Florence Carter-Wood

Florence Carter-Wood (4 September 1888 – 24 July 1914) was a British painter.[1] She studied at the Forbes School of Painting, founded by Stanhope Forbes and his wife Elizabeth, with her brother Joey.[2] She went to Cornwall to continue her studies, and while there she mixed with the Lamorna community. She also modeled for portraits by other members of the community, including Harold Knight.[3]

Florence Carter-Wood
Born
Edith Florence Carter-Wood

4 September 1888
Died24 July 1914(1914-07-24) (aged 25)
NationalityBritish
Known forPainting
MovementNewlyn School

Florence married the painter Alfred Munnings on 19 January 1912; she first attempted suicide while they were on their honeymoon, and Munnings later stated that the marriage had never been consummated.[4] Florence subsequently developed a close relationship with his friend, Captain Gilbert Evans, a Welsh army officer and local land agent.[5][6] Munnings, meanwhile, was close to Harold Knight's wife Laura, herself an artist, later honoured as a Dame.[7]

Evans, though not an artist, had become closely involved with the Lamorna community and referred to Florence in his diary by the nickname "Blote".[4] In 1914, after Evans had left for colonial service in Nigeria, she killed herself by taking cyanide;[6] Her death was the subject of scandal and Munnings is said never to have spoken of her again.[8] She is buried at Sancreed churchyard, with a headstone that reads: “Edith Florence-‘Blote’ – wife of A.J.Munnings Sept 4, 1888 – July 24, 1914.”[9] Her brother Joey was killed in action during the First World War.[3]

Alfred Munnings's paintings of his wife, including "Portrait of Florence Munnings at Sunset", painted in the year of their marriage, have been exhibited at the Penlee House Gallery in Cornwall.[3]

Florence is played by Emily Browning in the film Summer in February, which is based on the novel of the same name by Jonathan Smith.[5]

References
  1. "Florence CARTER-WOOD | cornwall artists index". Cornwallartists.org. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
  2. Austin Wormleighton; Samuel John Lamorna Birch (January 1995). A painter laureate: Lamorna Birch and his circle. Sansom & Co. p. 112. ISBN 978-1-872971-24-7.
  3. "Summer in February. Art in Lamorna 1910-1914". Women Artists in Cornwall. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  4. "Summer in February: How a Welsh love story was turned into the romance film of the summer". WalesOnline. 21 July 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  5. "Film explores early life of famous horse artist - News". Horsetalk.co.nz. 2013-01-09. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
  6. Read (2013-08-31). "At last Alfred Munnings is being taken seriously again". The Spectator. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
  7. "Secret portrait of British artist hidden behind another canvas by admirer". The Telegraph. 21 September 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  8. "Blote Munnings remembered in Sancreed 100-years after suicide". The Cornishman. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  9. Amy Smith. "Painting of Suffolk artist's fateful first wife on sale for £185,000 - News". Beccles and Bungay Journal. Retrieved 2015-08-08.


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