A savage satire on fashion - just look at that nose! A new fashion'd head dress for young misses of three score and ten, Philip Dawe, 1777, from the British Museum.
See more #gloriousGeorgians on Twitter!
Showing posts with label Dawe (artist). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dawe (artist). Show all posts
Wednesday, 9 September 2020
Hair's the Fashion
A savage satire on fashion - just look at that nose! A new fashion'd head dress for young misses of three score and ten, Philip Dawe, 1777, from the British Museum.
See more #gloriousGeorgians on Twitter!
Friday, 7 November 2014
The Macaroni, a Real Character at the Late Masquerade
One of the greatest joys of the long 18th century is the vast range of fashion that found favour, and the sometimes singular ways of the people who were slaves to it. Both male and female fashionistas were spoilt for choice in the Georgian era and there were some exceptionally colourful style movements cutting a dash in the salons of society. Today I take a closer look at The Macaroni, a Real Character at the Late Masquerade, an illustration by Philip Dawe published in 1773.
The rather fine gentleman above is, without a doubt, a macaroni. The term was applied to 18th century chaps who considered themselves the very height of fashion; affected in manner, dress and speech, they went one step beyond fashion and stamped a flamboyant mark on everything they did. Conscious of their image above all else, the macaroni means to make a splash and to be remembered by all who encounter him.
The term came out of a slang term used by gentleman returning from their grand tour; experienced in continental ways and cuisine they were referred to as "the Macaroni Club", in reference to the food they had eaten whilst in Europe. This was shorted to the slang term, "macaroni", and the name stuck.
The dress and style of the macaroni is perfectly parodied in Dawe's work, where a fine chap is captured in his stylish abode, mincing along to use a well-stocked toilet table of potions and powders. Our breathtakingly styled subject is clad in fine and fussy garments that surpass the height of fashion, with lashings of lace for good measure. His crowning is his magnificent wig, half as tall as him again and atop it he has perched a tiny tricorne hat. To protect against the less salubrious odours of the city and give him a little extra pizazz as he trots off to enjoy an evening at the pantheon, our macaroni has adorned himself with an elaborate nosegay and no doubt he will be as looked-at as the entertainments he is going to enjoy!
This mezzotint was first published on 3rd July 1773 and perfectly captures the preening pinnacle of macaroni fashion; I think he looks rather fabulous!
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| The Macaroni, a Real Character at the Late Masquerade by Philip Dawe, 1773 |
The rather fine gentleman above is, without a doubt, a macaroni. The term was applied to 18th century chaps who considered themselves the very height of fashion; affected in manner, dress and speech, they went one step beyond fashion and stamped a flamboyant mark on everything they did. Conscious of their image above all else, the macaroni means to make a splash and to be remembered by all who encounter him.
The term came out of a slang term used by gentleman returning from their grand tour; experienced in continental ways and cuisine they were referred to as "the Macaroni Club", in reference to the food they had eaten whilst in Europe. This was shorted to the slang term, "macaroni", and the name stuck.
The dress and style of the macaroni is perfectly parodied in Dawe's work, where a fine chap is captured in his stylish abode, mincing along to use a well-stocked toilet table of potions and powders. Our breathtakingly styled subject is clad in fine and fussy garments that surpass the height of fashion, with lashings of lace for good measure. His crowning is his magnificent wig, half as tall as him again and atop it he has perched a tiny tricorne hat. To protect against the less salubrious odours of the city and give him a little extra pizazz as he trots off to enjoy an evening at the pantheon, our macaroni has adorned himself with an elaborate nosegay and no doubt he will be as looked-at as the entertainments he is going to enjoy!
This mezzotint was first published on 3rd July 1773 and perfectly captures the preening pinnacle of macaroni fashion; I think he looks rather fabulous!
