Florence Carter-Wood

Florence Carter-Wood (4 September 1888 – 24 July 1914) was a British painter.^[1] She studied at the Forbes School of Painting, founded by Stanhope Forbes and his wife Elizabeth, with her brother Joey.^[2] She went to Cornwall to continue her studies, and while there she mixed with the Lamorna community. She also modeled for portraits by other members of the community, including Harold Knight.^[3]

Florence married the painter Alfred Munnings on 19 January 1912; she first attempted suicide while they were on their honeymoon, and Munnings later stated that the marriage had never been consummated.^[4] Florence subsequently developed a close relationship with his friend, Captain Gilbert Evans, a Welsh army officer and local land agent.^[5][6] Munnings, meanwhile, was close to Laura Knight, herself an artist and the wife of one of his artist acquaintances.^[7]

Evans, not himself an artist, had become closely involved with the Lamorna community and referred to Florence in his diary by the nickname "Blote".^[4] In 1914, after Evans had left for colonial service in Nigeria, she killed herself by taking cyanide;^[6] Her death was the subject of scandal and Munnings is said never to have spoken of her again.^[8] She is buried at Sancreed churchyard, with a headstone that reads: “Edith Florence-‘Blote’ – wife of A.J.Munnings Sept 4, 1888 – July 24, 1914.”^[9] Her brother Joey was killed in action during the First World War.^[3]

Legacy

Alfred Munnings' paintings of his wife, including "Portrait of Florence Munnings at Sunset", painted in the year of their marriage, have been exhibited at the Penlee House Gallery in Cornwall.^[3]

Florence is played by Emily Browning in the film Summer in February, which is based on the novel of the same name by Jonathan Smith.^[5]

References