Hunk Alert: Banastre Tarleton

SWM, Soldier/MP, Liverpool, Athletic build, seeking attractive woman, preferably wealthy heiress and not actress.
Likes: Gambling, politics (Tory), Battle Tactics, feathers, taming wild stallions, and frantic carriage rides in the night

You could call me a hero of the American Revolution. With the command of only 150 men I led the massacre of Colonel Buford's 350 soldiers. The Americans claim that I continued to destroy their forces after they waved a white flag but they are dirty, filthy liars! I have eluded death many times but unfortunately lost two fingers in my service to Britain. Ignore what you've seen in the papers and print shops about me, I'm a great guy. And that awful business nicknaming me "The Butcher" may earn me some free pints at the club but I am a family man at heart.

I need a fashionable woman who shares my love of swan feathers and Tory Green and will give me the attention I deserve. Must be open to gambling debts, and share my love for the slave trade.

Tart of the Week: Frances Abington

Before Mrs. Abington was a leading actress playing roles such as Lady Teazle, she was just a simple flower girl and busker. Fanny Barton, as she was known then, soon after gained employment with a French milliner which proved to be beneficial because she learned both French and the art of costume. It is unclear as to the specifics, but around this time she had gained employment in a brothel, something that would be publicized later during her celebrity. She got her big break in 1755, acting in the Haymarket. Her career took her to Ireland where she enjoyed great success and could only be lured back to England by the coaxing of the theater-genius, David Garrick. By this point Frances had married; the lucky man was her music teacher, a James Abington. The marriage gave her the name that made her famous: Mrs Abington, but it also gave her a lot of grief. It was not a happy marriage. In 1773 Frances had made it onto Harris's List of Covent Garden Ladies, a notorious listing of prostitutes, which reported that James Abington had "sold her to Mr.--- for 500L. and entered into the articles never to molest him in the possession of her." Sold the divine Ms A?! I doubt she was a woman to be sold! Well, at least not by someone besides herself. By this time the couple had separated and were living apart. Frances had even taken up with a rich MP.

Frances' tartliness is perhaps best expressed in Joshua Reynolds' portrait of her, Mrs Abington as 'Miss Prue. The character of Mrs Prue was a naive country girl seduced by a dandy; Frances' portrayal of Miss Prue is exaggerated to the point of overt-sexuality. In modern terms this would be the 'girl-next-door look.' Frances is comfortable with her viewers, judging from the way she casually sits in the chair. By pressing her thumb to her parted lips she makes a very suggestive statement. The result is a gorgeous portrait, full of personality. And that is a great way to describe Mrs Abington herself, she was a gorgeous lady, full of ambition, very fashionable, and clever and I believe she was rewarded for it. Of all the tarts, it seems English society was the most forgiving of Mrs. Abington.

The Art of the Book

Prior to the 18th century reading was usually done out loud. But with the age of Enlightenment arrived the priority of education. More people became literate, books became more plentiful and available, and with that came the portrait of the reader. These depictions expressed the popularity of silent reading in the era as well as expressed the sitter's sense of enlightenment achieved by the act of internalizing the enlightened word. Finally, a portrait style arrived allowing women to be depicted in a way to display their intelligence. Because of this, many women chose to be portrayed accompanied by a book (Madame de Pompadour was most always depicted with a book). Unfortunately this style remained popular through the following century when the enlightenment was forgotten. The reader portrait took on a different meaning in which it came to be a sort of feminine symbol of idleness. Here are some select images of some enlightened and learned ladies.

Joshua Reynolds, Gertrude, Duchess of Bedford, 1756

Jacques Louis David, Madame Francois Buron, 1769

Anton Raphael Mengs, María Amalia Sajonia, 1761

Jean-Étienne Liotard, Marie Adalaide, 1753

Jean-Honoré Fragonard, The Reader, 1770

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I am not sure how worthy this is as a post, but The Gossip Guide is getting a little make-over to make it look slightly more presentable. As with fashion, one day you're in the next day you're out you have have to be willing to change your style in order to keep afloat. So it only seems right to do a fashionista's blog proud. In case anyone was wondering, my new banner features a drawing Thomas Rowlandson did of Georgiana and her sister, Harriet. He did a few of these images depicting little bits of Georgiana's life in his visits to Devonshire House. I found it fitting considering Rowlandson could possibly be the person who created the most images of Her Grace and because I am, personally, a big fan of the satirical image.
I know there's a few kinks to work out which I will hopefully figure out. But if there is something that is just not showing up on your computer correctly, shoot me an email and I'll try my darnedest to fix it; GeorgianaGossip@gmail.com.