Free Talk with Refreshments: What did Cowper Wear?
Based around some of the museum’s portraits of Cowper, this short walking talk around the museum, will be a foretaste of next year’s display of Georgian clothing in our collection.
William Cowper
William Cowper’s Writing Slope
A box, but a very special box. It is Cowper’s portable writing box, which opens up to become a miniature desk. This ‘writing slope’, to give it its correct designation, dates from around 1790. It was part of a collection of Cowper memorabilia that had passed by descent to the Cowper Johnson family, and purchased … Read more
The language of rings: William Cowper and his women friends
Here we look at two rings in the museum collection which date from the mid-eighteenth century and are said to have belonged to William Cowper. We also discuss the romantic nuances associated with them. The seal ring The cameo ring Both rings came to the museum from descendants of the Cowpers and Johnsons, and both … Read more
Patchwork and Plum Cake – ‘good things’ from Mrs King
The counterpane in Cowper’s bedroom is made of cotton, and was finished in about 1790. It was made for him by one of his female admirers, a Mrs King of Pertenhall, near Kimbolton, Bedfordshire. The backcloth is of ‘tabby weave’ (a simple ‘over and under’ weave) and is undyed. To it are applied various cut-out … Read more
Honouring the Hares
Cowper’s three hares – Puss, Tiney and Bess – soon became an integral part of his life story and have remained so. Two of the earliest representations of them appear on a three-seal fob and a snuff box, both on display in the museum. The seal fob dates from the reign of George III (1760-1820) … Read more
The History of My Three Hares
The most detailed account of Cowper’s pet hares is contained in a letter he sent to The Gentleman’s Magazine. It was published in the June 1784 issue, and listed rather prosaically on the contents page as ‘Unnoticed properties of the Hare’. (In the same issue is a description of ‘Experiments on various Air Balloons’, another … Read more
A lavender water bottle
Our examination of this small bottle prompts reflections on perfumes, herbal remedies, gardening and the English weather. It was given to Wordsworth after Cowper’s death. The Wordsworth connection William Wordsworth (1770-1850) admired Cowper’s work, and was influenced by it. In a letter of 22 December 1814, he wrote: ‘…with the exception of Burns and Cowper, … Read more
Olney Virtual Walk & Talk
Join local historian Tom Jones on a Virtual Walk & Talk of the history and heritage around the area of the Market Place, Church and river in Olney on Saturday 17th April 10.30 via Zoom
Cowper’s fashion accessories
Here we focus on a few small items of dress, carefully chosen by Cowper to present himself creditably to the world. We begin with a buckle Cowper used to pin a fine linen neckcloth (called a stock) firmly round his neck. These were definitely part of a gentleman’s attire, and helped to define you as … Read more
Cowper’s Pocket Watch – a Musical Movement with Bassoon
William Cowper’s pocket watch, gifted to him by his cousin Theodora, has inspired a new piece of music for bassoon by composer Lara Poe. Romantic Europe: The Virtual Exhibition (RÊVE) is a project and website which showcases and shares Romantic texts, objects, and places through collaborations between academic researchers, museums, galleries and other cultural groupings. … Read more
Cowper’s spaniel, Beau
So familiar is the depiction of Cowper in terms of the three male hares that he reared and kept as pets, Puss, Bess and Tiney, that this frontispiece to an early and extensively illustrated book devoted to Cowper’s Olney may well come as something of a surprise. It shows a silhouette of Cowper’s head ‘from … Read more