Friday, 2 May 2014
The Wedding of Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold
We have heard of a good many royal marriages here at the guide that ended badly. There have been still more that endured for years in mutual dislike or, on a good day, simply simmered resentfully instead. It is a pleasure, therefore, to tell of a happy marriage, albeit one that ended in tragedy after just 18 months.
Princess Charlotte of Wales was not a happy young lady. The only child of the Prince Regent, later to be George IV, by the age of 20 she was unmarried, dissatisfied and at odds with her father over his wish to marry her off to William, Prince of Orange. An attachment to a Prussian gentleman ended when he set his cap elsewhere and so Charlotte decided that she would settle for the "next best thing", as she wrote to a friend. that "next best thing" was Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, the future Leopold I of Belgium.
Determined that she would not marry the Prince of Orange, Charlotte made repeated arguments in favour of Leopold to her father, who was reluctant to give his consent to the match due to political concerns. With Leopold signalling that he would be happy to consider the matter and Charlotte not about to let things drop, in early 1816 the Prince Regent finally relented and invited Leopold to Brighton to discuss this most important issue.
The meeting proved to be a wildly successful encounter and George finally gave his blessing to the union. The official announcement of the engagement was made in the House of Commons on 2nd March and the people of England met the news with great cheer. Claremont House was purchased by the Prince Regent and it was agreed by parliament that the far from wealthy Leopold's salary would be £50,000, leaving the way clear for the big day.
On 2nd May 1816 the streets of London were thronged as thousands upon thousands of people turned out to watch the happy occasion, which would take place at nine o'clock that evening. In the Crimson Drawing Room at Carlton House, Charlotte, Leopold and their guests assembled for a ceremony that could not have been more different that that of the bride's own parents. Charlotte's gown was magnificent and was reported to have cost in excess of £10,000 and her groom wore the uniform of a British General. The ceremony passed without incident and the happy couple went on to honeymoon at Oatlands.
The devoted newlyweds were not destined to enjoy a long marriage but that is not a story for today; instead, I raise my teacup and wish happy anniversary to Charlotte and Leopold.
Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.
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| Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales and Leopold I by William Thomas Fry, after George Dawe, 1817 |
Princess Charlotte of Wales was not a happy young lady. The only child of the Prince Regent, later to be George IV, by the age of 20 she was unmarried, dissatisfied and at odds with her father over his wish to marry her off to William, Prince of Orange. An attachment to a Prussian gentleman ended when he set his cap elsewhere and so Charlotte decided that she would settle for the "next best thing", as she wrote to a friend. that "next best thing" was Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, the future Leopold I of Belgium.
Determined that she would not marry the Prince of Orange, Charlotte made repeated arguments in favour of Leopold to her father, who was reluctant to give his consent to the match due to political concerns. With Leopold signalling that he would be happy to consider the matter and Charlotte not about to let things drop, in early 1816 the Prince Regent finally relented and invited Leopold to Brighton to discuss this most important issue.
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| The first meeting between Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld |
The meeting proved to be a wildly successful encounter and George finally gave his blessing to the union. The official announcement of the engagement was made in the House of Commons on 2nd March and the people of England met the news with great cheer. Claremont House was purchased by the Prince Regent and it was agreed by parliament that the far from wealthy Leopold's salary would be £50,000, leaving the way clear for the big day.
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| The wedding of Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, 1818 |
On 2nd May 1816 the streets of London were thronged as thousands upon thousands of people turned out to watch the happy occasion, which would take place at nine o'clock that evening. In the Crimson Drawing Room at Carlton House, Charlotte, Leopold and their guests assembled for a ceremony that could not have been more different that that of the bride's own parents. Charlotte's gown was magnificent and was reported to have cost in excess of £10,000 and her groom wore the uniform of a British General. The ceremony passed without incident and the happy couple went on to honeymoon at Oatlands.
The devoted newlyweds were not destined to enjoy a long marriage but that is not a story for today; instead, I raise my teacup and wish happy anniversary to Charlotte and Leopold.
Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
The Scandalous Life of Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Princess Juliane Henriette Ulrike of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (Coburg, Germany, 23rd September 1781 – Elfenau, Switzerland, 15th August 1860)
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| Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld by Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, 1795 |
The most dashing Edinburgh doctor I have previously mentioned is nothing if not well-travelled and one place he knows very well is Russia; indeed, he is on medically intimate terms with many of the royals of that vast land but that is a story for another time. It was the always-welcome presence of Doctor Dillingham in my salon this weekend that set me thinking of Russia and Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg, who was to become known as Grand Duchess Anna Feodorovna, wife of Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich, a marriage that was destined to be considerably less happy than the devoted union between the good doctor and his lady.
Juliane was born to Franz Frederick Anton, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and his wife, Countess Augusta Caroline Reuss of Ebersdorf. With illustrious family connections throughout Europe, Juliane's parents were determined that their daughter would continue to increase their dynastic influence and began searching for a husband for the girl, known for her beauty and her musical acumen. As they cast their eye over the royal houses of Europe, Empress Catherine II of Russia was likewise looking for a match for her grandson, Grand Duke Constantine. She was searching for a very particular sort of girl and dispatched General Andrei Budberg to compile a shortlist, the matter of marrying the second in line to the Russian empire a very serious one indeed.
Taken ill whilst passing through Coburg, Budberg immediately added Juliane and her sisters, Sophie and Antoinette, to the list of likely candidates, much to the delight of their parents. However, not everybody shared their enthusiasm. For some there was disappointment that their own daughters had not been chosen whilst for others, the concept of a German princess marrying a Russian Duke was unthinkable, the young women viewed almost as lambs to the imperial slaughter.
Taken ill whilst passing through Coburg, Budberg immediately added Juliane and her sisters, Sophie and Antoinette, to the list of likely candidates, much to the delight of their parents. However, not everybody shared their enthusiasm. For some there was disappointment that their own daughters had not been chosen whilst for others, the concept of a German princess marrying a Russian Duke was unthinkable, the young women viewed almost as lambs to the imperial slaughter.
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| Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich of Russia by George Dawe, 1834 |
The three girls travelled to Russia with Countess Augusta and found themselves welcomed by Catherine, whilst Constantine was somewhat cooler in his reception. Far from keen on the idea of marriage to anybody, he eventually took his grandmother's advice and agreed to marry Juliane, the 14 year old girl taking the name Anna Feodorovna in preparation for her new life. Baptised in a Russian Orthodox ceremony, the young Princess married the Duke on 26th February 1796, securing the strength of the Saxe-Coburg dynasty.
Although the marriage may have been politically astute, it was utterly miserable. Bad-tempered and disinterested in his wife, Constantine grew resentful of the young lady's popularity at court and he exercised a tight control over his bride. She was confined to her rooms, denied friends other than Elizabeth Alexeievna, and rarely appeared at court. Desperately unhappy, when Juliane fell ill in 1799, she seized the chance for escape with both hands.
Juliana travelled to Coburg, ostensibly for medical care, and initially intended to remain there but she found her family utterly unsupportive. Horrified at the damage a marital breakdown might do to the reputation and influence of the family, they pressured the Grand Duchess to return to her unhappy life in Russia. Once again she was confined to her rooms, utterly in the control of her husband and almost immediately, her health declined again.
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| Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld by Franz Xavier Winterhalter, 1848 |
By 1801 it became apparent that Juliane was in desperate need of a change of air and her mother finally consented to a trip back to Coburg. This time Juliane flatly refused to leave her native land and began divorce proceedings against Constantine. With the divorce hampered by legal and constitutional considerations, Juliane found unexpected support from the royal houses of Europe, their sympathies gained by the conduct of Constantine and his intransigent family. Trapped in a web of legality, the unhappy Grand Duchess indulged in extra-marital affairs and in 1808 gave birth to a son, Eduard Edgar Schmidt-Löwe. Four years later she had a daughter, Louise Hilda Agnes d'Aubert with Rodolphe Abraham de Schiferli, a Swiss surgeon.
