Alexandra Kitchin
Encyclopedia
Alexandra 'Xie' Rhoda Kitchin (29 September, 1864 – 6 April, 1925) was a notable 'child-friend' and favourite photographic subject of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll
).
She was the daughter of Rev. George William Kitchin
(1827–1912), who was Dodgson's colleague at Christ Church, Oxford
, and later became Dean of Winchester
and Dean of Durham. Her godmother was Princess Alexandra of Denmark
, who had been a childhood friend of her mother. Xie had three younger brothers: George Herbert, Hugh Bridges, and Brook Taylor, and a younger sister, Dorothy Maud Mary. All were featured in Dodgson's photographs.
Dodgson photographed her around fifty times, from age four until just before her sixteenth birthday. The works they made together, often in tableau
form, are commonly known to collectors, curators, and the contemporary artists who are inspired by them as the 'Xie' pictures.
She married Arthur Cardew, a civil servant and gifted amateur musician, on 17 April 1890. They had six children: Penelope (b. 1891), Christopher (b. 1894), Richard (1898–1918), Michael
(1901–1983), Philip (b. 1903) and Arthur (b. 1906). The family resided at 4 North View, Wimbledon Common, London
, until Xie's death; they also had a country home at Saunton
. She is buried at Putney Vale Cemetery
.
Unlike Alice Liddell
, Isa Bowman
and other Dodgson 'child-friends', Xie never published reminiscences of him.
Lewis Carroll
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson , better known by the pseudonym Lewis Carroll , was an English author, mathematician, logician, Anglican deacon and photographer. His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass, as well as the poems "The Hunting of the...
).
She was the daughter of Rev. George William Kitchin
George William Kitchin
George William Kitchin was the first Chancellor of the University of Durham, from the institution of the role in 1908 till his death in 1912. He was also the last Dean of Durham Cathedral to govern the university....
(1827–1912), who was Dodgson's colleague at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, and later became Dean of Winchester
Dean of Winchester
The Dean of Winchester is the head of the Chapter of Winchester Cathedral in the city of Winchester, England in the Diocese of Winchester. The first incumbent was the last Prior William Kingsmill and the post is currently held by the Very Revd James Edgar Atwell,MA.-Deans:*1541–1549 William...
and Dean of Durham. Her godmother was Princess Alexandra of Denmark
Alexandra of Denmark
Alexandra of Denmark was the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom...
, who had been a childhood friend of her mother. Xie had three younger brothers: George Herbert, Hugh Bridges, and Brook Taylor, and a younger sister, Dorothy Maud Mary. All were featured in Dodgson's photographs.
Dodgson photographed her around fifty times, from age four until just before her sixteenth birthday. The works they made together, often in tableau
Tableau vivant
Tableau vivant is French for "living picture." The term describes a striking group of suitably costumed actors or artist's models, carefully posed and often theatrically lit. Throughout the duration of the display, the people shown do not speak or move...
form, are commonly known to collectors, curators, and the contemporary artists who are inspired by them as the 'Xie' pictures.
She married Arthur Cardew, a civil servant and gifted amateur musician, on 17 April 1890. They had six children: Penelope (b. 1891), Christopher (b. 1894), Richard (1898–1918), Michael
Michael Cardew
Michael Cardew, OBE, was an English studio potter who worked in West Africa for twenty years.Cardew was the fourth child of Arthur Cardew, a civil servant, and Alexandra Kitchin, the eldest daughter of G.W.Kitchin, the first Chancellor of Durham University...
(1901–1983), Philip (b. 1903) and Arthur (b. 1906). The family resided at 4 North View, Wimbledon Common, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, until Xie's death; they also had a country home at Saunton
Saunton
Saunton is a village located approximately two miles from Braunton on the North Devon coast in the South West of England.Several kilometres long, the village borders the former national nature reserve, Braunton Burrows...
. She is buried at Putney Vale Cemetery
Putney Vale Cemetery
Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium in London is surrounded by Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park, and is located within forty-seven acres of parkland. The cemetery was opened in 1891 and the crematorium in 1938...
.
Unlike Alice Liddell
Alice Liddell
Alice Pleasance Liddell , known for most of her adult life by her married name, Alice Hargreaves, inspired the children's classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, whose protagonist Alice is said to be named after her.-Biography:...
, Isa Bowman
Isa Bowman
Isa Bowman was an actress, a close friend of Lewis Carroll and author of a memoir about his life, The Story of Lewis Carroll, Told for Young People by the Real Alice in Wonderland....
and other Dodgson 'child-friends', Xie never published reminiscences of him.
External links
- Sotheby's (London) Auction — Lewis Carroll photograph of Xie Kitchin, 1870, up for auction November 12, 2007.
- Christopher Cardew; Richard Cardew; Michael Cardew; Philip Cardew 1906 photograph at the National Portrait Gallery