Edwin Lutyens, Charles Bressey and my mother

In one of my previous blogs I mentioned the suffragist Lady Emily Lutyens. Emily was née Bulwer Lytton, daughter of the Viceroy of India Robert, and wife of one of the most prominent architects of her time, Edwin Lutyens. Edwin became famous as a country-house architect, but even more so as the architect of New Delhi, a job which he got through his father-in-law of course. Emily became a member of the Theosophical Society in 1910. As an upper-class lady she became a pillar in the financial and social support of the Society. 

Theosophical connections or influence do not interest me much this time, however. I am more interested in the architect Edwin himself and his connections. Because these eventually, in a wide arch and only indirectly, come back to my own family. More precisely: my mother. It is too amusing a story not to tell, with an unusual twist, interesting historical dimensions and even a connection with art! It also serves to tell how someone can strike a deep note within someone else, without ever hearing how effective the strike had been.

The suffragette and the Dodge heiress at The Art Archives

Muriel and Gilbert on their honeymoon, 1891.

Countess Muriel De La Warr, nee Brassey (1872-1930), became a member of The Theosophical Society as a convinced and active suffragette. She did not pride herself on her progressive work and her financing of the movement, according to a close friend, the Christian Socialist George Lansbury. Lansbury was one of the founders of the Daily Herald and a fervent supporter of women’s rights. His campaigns were largely funded by Muriel. George had been a railway contractor before his political career, just as Muriel’s grandfather had been, Thomas Brassey (1805-1870). He laid the railways throughout the whole of the British Empire. And had as a result become unfathomably rich. But this was not enough for Muriel. She wanted to have the title of a countess. Therefore Muriel married Gilbert Sackville, 8th Earl De La Warr (pronounced as: Delaware) in 1891. Gilbert belonged to the oldest of English upper-class families. However, his family’s fortunes had dwindled, and he needed money. Muriel had enough of the stuff.

Membership list Theosophical Society online at TheArtArchives

On January 1, 1915 the Theosophical Society registered its 57.762th member at the headquarters in Adyar, India.The popularity of the society had increased immensely. More people joined the society in this decade compared to the 30-year period 1875-1905.

Many new countries are now represented, e.g. Hungary, Finland, Cuba, Egypt, Tasmania, Mauritius, Russia, South-Africa, Greece, Turkey. And the first Japanese member registered.

All 57.761 members can now be studied at TheArtArchives! 

The list shows a colorful bunch of people: Karl Wolfskehl, Piet Mondrian, Yiddu Krishnamurti, Christian Morgenstern, Fritz von Herzmanovsky, Ada Fuller, Emily Lutyens, Ely Star, Ananda Coomaraswamy, Marie Langen-von Strachwitz, Countess Maria Radziwill, Baroness Maya Knoop, Henri Soubeyran de Saint-Prix and Prince Mohamed Riza Khan.

Behind every name is a story, sometimes with a surprising twist. Today the story of the Lithuanian Count Maurycy Prozor

The story of Count Prozor

On January 1, 1915 the Theosophical Society registered its 57.762th member at the headquarters in Adyar, India.The popularity of the society had increased immensely. More people joined the society in this decade, compared to the 30-year period 1875-1905.

All 57.761 members can now be studied at TheArtArchives!

The list shows a colorful bunch op people: Karl Wolfskehl, Piet Mondrian, Yiddu Krishnamurti, Christian Morgenstern, Fritz von Herzmanovsky, Ada Fuller, Emily Lutyens, Ely Star, Ananda Coomaraswamy, Marie Langen-von Strachwitz, Countess Maria Radziwill, Henri Soubeyran de Saint-Prix and Prince Mohamed Riza Khan.

Behind every name is a story, sometimes with a surprising twist.
Today the story of the Lithuanian Count Maurycy Prozor.