Though Constantine's family constantly pursued a reconciliation between the estranged couple, Juliane utterly refused to even countenance it, the memory of her unhappy years in Russia too keen. Instead she made a life and home of her own in Switzerland, her house on the Aare River becoming a beacon of art and music. She and Rodolphe maintained a lifelong friendship, though their daughter was adopted by a French family in order to protect Juliane's already somewhat tarnished reputation.
Nearly two decades after she fled to Coburg, Emperor Alexander I finally dissolved the marriage of Juliane and Constantine, allowing the Grand Duke to remarry. This small victory was followed by years of unhappiness as Juliane's life was beset by tragedy. One after the other she was plunged into mourning for her parents and siblings, her illegitimate daughter and Rodolphe, her devoted friend and former lover. Juliane never quite recovered from these losses and lived on in quiet solitude, throwing herself into charitable works. Loved and respected by those who knew her, the princess passed away peacefully at home at the age of 79. She lived a life beset by scandal and unhappiness yet one cannot underestimate the strength it took to leave the powerful Russian court and strike out alone, resisting all efforts to force her back to the life she hated.
Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.
Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.
Sunday, 16 February 2014
From Tomboy to Tiaras: Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia
Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia (Saint Petersburg, Empire of all the Russias, 16th February 1786 – Weimar, Germany, 23rd June 1859)
Today's noble visitor , Maria Pavlovna, was the daughter of Paul I of Russia and his wife, Maria Feodorovna (born Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg). Born into an illustrious dynasty, she could count two Tsars of Russia among her siblings as well as a previous guest at the salon, Anna Pavlovna of Russia.
As a little girl Maria was known for her tomboyish ways, liking nothing more than joining the boys in their games rather than favouring ladylike pursuits. A childhood brush with smallpox resulted in the young girl's face becoming scarred yet she did not allow this to hold back and devoted herself to the study of music under Kapellmeister Giuseppe Sarti and Ludwig-Wilhelm Tepper de Ferguson, proving herself an exemplary pianist.
Intelligent and inquisitive, she gave her consent to her betrothal to Charles Friedrich Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach in at the age of 18 and the couple were introduced in St Petersburg. they spent time getting to know one another and were married on 3rd August. The newlyweds remained in Russia for a year settling into life together and over their long marriage had had four children, three of whom lived to adulthood.
On her much-celebrated arrival in Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Maria was shocked at the poor state of her new homeland and devoted herself to culture and philanthropy, putting in place a programme of social welfare and hosting celebrated literary and scientific salons. The people and court took a liking to the new arrival and she threw herself wholeheartedly into philanthropic and cultural activities, beginning a lifelong interest in the welfare of the people of her nation.
In 1806 Maria was forced to leave Weimar as Napoleon advanced and they fled to Bohemia, where they remained until the Battle of Leipzig. Finally able to return to their territory, the Duke and Duchess participated in the Congress of Vienna and enjoyed significant gains thanks in part to Maria's negotiating skills. In 1828 the death of Grand Duke Carl August saw Maria and her husband finally attain the rank of Grand Duchess and Grand Duke, their court one that celebrated cultural achievement in Weimar.
A devoted mother and wife, Maria retired from public life when she became a widow in 1853 and expressed a wish to be buried beside her late husband at her own death, yet somehow still rest on Russian soil. She returned to her homeland just once in her later years, to attend the 1855 coronation of her nephew, Alexander II of Russia.
Following her death she was buried in the Goethe-Schiller Mausoleum beside the Grand Duke. In accordance with her wishes, the casket was lined with earth brought from Russia and the Grand Duchess was mourned deeply by those who had known her.
Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.
