD. 

When I say teaching I'm thinking either secondary or more likely post 16.

So what have I done, booked a get-in to teaching appointment, booked to attend university open days, and got myself all confused?

            

Let them eat cake

 Let them eat cake, no nothing to do with Marie Antionette. Today was the Student Union Tea Party, and that means one thing Free Cake, lots of cake.

Welcome (Freshers) Week

 Well its began, the new academic year has started. 

After a busy first day actully teaching my costume class at collage, I dashed through t university for th highlight of the year. Welcom fair. 

A tie when thousands of students eat lots of free pizza ad pack in to an over heated sports hall to view wha th unversities many societies have to offer. You can gt free sweets, free drinks, lanyards, safety advice frm the local Fire Service, free bags, or from our stall The Costume Society free sketch books.

All the while being entertained by th local nightclub banging out so music.  For many students this is some kind of fresh new hell that scares them so much they ae scared to come for day two of welcome fair, for others the forget to go to their lectures and spend the dayeating sweets and soaking up the club like (with lights) of the sweaty sports hall. Most first years dont join as they have forgotton all that they saw on the way round. For those of usthat have done it all before we sit and watch, spotting the ew rather bewildered oun students, or the far more confident mature students who wonder what exactly they have let themselve in for. 

It is however lovely to meet new students and old studnts, students returning from Placement somee of whom due to covid have not yet experienced a Welcome fair.

Tomorrow I'll have a nosy and see what else is here, but for today I'll sit and watch, observe the mayhem, the stdents with a character nd those still to develop one. 

A Day of Mourning

 Monarchist or not it would be hard not to be drawn to the TV coverage of the late Queen's funeral today. The pomp and ceremony, the uniforms, the dignitaries and of course the adorable Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

I confess that while today was a day off from research, I did spend a good chunk of it looking at the uniforms of the visiting Commonwealth country's servicemen and women.

I also mounted a  set of seven Full-size medals.