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Rufa Hennell

A black and white photograph of a woman. Her hair is plaited around the top. There is a light veil around the back of her head. She is wearing a white collar and dark cloak or shawl fastened with a broach. The photograph as a gold border and frame.

Elizabeth Hennell’s nickname was Rufa due to her red hair. Rufa’s father, Dr Brabant employed George Eliot to translate Strauss’s Das Leben Jesu in 1843. Rufa had begun the translation work but stopped due to the demands of married life. Rufa married Charles Hennell in 1842 and George Eliot was their bridesmaid. Charles died in 1850 and Rufa married WMW Call in 1857.

Objects relating to Rufa Hennell

Watercolour painting of Charles Christian Hennell. Shows a man. He is wearing glasses, a high collar, shirt, waistcoat and jacket. On the right hand side is a plant or tree.

Painting of Charles Christian Hennell

Painting of Dr Robert Brabant. Shows a man looking slightly to one side. He has white/grey hair and is wearing a high white collar, white shirt, black neck tie and black jacket.

Portrait of Dr Robert Herbert Brabant

Open book showing the inner pages. The right hand page has the following text. The Life of Jesus, critically examined by Dr David Friedrich Strauss. Translated from the fourth German edition.

Sara Hennell’s copy of ‘Das Leben Jesu’ by Strauss