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| Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia vy George Dawe, 1825 |
Today's noble visitor , Maria Pavlovna, was the daughter of Paul I of Russia and his wife, Maria Feodorovna (born Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg). Born into an illustrious dynasty, she could count two Tsars of Russia among her siblings as well as a previous guest at the salon, Anna Pavlovna of Russia.
As a little girl Maria was known for her tomboyish ways, liking nothing more than joining the boys in their games rather than favouring ladylike pursuits. A childhood brush with smallpox resulted in the young girl's face becoming scarred yet she did not allow this to hold back and devoted herself to the study of music under Kapellmeister Giuseppe Sarti and Ludwig-Wilhelm Tepper de Ferguson, proving herself an exemplary pianist.
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| Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia by Vladimir Borovikovsky |
Intelligent and inquisitive, she gave her consent to her betrothal to Charles Friedrich Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach in at the age of 18 and the couple were introduced in St Petersburg. they spent time getting to know one another and were married on 3rd August. The newlyweds remained in Russia for a year settling into life together and over their long marriage had had four children, three of whom lived to adulthood.
On her much-celebrated arrival in Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Maria was shocked at the poor state of her new homeland and devoted herself to culture and philanthropy, putting in place a programme of social welfare and hosting celebrated literary and scientific salons. The people and court took a liking to the new arrival and she threw herself wholeheartedly into philanthropic and cultural activities, beginning a lifelong interest in the welfare of the people of her nation.
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| Charles Friedrich, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach |
In 1806 Maria was forced to leave Weimar as Napoleon advanced and they fled to Bohemia, where they remained until the Battle of Leipzig. Finally able to return to their territory, the Duke and Duchess participated in the Congress of Vienna and enjoyed significant gains thanks in part to Maria's negotiating skills. In 1828 the death of Grand Duke Carl August saw Maria and her husband finally attain the rank of Grand Duchess and Grand Duke, their court one that celebrated cultural achievement in Weimar.
A devoted mother and wife, Maria retired from public life when she became a widow in 1853 and expressed a wish to be buried beside her late husband at her own death, yet somehow still rest on Russian soil. She returned to her homeland just once in her later years, to attend the 1855 coronation of her nephew, Alexander II of Russia.
Following her death she was buried in the Goethe-Schiller Mausoleum beside the Grand Duke. In accordance with her wishes, the casket was lined with earth brought from Russia and the Grand Duchess was mourned deeply by those who had known her.
Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.
Monday, 12 August 2013
Debt, Debauchery and Decadence: King George IV
George Augustus Frederick (London, England, 12th August 1762 – Windsor, England, 26th June 1830)
It's no secret that we Gilflurts like a bit of extravagance and today we'll meet a man who knew what opulence was all about. Given the popularity of his Coronation, it seemed only right that we revisit King George IV, affectionately known to we Gin Laners as Prinny, and wish him a very happy birthday!
Before the caricatures and the debts and the women, George was born as the oldest of George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz's fifteen children. From the moment of his birth at St James's Palace the young Prince of Wales would know the best of everything and by the time the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Secker, baptised him, he was already Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay and Earl of Chester.
Whereas his father had relatively modest tastes, George developed a taste for the finer things in life and, even as his subjects endured poverty, the young prince's habits grew more and more profligate. At the age of 21 he moved into Carlton House with a £60,000 living grant from Parliament and an income of £50,000 courtesy of the King and set up home for himself, beginning what would be a wild and extravagant time. With a third of his money ploughed into his stables alone, the Prince lived as though cash was no object, throwing enormous parties, gambling and, of course, entertaining ladies. His father was mortified by the behaviour of the heir to the throne and the Prince surrounded himself with hangers-on who bowed to his every wish whilst at the same time using him to further their own influence.
