The Lost Treasure of the Vrouw Maria

It is a well known fact that I am never happier than when gadding about near the coast and whenever I get the chance, I like to disappear to spend some time beside the sea. A becalmed ocean is a place of tranquillity, the mightiest body of water as calm as a millpond and yet, when that calm surface is disturbed by storms, many a vessel can be lost beneath the waves.

One such vessel was the Vrouw Maria, a Dutch merchant ship under the command of Captain Raymund Lourens. Her hold full of merchant cargo and, crucially, valuable artworks including items from the collection of Catherine the Great, she set sail from Amsterdam on 5th September 1771 but was destined never to make her intended destination of St Petersburg. 

As Autumn wore on and conditions at sea worsened, a storm on 3rd October drove her aground not once but twice, with the rudder of the Vrouw Maria damaged beyond repair. As water poured into the stricken ship, efforts went on through the night to save the stricken ship but by dawn all hope was lost and Lourens gave the order to abandon her.

Mercifully the crew all escaped the vessel and a passing boat took them on board and attempted to save the Vrouw Maria. With coffee beans from the cargo hold clumping and clogging her pump, there was nothing that could be done and by the afternoon of 9th October, the Vrouw Maria had disappeared beneath the waves around the island of Jurmo. When she went down she took her priceless cargo with her, consigning it to what seemed to be an eternity at the bottom of the sea.

Over two centuries later the wreck of the Vrouw Maria was discovered in 1999; so far the cargo has not been disturbed but when that day comes, I cannot wait to see the state of Catherine the Great's collection!

Some Fine Georgian Sauce: A Girl in a Kitchen

Nicolas Lancret (Paris, France, 22nd January 1690 – Paris, France, 14th September 1743)

I have previously introduced you to Nicolas Lancret, the master of fêtes galantes and a painter beloved of some most illustrious clients. It is my pleasure to revisit the work of Lancret today, on the anniversary of his death, to take a closer look at one of his more cheeky works of art, A Girl in a Kitchen, painted in the 1720s.

In fact, this work is not entirely that of the French artist but owes its evocative kitchen scene to another, unknown artist, for the interior existed long before Lancret added the figure we see before us. The interior is the work of a Dutch artist whose identity has been lost to time. Lancret took this painting and decided what it really needed was a flash of flesh so, with this in mind, he painted in a girl to the right hand side and enhanced the still life beside her. 

In her partially unlaced corset, the young lady is examining herself for fleas, a necessary evil in the 18th century kitchen! However, practical though the activity may be, Lancret's intention was not to show a scene of domestic life but rather to add a little titillation to the previously somber canvas. The girl's breast is partially exposed and she is touching her own bosom, no doubt to the delight of any onlookers who had the fortune to admire the painting.

The Wallace Collection's investigations into this painting have shown that the girl was painted in over the top of a small dog who was previously to be seen examining some food that sat on the seat of the chair. The dog and food are long gone, a little Georgian sauce added in their place!

Eise Jeltes Eisinga and the Drawing Room Planetarium

Eise Jeltes Eisinga (Dronrijp, The Netherlands, 21st February 1744 – Franeker, The Netherlands, 27th August 1828) 

Eise Eisinga by Willem Bartel van der Kooi, 1827

The salon where I write my tales of the long 18th century is the place where I feel happiest; it is here, surrounded by the things most precious to me, that I am at my most productive, creative and settled. It is far from minimalist and full of things that bring the 18th century to life, whether pictures, books or little items of interest.

Another man who turned his home into a most personal place was my guest today, Eise Jeltes Eisinga. Employed in the wool industry, Eisinga's true passion was for astronomy and since childhood he was fascinated in the heavens, publishing his first book on the subject at the age of just 17. He harboured grand dreams of being the proud master of his own planetarium and, in 1774, decided to make this a reality.

Astronomers across Europe were keenly waiting for a conjunction of the moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter that was due in May 1774. However, Reverend Eelco Alta, from Boazum in Netherlands predicted that this conjunction, due on 8th May, would mark the end of the world. In his own book he predicted that the planets and the moon would crash into one another and force the earth straight into the sun, resulting in a fiery demise for the planet and all life on it. Many who read the book took it as fact and soon people were just a little panicked that they were headed for Armageddon. 

Sure that the Reverend and his readers were mistaken, Eisinga set about constructing the Eise Eisinga Planetarium in his home in Franeker. Although he missed the conjunction by some time, he eventually completed construction in 1781. As soon as it was finished, the planetarium was out of date as Uranus was discovered soon after and there was no space remaining on the ceiling in which to paint this newly discovered planet! 

However, Eisinga's planetarium is still a remarkable achievement and King William I of the Netherlands certainly thought so; visiting the planetarium in 1818, he immediately decided to buy it for the nation and it remains in working order to this day!

The Hot-Tempered Anna Pavlovna of Russia

Anna Pavlovna of Russia (Saint Petersburg, Russia, 18th January 1795 - The Hague, The Netherlands, 1st March 1865)

Anna Pavlovna of Russia by Nicaise de Keyser, 1849

Today we meet a lady to be reckoned with; a lover of pomp and ceremony, philanthropist and eventual queen, Anna Pavlovna lived a life that could never be called dull.

Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna was born into immense privilege as the daughter of Paul I of Russia and Empress Maria Feodorovna (formerly Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg). With her younger brothers, Nicholas and Michael, she was raised in seclusion by her mother at Tsarskoye Selo, where the youngsters enjoyed a varied and rich education.

A noted beauty and the very model of a good dynastic match, 14 year old Anna attracted the attention of Napoleon who requested her hand in marriage. The Empress was determined that the Corsican would not marry into the Romanov dynasty and delayed her reply until Napoleon's interest faded and he turned his attentions, successfully this time, to Austrian Archduchess Marie Luise. She caught the eye of another noble gentleman in the shape of Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry, son of the future Charles X but when it became apparent that Anna would have to convert to Catholicism, the marriage did not occur.

L to r, William (future William III) , Alexander, Willem II, Anna Pavlovna, Sophie and Hendrik by Jean-Baptiste Van der Hulst, 1832

In fact, Anna's marital destiny lay elsewhere and when the Congress of Vienna in 1815 resulted in an alliance between Russia and the Netherlands, Anna's brother, Tsar Alexander I, suggested that she might marry William of Orange, later to become King William II of the Netherlands. William and Anna were introduced in Russia and the young lady consented to the engagement, with a lavish wedding ceremony sealing the union on 21st February 1816 at the Winter Palace in St Petersburg. The festivities continued for almost a fortnight and when they were concluded, the newlyweds remained in Russia for many months before finally travelling on.

After a stopover in Berlin, the couples finally arrived in the Netherlands in summer 1816, where Anna was to experience something of a culture shock as she adjusted to the far less strict pace of the Brussels court and society in general. However, Anna came to enjoy life in Brussels and was sad to leave in 1830 when the Belgian revolution sent the court fleeing for the north. However, in her new surroundings she flourished, founding a school for poor girls and hospitals for wounded servicemen, as well as dozens of orphanages.

The life of Anna and William was anything but settled and she always considered herself to have married beneath her own standing, even going so far as to accuse her husband of stealing from her to settle gambling debts. A serial adulterer with both men and women, Anna eventually separated from her husband yet the couple did have five children, four of whom survived into adulthood and Anna was a devoted mother, encouraging their education and interests. Despite their estrangement, Anna continued to advise her husband and was happy to act as an intermediary between William and his father, William I, with whom he had a fractious relationship.

Anna Pavlovna of Russia photographed in 1855

Despite their separation, William and Anna became King and Queen of the Netherlands on 7th October 1840 when William I abdicated, yet she was not exactly popular from the start. Hot-tempered and seen as elitist, Anna encouraged pomp and ceremony at court and lamented that she could not have remained in Russia, where she often visited. On the death of her husband in 1849, Anna was bereft and found it hard to come to terms with the loss of her official standing. She suffered financial difficulties as queen dowager and lived in quiet seclusion, constantly clashing with her son, King William III, and her daughter-in-law. 

Anna Pavlovna died of complications from a chest infection on the afternoon of 1st March 1865; following her death, she was memorialised in a traditional and lavish Russian Orthodox service of which she would surely have approved.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

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The Life of Wilhelmine of Prussia, Queen Consort of the Netherlands

Wilhelmine of Prussia (Potsdam, Germany, 18th November 1774 – The Hague, The Netherlands, 12th October 1837) 

After a weekend of dark tales, today we return to more familiar territory with the life of a noble lady, Queen Wilhelmine of the Netherlands. Born into the House of Hohenzollern, she became Queen of the Netherlands though not a wildly popular lady due to her withdrawn personality. A lover and patron of the arts, Wilhelmine's life was an unsettled one as she and her husband fled the forces of Napoleon.

Princess Wilhelmine was destined for a privilege from the moment of her birth as the daughter of King Frederick William II of Prussia and Queen Frederica Louisa. She was brought up by her great-uncle, Frederick the Great, who kept a strictly disciplinarian household. Educated with an eye to making a good match, at the age of 16 a marriage was brokered that would secure a valuable political alliance and Wilhelmine was wed to her cousin, William, Prince of Orange, making their their home at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague. Although their marriage was one of political convenience, Wilhelmine and William fell in love; their partnership produced four children, three of whom survived into adulthood and went on to illustrious marriages of their own.

William I of the Netherlands by Joseph Paelinck, 1819

When France invaded the Dutch Republic in 1795 the couple fled the Palace and within the year made a new home for themselves in Berlin. Here they would remain for a decade when they were forced to flee the French again, eventually settling in Poland. Throughout their roaming and when they fell into reduced financial circumstances, William and Wilhelmine remained devoted to one another and she was to remain her husband's closest and most trusted adviser. 

After Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig the family finally returned to the Netherlands, eventually to be named king and queen. Although William was an active and politically involved king, Wilhelmine's naturally unassuming and shy demeanour meant that she rarely appeared in public and this was the cause of some considerable criticism from the people of the Netherlands who saw her as haughty and aloof.

