sprightlymind @sprightlymind - Tumblr Blog

On 13 June 1767, her fifteenth birthday, Frances Burney lit a bonfire in the courtyard of her father’s house in Poland Street, London. The conflagration consisted of a great heap of manuscript ‘Elegies, Odes, Plays, Songs, Stories, Farces’, ‘Tragedies and Epic Poems’, and a novel, ‘The History of Caroline Evelyn’ — virtually all that she had written up to that time.

— Introduction to Frances Burney’s Letters and Journals

nonmodernists

[portrait of Burney by Edward Francesco Burney (1760-1848)]

#portrait #fanny burney #women writers #eighteenth century #eighteenth century women #biographies #writers #juvenilia #1760s #such a tragedy tbh #:****(

ducissatenebrarum

Inside the ring is a legend and a “memento-mori”, possibly Flemish mid 16th c.

#rings #death #memorial #momento mori #jewellery #belgian #sixteenth century #sixteenth century art

beyondthegoblincity

Portrait of Sarah Campbell, 1777-1778 by Joshua Reynolds.

#painting #eighteenth century #eighteenth century art #joshua reynolds #sarah campbell #portrait #wigs #1770s

sansasnark

History meme: 01/06 women | GIULIA ‘LA BELLE’ FARNESE

After becoming mistress of Pope Alexander VI in 1493, Giulia lived with Adriana de Mila and the Pope’s daughter Lucrezia Borgia in a palace built next to the Vatican, where the Pope could easily make his clandestine visits. The affair was widely known, and Giulia was referred to as “the Pope’s whore” and, (sarcastically) “the bride of Christ.” Giulia and Lucrezia became close friends.

Through her good favour with the Pope, Giulia influenced his decision to make her brother Alessandro a cardinal.

Giulia had a daughter, Laura, who she claimed was the daughter of the Pope. In 1494 in the midst of a war between Italy and France, Giulia visited her brother, Angelo, as he lay dying outside Rome. While returning to Rome she was captured by a French general, who demanded a ransom for her safe return, which the Pope paid in full.

Giulia remained the Pope’s mistress until 1500. In 1506, she became the governor of Carbognano, where she took up residence in the castle of the region. The chronicle of the castle states that Giulia was an “able administrator, who governed in a firm and energetic manner.”

In 1522, she returned to Rome, and died in the house of her brother, Cardinal Alessandro - cause of death unknown. 10 years following her death, Alessandro ascended to the papal throne as Pope Paul III - a position he would never have gained without his sister’s aid.

#fifteenth century #fifteenth century women #giulia farnese #renaissance #historical women #italy #the borgias #goddess divine

skywalhker

"I must learn to be content with being happier than I deserve."

#pride and prejudice #film #costume drama #period drama #regency #jane austen #gifset

ercuillium-blog

#books

While summer roses all their glory yield To crown the votary of love and joy, Misfortune’s victim hails, with many a sigh, Thee, scarlet Poppy of the pathless field, Gaudy, yet wild and lone; no leaf to shield Thy flaccid vest that, as the gale blows high, Flaps, and alternate folds around thy head. So stands in the long grass a love-crazed maid, Smiling aghast; while stream to every wind Her garish ribbons, smeared with dust and rain; But brain-sick visions cheat her totured mind, And bring false peace. Thus, lulling grief and pain, Kind dreams oblivious from thy juice proceed, Thou flimsy, showy, melancholy weed.

'To The Poppy', Anna Seward (written 1789, published 1799)