Madfabulous

It was a bit of an overcast rainy day [not surprising really as we were in Wales which is renowned for it] when we paid Plas Newydd House a visit. Somehow the grey stone worked in all that damp and after the parched summer we've just had down here it was a total surprise to see just how vibrant and colourful the garden looked even in these conditions.

Once we'd crossed the threshold we were faced with a militaria collection which isn't for me personally, but this reflects the taste of the many different owners. Currently there's an exhibition showing recreations of the theatrical outfits worn by the flamboyant 5th Marquis of Anglesey Henry Cyril Paget [1879-1905] where he made his home the place he could express his true self through the clothes he wore. Tragically he died of TB at the tender age of 29. These costumes were made for the 'Madfabulous' film about his life which was released this year.

If you are a fan of Rex Whistler's work [me! me!] you might enjoy the 17.5m mural he was commissioned to paint in 1936. It is the imagined view from the house. It is so rich in detail that I took the time to admire it from both afar and at close quarters. It was his intention to come back and complete the piece after the end of WWII, but alas it was never to be because he lost his life on the first day of action he saw.

At the time I did wonder if the gardener was a self portrait of the artist? It's very discreet, but my hunch was right! Hope you all have a great weekend.

Arilx