Madeline Weinrib's Camilla

Inspiration has a way of finding those who seek it out.
When something completely new emerges from our search–a distillation of that inspiration, it's known as an Original. Madeline Weinrib is at her best working in this sphere.  Her travels and art from disparate cultures and centuries have inspired her newest rug design called Camilla.
Camilla is Inspired, & Original.

Where did Madeline look for inspiration?

I took inspiration from Indian mogul flowers as well as Botticelli's the four seasons. Botticelli's flowers are rambling and wild, while mogul flowers are placed in lines and patterns so précisely. It was challenging putting the two ideas together that are such polar opposites. ~MW

Camilla in Pink & Red

"Mogul Painting, Small Clive Album p. 54, a lady with a wine flask and cup, opaque watercolour on paper, Mughal, late 17th or early 18th century.  This painting is part of the Small Clive Album is thought to have been given by Shuja ud-daula, the Nawab of Avadh, to Lord Clive during his last visit to India in 1765-67. It contains 56 leaves on which are Mughal paintings, drawings, and flower

studies on both sides. from the V&A"  See them all and read more here

The flowers are based on fantasy. They are not taken from real flowers but rather designed to be able to translate to a weave. This is difficult to do with a flat weave. 

I hope they feel both orderly but free. ~MW

John Ruskin found inspiration in Botticelli's Primavera as well

Ruskin's Study of Roses, 1874 Pencil, ink, watercolour

 detail of Primavera by Botticelli, above and below

Camilla & Spring, perfection underfoot.

See Camilla at Madeline Weinrib here

ladies in waiting...

.

 .

  The Three Graces

 Antonio  Canova, 1799

 

  The Three Graces

 detail from Primavera

Sandro Botticelli, 1482

& countless others: The Cushing Sisters, The Mitford Sisters,

or

The Miller Sisters by David Seidner, 1995

 Pia Getty, Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, Princess Alexandra von Furstenberg,

or as with the Wyndam Sisters 

not short of  Beaton 

or Sargent will do.

The Wyndham Sisters 1950 by Cecil Beaton

Mrs John Wyndham, Lady Cranborne, Lady Roderic Pratt

 The Wyndham Sisters by John Singer Sargeant 1899

Mrs Madeline Adeane, Lady Pamela Glenconner (Stephen Tennant's mother) and Lady Mary Elcho

from a snap at the Royal Wedding:

three sisters

  The Spencer Sisters

Lady Amelia, Lady Eliza and Lady Kitty

daughters of The 9th Earl Spencer & nieces of Diana, Princess of Wales

history of a Lady, here  

 more Sisters? tell me-

.

Livia's Laurels

Death of Lord Byron
Joseph-Denis Odevaere

XXXV.

Ferrara! in thy wide and grass-grown streets, Whose symmetry was not for solitude, There seems as t'were a curse upon the seats of former sovereigns, and the antique brood of Este, which for many an age made good

Its strength within thy walls, and was of yore Patron or tyrant, as the changing mood Of petty power impell'd, of those he wore The wreath which Dante's brow alone had worn before.

XLI.

The lightning rent from Ariosto's bust The iron crown of laurel's mimic'd leaves; Nor was the ominous element unjust.

For the true laurel wreath which glory weaves is of the tree no bolt of thunder cleaves, And the false semblance but disgraced his brow; Yet still, if fondly superstition grieves, Know that the lightning sanctifies below Whate'er it strikes yon head is doubly sacred now.

from CHILDE HAROLD"S PILGRIMAGE

**Byron's Wreath of Laurel**

Wreaths of laurel on a victor's brow began with Livia Drusilla, wife of Caesar Augustus. "A hen of remarkable whiteness... was holding in its beak a laurel branch bearing its berries" and dropped the branch at Livia's feet. From this time onward, the bird and her offspring resided in nests, at the Poultry on the Tiber where the laurel branch was planted and propagated..."The laurel grove so begun has thriven in a marvelous way..."

From this time, all the Caesars appeared in triumph & held a laurel branch from the original tree in his hand and wore laurel wreath upon his head-and planted the branch. Pliny the Elder

Caesar Augustus

detail from Vermeer's The Art of Painting
close up of Clio, Muse of History

Portrait of a Woman Wearing a Laurel Wreath

Rosalba Giovanna Carriera

Da Vinci's Wreath of Laurel, Palm and Juniper

Dante Alighieri by Sandro Botticelli

try one of Livia's laurels on.

Cesar

Helena



Amour


all by
Louis Mariette

"Nod to ancient elegance in Louis Mariette's detailed headbands. Take inspiration from the classics and pair it with a draped maxi dress for the ultimate in Grecian glamour." from net a porter

** ** Byron's Wreath of Laurel photograph from (here) and Patrick Hunt (here)