Hannah C. Preston MacGoun

Portrait of Pet Marjorie

Portrait of Pet Marjorie by Hannah C. Preston MacGoun

Artwork Detail

Pet Marjorie was the name given to Marjorie Fleming, a Scottish child prodigy who died in 1811, aged 8, of measles. She was believed to be a distant relative of Sir Walter Scott, and her diary and poems were published posthumously. The diary, in particular, which she kept for the eighteen months before she died, was extremely popular in Victorian times.

She is buried in Abbotshall Kirkyard, Kirkcaldy, and a commemorative plaque in Braeburn. It is Inscribed:

"Pet Marjorie, 1803-1811, Marjorie Fleming wandered here, 'in rural felicity and pleasure' and praised it in her journal as a 'delightful place, Braehead by name, where there is ducks, hens, bubbly-jocks (old Scots word for a Turkey), 2 dogs, 2 cats, swine and which is delightful.'

Title
Portrait of Pet Marjorie
Artist/creator
Hannah C. Preston MacGoun
Production date
1893
Medium
watercolour
Dimensions
136 x 98 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Erica Cowan
Accession no
2006/18
Copyright
No known copyright restrictions
Department
International Art
Display status
Not on display

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