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Elizabeth Augusta Chant Analysis

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A Cosmopolitan port city that attracts people of all nationalities and cultures, Wilmington has long been an attractive location, historically and culturally. Wilmington has experienced many historical events in its over 280 year past. It is no surprise that the special essence of the port city has attracted literary figures, artists, and others that were sincerely inquisitive and wanted to experience life as a Wilmingtonian. In the words of author, Philip Gerard, “People come to Wilmington deliberately, to visit or to settle. They don’t just pass through. A few of those natives and newcomers become characters in the story of the city — and in turn make up its artistic soul.” The goal of this research assignment is to examine …show more content…

Keeping in mind that neither of these individuals were native Wilmingtonians, the essay will specifically discuss what drew these individuals to this region. One particular example is Elizabeth Augusta Chant. A famed artist of her time, Chant lived from 1865 to 1947. She was born in Somerset, England and found her way to the Lower Cape Fear by 1922 where she spent the rest of her life. Specific scholarly articles such as Anne G. Brennan’s article “Elizabeth Augusta Chant: Soft-Spoken Prophet of the American Arts and Crafts Movement” and Jay Henry Mac MacMillian’s monograph, “Violet and Gold”: The Story of Artistic Activity on Cottage Lane” provide a detailed background about the artist, as well as her mannerisms and subject matter. The second case study will be Robert Harril, or as he is more commonly known, “The Fort Fisher Hermit”. Harrill was a native North Carolinian who had a very turbulent past, indeed. Born on Groundhog Day in 1893, Robert had a very rough childhood that carried over into adulthood. Through a series of unfortunate events ended up seeking solitude in the Lower Cape Fear where he ultimately died in 1972. Michael F. Edwards, a lifetime admirer and fan

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