Not long after he began to live his independent life, George met the twice-widowed Roman Catholic, Maria Fitzherbert and decided there and then that this would be the woman he would marry. In fact, the 1701 Act of Settlement ruled that no heir to the throne could be crowned if married to a Roman Catholic and the 1772 Royal Marriages Act prohibited any marriage without the consent of the King, but Prinny was not one to let such things stand in his way. He pursued Mrs Fitzherbert tirelessly, beginning the tradition of the lover's eye into the bargain.
In fact, the lady concerned was considerably less enthused by the whole idea for a good long while but George's wit and charm paid off in the end and on 15th December 1785, an illegal marriage took place in the bride's home at Park Street, Mayfair. The marriage was not legally binding and all involved parties were sworn to secrecy; though the Prince and Mrs Fitzherbert's love affair would prove a rocky one, she always considered herself his true wife.
In fact, the secret wedding was soon anything but as, utterly drowning in debt, George left Carlton House in 1787 and moved into Park Street whilst trying to negotiate a further financial grant from Parliament. Despite the King's distaste at his son's close ties to Charles James Fox, the Whig leader brokered a deal with the Prince, securing him the money he needed in return for a public denial of the marriage to the Catholic widow. In dire straits, George agreed and though the public denial was rewritten in less stark terms by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, the damage was done. Mrs Fitzherbert was furious at what she saw as a betrayal and was very likely glad to put some space between herself and her lover, who moved back into Carlton House nearly £170,000 better off.
All of this was, of course, a public relations disaster and he sank in the public's affection to a new low. In 1788 as the King grew increasingly mentally disturbed, Parliament found itself stuck in something of a vicious circle; King George was too ill to deliver his State Opening Speech and yet the Commons could not officially sit until the speech had been given. With the King showing no sign of recovery, the Members of Parliament met to discuss the possibility of establishing a Regency. Although a Regency Bill was created by Pitt, the King recovered before it was passed and the Prince's first opportunity for power slipped away.
Despite his enormous payout in 1787, George was soon spending beyond his means again and this time, the conditions of the bail out went even further. Financial aid would be forthcoming once more, but only if George would consent to marry his cousin, Princess Caroline of Brunswick. With no other likely options and his debts mounting, George agreed and the wedding took place on 8th April 1795. The pair hated one another almost from the outset and once their child, Charlotte was born, they parted company within a year of their wedding day. Besides, George had little time for a wife, he was kept busy with his many mistresses and the illegitimate children they bore him, let alone building up piles of new debt!
George's life remained one of extravagance, debt and scandal and he became a figure of fun in England, thought things must have seemed slightly less amusing when, in 1810, the King fell ill again. This time the groundwork had already been laid two decades earlier and the Regency Act was passed in 1811, with the Prince of Wales now being known as the Prince Regent. The Regent's once left-wing political interests were moving increasingly to the right and he fell under the influence of ambitious ministers who guided the country through the Napoleonic Wars, among other notable events. When the Prince did directly involve himself in politics the outcomes were not always favourable, such as his disastrous attempts to assemble an all party government. Far more to our hero's liking were aesthetic pursuits and he considered himself a leader of fashion, championing much of the Regency clothing and building style that we recognise today.
Working with John Nash, George presided over architectural developments including Regent Street and the famous Brighton Pavilion, which reflect perfectly his own taste for grand and exotic styles. As the years passed the once handsome young man grew corpulent, caricatured as a crass, indulgent boor; he developed a taste for drink and laudanum that caused his health to deteriorate even as his extravagant lifestyle continued unabated. Although little liked by the public, when George III died in 1820 the Regent's magnificent Coronation ushered in a new sense of patriotism among the people of England and he enjoyed a period of affection from his subjects. The public had long been sympathetic to his estranged wife, yet her efforts to enter Westminster Abbey and be crowned alongside her husband were to prove a public relations disaster and the crowd turned on her, leaving her humiliated. Retiring to her home in despair, she was dead within a month.
