" Pope Confesses his Love to Lady Mary Montagu " , By Artist William Powell Frith

 

" Pope Confesses his Love to Lady Mary Montagu " by William Powell Frith

 

 This Painting was based on one of the most famous salon stories of the middle of the 18th century. The man in the picture is the famous poet, classic of British literature, Sir Alexander Pope, and the woman is the no less famous aristocrat, writer and poetess Lady Mary Montagu. The latter possessed remarkable charm and fell in love with Pope, but did not reciprocate. Moreover, as the legend says, she ridiculed the unfortunate.

 Lady Mary Montagu (1689-1762) was considered the smartest woman of her era. She was one of the first Europeans to travel to the Muslim East. In her book "Turkish Letters" she first spoke about the life of the eastern harem, and also described the smallpox vaccination technology used in the East.

 Mary Montague diligently built around herself the image of, as they would say today, a strong and independent woman, in no way inferior to men. She never denied herself the pleasure of arguing with the representatives of the stronger sex both within the then so popular intellectual salons and on the pages of newspapers. And Alexander Pope was unlucky to fall in love with this person. Pope for the English is like Pushkin for the Russians. A great poet, a classic during his lifetime, a reformer of the language and the most authoritative figure in the literature of the 18th century.

 The poet's love was so passionate that, seizing a moment, he confessed his feelings to Lady Mary, using the most magnificent and pompous vocabulary. He better not do it! The 18th-century feminist, not even listening to Pope's romantic speech to the end, rolled with laughter. It was an amazing scene! Pope felt like a peacock with its tail fluffed out and suddenly doused with cold water.

 The mocker received in the face of Pope an enemy for life. The vengeful poet vehemently criticized Miss Mary's work in the press, and did not disdain to go over her appearance and manners. But in the world they knew where the wind was blowing from!

 In 1852, British artist William Frith depicted a scene of tragic explanation. Moreover, he greatly embellished reality: Pope was in reality a hunchback, and the beautiful Montague had all her face covered with scars from smallpox.

 "Pope Confesses his Love to Lady Mary Montagu" by William Powell Frith

1852 Canvas, oil. Auckland, Toi-o-Tamaki Art Gallery