Since they were created Earls of Derby in 1485, the Stanleys – a great Lancastrian family, whose seat, Knowsley Hall, is near Liverpool – have been significant in the life of the nation as patrons and collectors, sportsmen and politicians. These absorbing essays by a distinguished cast of contributors including the historian David Starkey, on Lady Margaret Beaufort, the first Countess of Derby, and Sir David Attenborough, on Edward Lear’s stay at Knowsley – cover key facets of the family’s diverse achievements.
In particular, the section ANIMALS & EDWARD LEAR, c. 1830-1890 includes three essays that are very relevant for the 13th Earl’s patronage of Edward Lear and natural history interests at Knowsley: “Edward Lear and the 13th Earl of Derby” by Sir David Attenborough, “The 13th Earl of Derby’s Menagerie and Aviary at Knowsley” by Dr Clemency Fisher (World Museum, National Museums Liverpool) and “Edward Lear’s Landscapes at Knowsley” by Dr. Colin Harrison (Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford).
About the Editor
Stephen Lloyd is Curator of the Derby Collection at Knowsley Hall, with responsibility for the art collections, the celebrated natural history library and the family archive. In 2013, he organised a major conference at Knowsley, bringing together historians, art historians and natural historians to celebrate the wide-ranging achievements of the Stanley family and to raise the research profile of their legacy.
The Contributors
Power, Play & Performance: David Starkey, Elspeth Graham, Gill Perry
Patronage & Collecting: Richard Stephens, Jonathan Yarker, Xanthe Brooke
Animals & Edward Lear: Sir David Attenborough, Clemency Fisher, Colin Harrison
Politics & Foreign Affairs: Geoffrey Hicks, Angus Hawkins, Bendor Grosvenor, Jennifer Davey
You can purchase the publication online: http://www.unicornpress.org/page/detail/Art-Animals-and-Politics-Knowsley-and-the-Earls-of-Derby/?ISB=e201512211221433898