Long Live Frivolity

January 17, 2025January 17, 2025 by Jessica In England, London 2 Comments

Marylebone

Likely established in the twelfth century as an Ancient Parish, Marylebone’s (pronounced Mar-le-bone) modern name originates from a hamlet that was once located near Marble Arch, with a 15th century church dedicated to St Mary.

Historically, the area had been connected with the nearby Tyburn gallows, site of public executions; to counter this infamy, Marylebone’s inhabitants began to refer to the settlement as “St Mary-burne” (burne coming from burna, the Anglo-Saxon word for a small stream).

French influence during the 17th century added a “le” at the middle of the name, changing it to “Mary-le-burne,” which eventually became the present-day Marylebone.

Wallace Collection

Located in Marylebone, the Wallace Collection holds objects gathered in the 18th and 19th centuries by the Seymours, Marquesses of Hertford, and Sir Richard Wallace, illegitimate son of the 4th Marquess.

The Seymours were one of the richest families in Europe, holding properties in England, Wales, and Ireland. They amassed an extensive collection of art, particularly during revolutionary sales, which were held in France after the French Revolution to sell those objects confiscated from the rich, the church, and the aristocracy.

The Wallace Collection holds an estimated 5,500 works of art, including 18th-century French paintings, Sévres porcelain, French furniture, arms and amor, miniatures, and Medieval and Renaissance works of art.

(Ary Scheffer was a Dutch-French Romantic painter from the 19th century, whose house in Paris is open to visitors as the Musée de la Vie Romantique.)

Julie Amelie Charlotte Castelnau, Lady Wallace (wife to Sir Richard) bequeathed the Wallace Collection to the nation in 1897. Left to remain in the same home, as stipulated in the terms of this bequest, it opened as a museum in 1900.

Hertford House, as the building is called, was built by George Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester, and was thus known as “Manchester House.”

The home made it into the Seymour family, and after being used as the Spanish and French Embassies, Sir Richard eventually inherited it from his father and took up residence in it in 1871.

One of my absolute favorite paintings of all time, The Swing was painted by Jean-Honoré Fragonard in 1767. Its full title is Les hasards hereux de l’escarpolette, or, The happy accidents of the swing, and it depicts a young woman carelessly kicking off her slipper while a young man below watches the developing scene.

The commission came from Charles Collé, who apparently came to Gabriel François Doyen first, asking for a picture of him and his mistress, her being pushed on a swing by a bishop. Doyen refused, and recommended Fragonard instead, who would go on to build a career on “frivolous” paintings such as these.

This style of painting was the particular target of the men of the Enlightenment, who thought that art should be Serious and reflect the Nobility of man.

The Wallace Collection was hosting, at the time of my visit, what has to be my favorite exhibition ever. Namely – Portraits of Dogs: From Gainsborough to Hockney, a smorgasbord of canine portraiture in a wondrous variety of styles, each with stories to accompany them and provide insight into the personality of each furry individual.

Fanny belonged to Eliza Soane, wife of John Soane (of John Soane’s Museum). At Eliza’s passing, John and Fanny became friends, and at her own passing, he commemorated her with a tomb and this portrait, set against an architectural landscape.