What Would Georgie Do? Shortages of Salons

I love 18th century history, absolutely everything. I spend days searching the internet, I love historical movies, and for the books... don't even mention it!!! I don't know much about Georgiana, my speciality is Marie-antoinette and her relations, and that is why I'm following your blog - to know more about Georgiana.

Anyway, this is what is happening. People just don't approve my passion. By this, I mean several things. Sometimes they mock me. Sometimes, they say I read to many non-fiction historical books. Sometimes they roll their eyes when I talk about it. Sometimes they're horrified when they learn that I want to have History in University, and go around screaming "Are you mad, don't you see there is just NO jobs in History?" (let's say that I live in Portugal, and there is basically no job anywhere, but that's another thing!).

The worst is that there are almost no historical reenactments here. I love to talk about History, but not if I'm just the one who's talking and the other's listening. You know, who doesn't like to share interests with someone who is fascinated by History too? But I never met anyone like that. Some people just like to listen to me talk about Marie-Antoinette... Sometimes it's absolutely desperating, I feel alone. Your blog's a blessing, really. So, what would you (or what would Georgiana do?!) in such a case?

Júlia

Well, one of the things that I have always admired in Georgiana is that she dared to go against the grain and do things different. Luckily for her, she had good taste and her risks usually resulted in others following her lead. When Georgiana was in exile on the continent she began to explore geology and other sciences, a hobby that she would have for the rest of her life. It was also a hobby that not many women were even interested in, especially her old friends. So how was she able to cultivate this hobby? She networked, and found others who shared her love. She held scientific discussion groups at her house and attended lectures.

This task is even easier for us in this fantastic age of the internet. We can connect with those who have a similar interest from all over the world; as you have discovered! If Georgiana was here today would she have a blog or twitter? Absolutely! I think you are doing the right thing by finding an internet community. If you want to participating in discussions on Marie Antoinette rather than giving them I would recommend joining a Forum. If you google 'Marie Antoinette Forum,' you shall find plenty! That way, you are in more a salon setting than a classroom.

Never underestimate the power of becoming a member of a museum or signing up for their newsletters. Many museums and colleges have open lectures you can go to and also network in. I've never paid a cent to hear a lecture and I've seen (and learned) from some amazing people.

The most important thing you can learn from Georgiana is that it is okay to try something different, even if you are criticized by others. The worst that can happen is you fail, and then you just have to get up on your feet again. It happened many times to her and it just made her all the more interesting of a personality!

Tart of the Week: Sarah Countess of Tyrconnel

Sarah Hussey was born into money which meant two thing: a prestigious marriage and scandal. Being a grand heiress, poor-ish nobles were lining up to marry Sarah by the time she was sixteen. The man who won Sarah's hand (and money) was George Carpenter, the earl of Tyrconnel, an Irish peer. George has already been married, which made Sarah his second countess. What happened to the first countess you may ask. Well, Lady Frances was still very much alive; she had just gone through the pricey process of divorce, or rather, George had gone through it, to do away with her.

Sarah picked up where the former Lady Tyrconnel left off. She quickly got bored with her older husband and went out partying and man-scouting. She seemed to have hit the jackpot in 1788 when she began an affair with Prince Frederick, Duke of York. As with just about all royal affairs, the press had a field day, boosting Sarah up to celebrity status. The strangest aspect of the whole affair: both Sarah's father and husband were blooming with pride. When Frederick broke off the affair a year later, the two men were more upset than Sarah. It sounds like something out of The Tudors, no?

Sarah wasn't one to mope around about broken relationships. She moved on. The next man in her life was John, Earl of Strathmore, son of none other than Mary Eleanor Bowes. Once again, satirical prints loved the pretty little countess' affair and it publicized for all to see. But this time, the affair seemed to mean a little more to Sarah, she loved John. Finally, one day she just up and left George and went away to live in sin with John. Afterall, she was an independant woman. When the artist John Downman was portraying her, he noted such. Sadly, Sarah's legacy was not to last very long. She died in 1800 from a bad cold at the age of thirty-seven. Her final resting place is the illustrious Westminster Abbey.

The Results are In!

Last month I began a poll to see if my blog readership mostly consisted of Tories or Whigs. Well the results are overwhelming Whig (84% in fact). It seems most favor the same political party our beloved duchess subscribed to.

Which makes me feel a bit like the Morning Chronicle.

The 18th century saw the birth of the press as we know it and, more importantly, freedom of press. Because of these two aspects, newspapers tended to lean toward certain political opinions, just as certain television networks do now. The Morning Post favoured the Tories whilst the Morning Chronicle favoured the Whigs. While Georgiana was canvassing in the 1784 election, the Morning Post was notoriously badmouthing her every move and making up scathing falsities. But of course the Morning Chronicle was not without its own faults; no newspaper was truly innocent.

I guess my humble blog is also just as guilty for favouring the Whigs, so I apologize to my 17 beloved Tory readers. Don't worry though...I sense more Tory-ish posts in the future.

The Genesis of Rowdy Rowlandson

Thomas Rowlandson is often disregarded when we think of great artists of the eighteenth century. You may have noticed from this blog's banner that I am quite a fan of the sometimes raunchy satirical artist. So, for those who are not familiar with him, let me introduce Rowlandson to you.

Rowlandson's artistic talent was noticed from a young age. But the artist was not without his own initial setbacks. For one, he was not the son of an artist, his father was a simple city tradesman from Old Jewry, London. Still, education was a priority in the Rowlandson household and this city boy spent his youth in school. His big break came at the age of sixteen when he was given the opportunity to be a student at the illustrious Royal Academy and then later study in Paris. He first exhibited a painting in 1775 and was on a nice, productive roll. Then, disaster. You know those fictional aunts we all wish we had that die and leave you obscene amounts of money in their wills? Well, Rowlandson had a non-fiction one who left him £7,000 when she died. Rowlandson did what anyone else living in 18th century London would do with that money. He gambled it away until he was penniless.

Rowlandson needed to get back on his feet, and fast. His friends Henry Bunbury and James Gillray, who just happened to be caricaturists, suggested he take upon their 'lower' form of art. That way he could produce work faster and generate money from selling prints. He began slowly, with his drawing of Vauxhall which bordered on satirical, by displaying the great celebrities of the time. While the drawing was exhibited, prints were selling left and right. Rowlandson decided this caricature gig might not be so bad after all. Soon enough he was pumping out satirical images which has given us some of the best political, social, and celebrity commentary of the time.