184 'WATERLILIES'
by William Jabez Muckley (1837-1905)

If any flower could smile at you, surely the waterlily can (Castalia, Nymphaea, Nuphur). For these beautiful blooms have the most amazing qualities which seem to bring out the best in people. We don't really need to know exactly why either, because it might spoil the magic! And the magic of the species goes back to the dawn of history.

According to Buddhist teaching, waterlilies represent the re-emergence of the soul. And the Egyptians revering its daily ritual of opening at sunrise and closing at twilight, considered the waterlily as an important symbol of rebirth linked with Ra the Sun God.

These yellowish white blooms with their fiery stamen are summer pond-lilies and have the sweetest of scent (C. Odorata) which not only attracts 'mere mortals', but also the entire aquatic insect family, from hover-flies to the beautifully coloured dragonflies. These are in some way important captivating partners to the pond lily, because they are so impressive in their own way too. These bowl-shaped flowers have numerous interwoven petals and numerous stamen.

The fish below also love the lilies' broad flat leaves to help keep them cool from the rays of the midsummer sun. They act just like a natural sunshade. In fact this aquatic perennial can do no wrong. (Except that it clogs up slow moving watercourses if its not cleared regularly.)

Monet has probably painted more waterlilies than any other artist ever. His 'Grand Decoration' which he began painting in 1914 had no less than 22 panels! (The surface in his water-garden at Giverny in France became clogged up too).

It was in 1888 at a time when waterlilies were very rare and expensive that the Marinial Exhibition in Paris was first held. Marinial himself bought together many exotic varieties, and Monet who visited this incredible array, first became so enticed. The Reds and Pinks which his paintings are famous for, were there as were the blue and white waterlilies from Egypt, other varieties from India, Japan, China and Mexico. (Can someone please let me know: Did the exhibition include the huge 'Queen Victoria' waterlily from the Amazon, with its twelve inch blooms and six and a half feet diameter leaves? I am still trying to find a reference.)

William Jabez Muckley was born in Audnum, Worcestershire and specialised in painting still life and flowers. He exhibited at the RA from when he was only 22 years old, for a total of 46 years. He studied in Paris London and Birmingham, and went on to teach in schools in both Wolverhampton and Manchester. Much of his work is housed at the Manchester City Art Gallery.