The Mansfield Traquair Centre

Phoebe Anna Traquair is known to have decorated only three pieces of furniture and was commissioned in 1908 to decorate this Steinway piano for Frank Tennant as part of the restoration and furnishing of Lympne Castle, Kent. The piano features beautifully detailed watercolour studies of ‘The Song of Solomon’ and illustrations of ‘Willowwood’, her favourite Rossetti poem. In addition the inside piano lid was painted with Pan playing his pipes, with Psyche’s torso and Eros (this section of the piano lid was painted out in 1911 at the request of Mrs Tennant, a pianist). You can see the piano and other examples of Phoebe Traquair’s work at the National Museums of Scotland. National Museums Scotland

We are open tomorrow between 1 and 4 for visits and guided tours - all free, but donations are welcome to help preserve Phoebe Anna Traquair's fabulous mural paintings.

Our volunteers love showing visitors around this beautiful building - we're putting our appreciation on record to mark National Volunteers Week.

Plan your Fringe visits: we will be open between 10.30 and 12.30 daily (except Saturdays) from 11 - 27 August inclusive. Entry is free but donations are very welcome.

On this day in 1852, the artist Phoebe Anna Moss was born in County Dublin and settled in Edinburgh following her marriage to Dr Ramsay Traquair. Phoebe Anna Traquair was a leading figure in Scotland’s Arts and Crafts movement. The largest example of her mural work can be seen at Mansfield Traquair Centre https://visitmansfieldtraquair.uk/visit
Photo: bust of Phoebe Anna Traquair at Scottish National Portrait Gallery National Galleries of Scotland

Today we're featuring another of Phoebe's many talents: illuminated manuscripts. The Willowwood poem manuscripts of 1890 illustrate the sonnets of artist-poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Phoebe's design reflects Rossetti's own painting style, itself heavily influenced by medieval illuminated manuscripts.

We are open on Sunday this weekend (10 May) from 1 until 4 (last guided tour at 3.15). Entry is free but donations are really appreciated.

Another of Phoebe's many talents was enameled jewellery - here's one lovely example from the National Gallery of Scotland.

Embroidery was another of Phoebe's many talents - these are details from her magnificent series of 4 panels 'Progress of a soul' which can be seen at the National Gallery www.nationalgalleries.org/visit/scottish-national-gallery

Did Phoebe Traquair inspire Joan Eardley? Find out more at the Joan Eardley exhibition at Mod 2 - more information here: www.nationalgalleries.org/exhibition/joan-eardley-nature-painting