Artweeks Exhibiton

Did you know that there is only one British butterfly named after a person and that, surprisingly it is a woman? Eleanor Glanville was born in 1645 in Tickenham Court Somerset, was twice married, had five children but had a passion for collecting and studying insects, especially butterflies, at a time when this was very unusual for a gentlewoman.

She was reportedly seen ‘without all necessary clothes’ ‘like a gypsy’ and taking servant girls with her to lay sheets under bushes, beating the boughs with a long pole where they ‘catch’d a parcel of wormes’ which was how caterpillars were referred to. These she would take home so she could observe them as they pupated and eventually turned into butterflies and in turn lay their eggs on ribwort plantain and begin the cycle again.

She corresponded with, and sent samples to several naturalists of the era, who respected her and her burgeoning collection, some of which were left to what is now the Natural History Museum.

There is not that much biographical detail about Eleanor, although it’s reported that her second marriage to Richard Glanville was abusive and it’s tempting to think her butterfly collecting and scientific work was an escape and a solace even if she risked her reputation to persue it. This was a time when accusations of witchcraft were often made of women who were believed to have transgressed.

Having inherited wealth in her own right, after she died there was much fighting over her will. Not wanting any of it to go to Richard the major part was left to a cousin. One of her sons then challenged this in court with the argument that she was not of sound mind because of all her eccentric insect collecting. Sadly the judge agreed, declaring that ‘no one not deprived of their senses should go in pursuit of butterflyes’ and her will was struck down.

More happily in subsequent years, a butterfly species that Eleanor had caught in Lincolnshire and sent to entomologist James Petiver, was named by him in her memory. The Glanville Fritilliary is now only found in the Isle of Wight although climate change may increase its range onto the mainland.

The life of Eleanor is the basis of my new exhibition taking place at the Cornerstone Art Centre in Didcot from 1st to 30th May. In textile, print, collage, written word and video I am attempting to depict what it meant for a woman to refuse to conform to expected conventions and of her exploration of the natural world to tell the story of this compelling naturalist and the butterfly named after her.

Although nowadays we use the word ‘psyche’ to mean the mind, in Greek mythology Psyche was depicted as a mortal with butterfly wings and represents the soul enduring earthly trials to achieve immortality and freedom.

Print Workshop