A Homage to Frances Soame
This piece is inspired by the exquisite hand written diary of Frances Soame (shown above) — her letters ‘trans sewn’ onto a 18 century christening gown and featuring moon flowers burnt, cut and drawn into fabric. Her diary largely features extracts from the poem of Edward Young’s ‘Night Thoughts’ excepting her own message shown here.
To the beloved Memory of Stephen Soame Esq,
This Monument is erected by his lamenting Widow
Daughter of Sir John Wynn Bart as a lasting
Body of her Affection to a kind and tender Husband
Who departed this life August 11th 1771 Age 34
Stop Passenger, and drop one pitying Tear
Over the lamented form that moulders here
Sad proof alas how soon our bliss is flown
And but just tasted e’re for ever gone.
Yet stay lov’d Shade — ah yet a moment stay
A moment and we all shall haste away.
Thy Frances only waits the child to rear.
Sweet pledge of all on earth my soul holds dear,
When she can spare me I will gladly come
Follow thy summons to the awfull Tomb
Where we may rest secure from mortal strife
Where none will wish to part the Man and Wife
Frances Soame 1771
The Tomb —–clos’d my tears —- —– to flow
When ‘twas the Almighty’s Will to increase my woe
A few short months he spar’d my darling Child
That his connection might be slow and mild
His will be done, and may this keen felt smart
Prove the tired furnace to refine my heart
When this is done. LORD be it thy Desire
To take me from this suffering world to Thee
F.S 1772
This piece is now in a private collection.