Saffronia March
| Saffronia March | |
|---|---|
| Alias | Saff, Miss March |
| Age | 34 |
| Occupation | Painter |
| Resides | St. Crispian’s |
| First Mentioned | Apr. 2, 1883 |
| First Appearance | Sep. 22, 1883 |
“Artist, Family friend. Fellow St. Crispain”
Saffronia March is close friend of Emma and an artist who lives in St. Crispian’s. She is an independent artist who was mentored by Emma's father, Declan Lion, and befriended Emma while studying under him. While she travels frequently, Saffronia lives and paints primary in St. Chrispian's.
Saffronia is single by choice, despite multiple proposals from Italian counts (and others). Despite this, she maintains a close circle of friends, including Emma, other St. Crispains, and London artists.
Her art is successful, bought & sought by notable patrons and exhibited in galleries. She is known for both portraits and landscapes.
Appearance & Personality
Saffronia is a strong, intelligent woman with an olive complexion, dark green eyes, and striking features, including a strong nose and red lips. She is noted for her unique personality and style of dress. [1][2]
Life Sketch
Saffronia was mentored by Emma's father, Declan Lion, when he lived in St._Crispian’s. She would take her work to Lapis Lazuli where Declan would give his brutal and honest opinion on her art. He introduced Saffronia to his artist friends and encouraged her painting. During this time she became a friend to the Lion family.[3][4] At one point Declan invited the Duke of Islington to sit for several aspiring artists, including Saffronia. That painting now hangs in the Lapis Lazuli kitchen.[5]
Sometime later her father died, and she inherited the his home in St. Crispian's, Thrush's Victory, an odd house where the second and third floors are built on top on the neighboring house. Saffronia's grandfather purchased the house from the original family.[4]. She maintains a colorful and messily organized studio on the top floor where she does most of her work.[5]
Saffronia has had a successful painting career. She is friends with many London artists[6], sold and expedited many paintings[3][7], and most recently, traveled to Italy in the spring/summer of 1883 where she painted landscapes and portraits of Italian counts, at least seven of whom she turned down proposals.[3][8][9] She is friendly with many St. Crispains, including Nigel Hawkes and Ben Chambers[10][11].
Relationship with Emma
Emma considers Saffronia one of her closest friends.[12][13]. Emma was almost sent to live with Saffronia when her parents died. [4] Emma planned on asking her to chaperon her when she arrived in St. Crispian's in 1883[3], but her late arrival in September necessitated the creation of Agnes Dowd, a fictional chaperon, who Saffronia has penned multiple letters from.[14][15]
Before she arrived in back in St. Crispain's, Saffronia let Emma choose several painting from her studio.[9] Once she arrived in St. Crispain's, they spend a day together discussing travels and misadventures.[5]. In November they watched a fiery sunset caused by the eruption of Krakatoa together.[16] In December Saffronia took Emma to a party of London artists that Pierce was also at[2] and gave her a painting of the view from Primrose Hill gazing east that she hung in her garret.[17]
In January of 1884, Saffronia invited Emma to her house for dinner on her 21st birthday, along with Hawks and Pierce.[18] She also told Emma about the St. Crispian's Valentines Day fountain tradition.[19] In March she took Emma to the Dulwich Picture Gallery.[10] She also spend much of May Day, after arriving late, with Emma, including them both getting fortunes told.
Trivia
- One of her paintings was bought by the Prince of Wales.[3]
- Agnes Dowd's letters are written by Saffronia[14][15].
- Saffronia is mentioned as being 36 years old on April 2, 1883, but 33 on September 17 & 23, 1883
References
- ↑ Sep. 22, 1883
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dec. 7, 1883
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Apr. 2, 1883
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Sep. 23, 1883
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Aug. 13, 1883
- ↑ Dec. 07, 1883
- ↑ Jun. 13, 1884
- ↑ Jun. 4, 1883
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Aug. 11, 1883
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Mar. 28, 1884
- ↑ Apr. 24, 1884
- ↑ Dec. 17, 1883
- ↑ May 21, 1884
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Oct. 11, 1883
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Nov. 12, 1883
- ↑ Nov. 2, 1883
- ↑ Dec. 25, 1883
- ↑ Jan. 13, 1884
- ↑ Feb. 14, 1884