The new King retired to Windsor Castle, his love of parties and socialising giving way to an interest in political matters, though he continued to correspond with Mrs Fitzherbert even as he supported anti-Catholic measures in parliament. His health continued to fail and by the age of 60, he was wearing corsets intended to confine a 50-inch waist, his weight ballooning out of control. He died in the early hours of 26th June 1830 and his last words, reported by the friend who was with him at the moment of his demise were, "my boy, this is death." He was buried at Windsor wearing the eye miniature Mrs Fitzherbert had sent him during their courtship and she died 8 years later, still maintaining that she was the first and rightful wife of the late King.
George's only child, Princess Charlotte, predeceased her father by 13 years and the next heir to the throne, Prince Frederick, predeceased him by three years so the crown was taken by William, Duke of Clarence. England had seen its last King George and William IV took his place on the throne. In death George was mocked and loathed as he had been for so much of his life with The Times reporting his death and asking, "What eye has wept for him? What heart has heaved one throb of unmercenary sorrow? ". For all his failings as a man, and they were numerous, one cannot deny that Prinny had an eye for the aesthetic and was, by all accounts, a witty, charming and intelligent man. His influence on the style and architecture of the Regency era is unquestionable; indeed, Buckingham Palace owes its appearance to his sense of design. He was a man of contradictions and one who was not easy to like but he continues to fascinate and frustrate today - happy birthday Prinny!
Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.
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| King George IV by Sir Thomas Lawrence, 1816 |
It's no secret that we Gilflurts like a bit of extravagance and today we'll meet a man who knew what opulence was all about. Given the popularity of his Coronation, it seemed only right that we revisit King George IV, affectionately known to we Gin Laners as Prinny, and wish him a very happy birthday!
Before the caricatures and the debts and the women, George was born as the oldest of George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz's fifteen children. From the moment of his birth at St James's Palace the young Prince of Wales would know the best of everything and by the time the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Secker, baptised him, he was already Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay and Earl of Chester.
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| King George IV by Richard Cosway |
Whereas his father had relatively modest tastes, George developed a taste for the finer things in life and, even as his subjects endured poverty, the young prince's habits grew more and more profligate. At the age of 21 he moved into Carlton House with a £60,000 living grant from Parliament and an income of £50,000 courtesy of the King and set up home for himself, beginning what would be a wild and extravagant time. With a third of his money ploughed into his stables alone, the Prince lived as though cash was no object, throwing enormous parties, gambling and, of course, entertaining ladies. His father was mortified by the behaviour of the heir to the throne and the Prince surrounded himself with hangers-on who bowed to his every wish whilst at the same time using him to further their own influence.
Not long after he began to live his independent life, George met the twice-widowed Roman Catholic, Maria Fitzherbert and decided there and then that this would be the woman he would marry. In fact, the 1701 Act of Settlement ruled that no heir to the throne could be crowned if married to a Roman Catholic and the 1772 Royal Marriages Act prohibited any marriage without the consent of the King, but Prinny was not one to let such things stand in his way. He pursued Mrs Fitzherbert tirelessly, beginning the tradition of the lover's eye into the bargain.
In fact, the lady concerned was considerably less enthused by the whole idea for a good long while but George's wit and charm paid off in the end and on 15th December 1785, an illegal marriage took place in the bride's home at Park Street, Mayfair. The marriage was not legally binding and all involved parties were sworn to secrecy; though the Prince and Mrs Fitzherbert's love affair would prove a rocky one, she always considered herself his true wife.
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| Maria Fitzherbert by Sir Joshua Reynolds |
In fact, the secret wedding was soon anything but as, utterly drowning in debt, George left Carlton House in 1787 and moved into Park Street whilst trying to negotiate a further financial grant from Parliament. Despite the King's distaste at his son's close ties to Charles James Fox, the Whig leader brokered a deal with the Prince, securing him the money he needed in return for a public denial of the marriage to the Catholic widow. In dire straits, George agreed and though the public denial was rewritten in less stark terms by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, the damage was done. Mrs Fitzherbert was furious at what she saw as a betrayal and was very likely glad to put some space between herself and her lover, who moved back into Carlton House nearly £170,000 better off.
