Jane Austen's House Hosts New Clare Twomey Art Installation Inspired by Her Letters

A site-specific art installation partly inspired by a quote from Pride and Prejudice is running at Jane Austen’s House in England where she spent the last eight years of her life.

Running through November 1 at the writer's museum in Chawton, Hampshire, Till this moment I never knew myself plays with ideas of self-reflection, understanding, and knowledge via 60 mirrors which are displayed throughout the building. These create reflections of the House itself, museum objects, the viewer and other visitors. 

Each mirror is engraved with the quote "Till this moment I never knew myself" from chapter 36 of Pride and Prejudice. The line is spoken by Elizabeth Bennet after reading Mr Darcy’s letter and learning the truth about Mr Wickham’s character, marking a crucial turning point in her regard for Mr Darcy.

The quote is engraved in Jane Austen’s own handwriting. Since there is no surviving manuscript of Pride and Prejudice, Twomey drew on photographs of Jane Austen’s holograph letters held in the Jane Austen’s House collection to recreate the quote word-by-word. Three of the letters used by Twomey will be displayed alongside the artwork.

“To be invited into Jane Austen's words is more than you can explain," said Clare Twomey, "to put your hand on hers and feel the depth of those words. Museums are company and reflection to the worlds we build and believe in, quiet friends that walk with us. These mirrors and Jane Austen’s words bring all that together."

Lizzie Dunford, Jane Austen’s House Director, added: “It has been fascinating to watch an artist of Clare’s calibre and experience be inspired by the letters written by Jane Austen that are such a central part of the collection here at Jane Austen’s House. The work that she has created is multi-faceted, nuanced, and elegant.”

Till this moment I never knew myself is free with House admission.