In fact, her years as queen were limited by her failing health and the last 20 years of her life were plagued by illness and infirmity. She died in Noordeinde Palace and was buried in the New Church in Delft, William passing away six years later following an abdication and scandalous remarriage.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

An Abrasive Regent: Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange

Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange (Hanover, Germany, 2nd November 1709 – The Hague, The Netherlands, 12th January 1759) 

Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange, 1736

Not so long ago we met the well-meaning if not always successful William IV, Prince of Orange and today I'm pleased to introduce his wife, Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange. A lady of illustrious lineage, Anne was the daughter of the future King George II and granddaughter to the man who would become King George I. A woman of strong will and no small amount of political talent, she endured personal trials on the road to power.

When Anne was born to George and Caroline of Ansbach at Herrenhausen Palace, her grandfather was not yet King of Great Britain and she was titled Duchess Anne of Brunswick-Lunenburg, named in honour of her grandfather's second cousin Queen Anne. As was usual for a young lady of her station, Anne enjoyed a comprehensive education and excelled in music under the illustrious tuition of our old friend, Handel. These lessons with the composer left Anne with a lifelong appreciation for music and she was particularly fond of the work of her tutor, who would later provide the music to accompany her own words at her wedding to William.

Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange by Johann Valentin Tischbein, 1753

The young Duchess spent much of her childhood in England and at the age of eleven Anne was laid low by smallpox; her suffering caused Caroline of Ansbach to have her other daughters inoculated but by then, it was too late for the young Duchess. Permanently scarred by the disease, Anne was not cowed by her misfortune and returned to her studies as she recovered, her parents already on the lookout for a suitable match. She was named Princess Royal in 1727 by her father, becoming the second holder of the title.

Anne was one of the many potential candidates on the shortlist of possible brides for King Louis XV of France but nothing came of this particular negotiation. Instead, she was married to William IV, Prince of Orange on 25th March 1734 in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace. The couple formed an immediate fondness for one another and once their honeymoon at Kew was over, the newlyweds sailed for Holland. As we will see, their life was not always picture-perfect but they eventually had five children, two of whom would survive into adulthood.

Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange by Bernard Accama, 1736

Although happy in the company of her husband, when William left his bride at home and travelled to the Rhineland on military business, Anne found herself utterly at sea in her new home and became dreadfully homesick for the familiar surroundings she had left behind. Absolutely convinced that she was pregnant, she travelled back to England and remained there until her father and husband decided that enough was enough, and told her to return to Holland. In fact, there was no pregnancy and Anne returned to her husband and tried once again to settle into married life, finally establishing herself at court and creating a home of her own. A force to be reckoned with, Anne was politically astute and opinionated, two traits that would certainly come to the fore in later years.

In 1751 the 40 year old William died, leaving his widow as regent for their three year old son, William V. She served in this role until her death, proving herself as a leader even as her somewhat abrasive personality made her less than popular. Not all of her policies were successful though and she was not able to secure Dutch support for England in the Seven Years' War, finding increasing antagonism between her adopted homeland and that of her childhood difficult to reconcile.

The formidable regent finally succumbed to dropsy at the age of 49; more regents would follow until William V finally reached majority in 1766, beginning an eventful reign and a story for another time!

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

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An Unsuccessful Reformer: William IV, Prince of Orange-Nassau

William IV, Prince of Orange-Nassau (Willem Karel Hendrik Friso, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands, 1st September 1711 – Huis ten Bosch, The Netherlands, 22nd October 1751)

William IV, Prince of Orange-Nassau by Joseph Aved, 1751

Another royal sort today, this time a gentleman of the Netherlands in the shape of William IV, Prince of Orange-Nassau.

Six weeks after the death of John William Friso, Prince of Orange, his wife, Landgravine Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel, gave birth to a son, Willem Karel. Upon his birth the boy immediately assumed his late father's position as Stadtholder of Friesland. He was also Stadtholder of Groningen although Marie Louise would remain Regent until William turned 20 and at the age of 11 he was elected Stadtholder of Guelders. Under his mother's watchful eye he took the reins of leadership, proving a well-liked if somewhat indecisive ruler. 

Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange by Bernard Accama, 1736

Highly-educated, witty and attractive, William enjoyed enormous popularity with his people and court alike. He was considered one of the most eligible young men on the European continent and, accordingly, was married to a highly eligible young lady in the form of Anne, Princess Royal. The eldest daughter of King George II and Caroline of Ansbach, Anne took an instant shine to William and the couple were wed on 25th March 1734 in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace. A honeymoon at Kew followed after which the newlyweds sailed for Holland. Their life together was not always settled and Anne struggled to adapt to her new surroundings but they eventually had five children, two of whom would survive into adulthood.

When French troops marched into Flanders in 1747 during the War of Austrian Succession, William was appointed General Stadtholder of the United Provinces, giving him control of the Netherlands. Initially hugely popular with the people due to his taxation reforms, his star faded somewhat when it became apparent that his skills as a leader were considerably less than had been hoped. Although he attempted to deal with corruption and abuse of office and patronage, upon his death many of the problems that had beset his territories remained, his somewhat uncertain efforts at reform mostly unsuccessful.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

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