All of this was, of course, a public relations disaster and he sank in the public's affection to a new low. In 1788 as the King grew increasingly mentally disturbed, Parliament found itself stuck in something of a vicious circle; King George was too ill to deliver his State Opening Speech and yet the Commons could not officially sit until the speech had been given. With the King showing no sign of recovery, the Members of Parliament met to discuss the possibility of establishing a Regency. Although a Regency Bill was created by Pitt, the King recovered before it was passed and the Prince's first opportunity for power slipped away.
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| Caroline of Brunswick by James Lonsdale, 1821 |
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| Princess Charlotte by George Dawe, 1817 |
George's life remained one of extravagance, debt and scandal and he became a figure of fun in England, thought things must have seemed slightly less amusing when, in 1810, the King fell ill again. This time the groundwork had already been laid two decades earlier and the Regency Act was passed in 1811, with the Prince of Wales now being known as the Prince Regent. The Regent's once left-wing political interests were moving increasingly to the right and he fell under the influence of ambitious ministers who guided the country through the Napoleonic Wars, among other notable events. When the Prince did directly involve himself in politics the outcomes were not always favourable, such as his disastrous attempts to assemble an all party government. Far more to our hero's liking were aesthetic pursuits and he considered himself a leader of fashion, championing much of the Regency clothing and building style that we recognise today.
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| Brighton Pavilion |
Working with John Nash, George presided over architectural developments including Regent Street and the famous Brighton Pavilion, which reflect perfectly his own taste for grand and exotic styles. As the years passed the once handsome young man grew corpulent, caricatured as a crass, indulgent boor; he developed a taste for drink and laudanum that caused his health to deteriorate even as his extravagant lifestyle continued unabated. Although little liked by the public, when George III died in 1820 the Regent's magnificent Coronation ushered in a new sense of patriotism among the people of England and he enjoyed a period of affection from his subjects. The public had long been sympathetic to his estranged wife, yet her efforts to enter Westminster Abbey and be crowned alongside her husband were to prove a public relations disaster and the crowd turned on her, leaving her humiliated. Retiring to her home in despair, she was dead within a month.
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| Loyal Addresses and Radical Petitions by George Cruikshank, 1819 |
The new King retired to Windsor Castle, his love of parties and socialising giving way to an interest in political matters, though he continued to correspond with Mrs Fitzherbert even as he supported anti-Catholic measures in parliament. His health continued to fail and by the age of 60, he was wearing corsets intended to confine a 50-inch waist, his weight ballooning out of control. He died in the early hours of 26th June 1830 and his last words, reported by the friend who was with him at the moment of his demise were, "my boy, this is death." He was buried at Windsor wearing the eye miniature Mrs Fitzherbert had sent him during their courtship and she died 8 years later, still maintaining that she was the first and rightful wife of the late King.
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| King George IV by Sir Thomas Lawrence, 1822 |
George's only child, Princess Charlotte, predeceased her father by 13 years and the next heir to the throne, Prince Frederick, predeceased him by three years so the crown was taken by William, Duke of Clarence. England had seen its last King George and William IV took his place on the throne. In death George was mocked and loathed as he had been for so much of his life with The Times reporting his death and asking, "What eye has wept for him? What heart has heaved one throb of unmercenary sorrow? ". For all his failings as a man, and they were numerous, one cannot deny that Prinny had an eye for the aesthetic and was, by all accounts, a witty, charming and intelligent man. His influence on the style and architecture of the Regency era is unquestionable; indeed, Buckingham Palace owes its appearance to his sense of design. He was a man of contradictions and one who was not easy to like but he continues to fascinate and frustrate today - happy birthday Prinny!
Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.
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