Sunday, January 10, 2010

Men of a Certain Distinction

For sometimes a picture does indeed say it all.
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George "Beau" Brummell, watercolor by Richard Dighton

George ‘Beau’ Brummell, the high priest of dandyism and though flashy, he had a great understanding of self that one can’t but admire. He once said this to Lady Stanhope, ‘If the world is so silly as to admire my absurdities, you and I may know better, but what does it signify?” Besides we all owe him our eternal gratitude for pioneering men’s black formal wear. He denounced showy materials, fantastic suits, frills and perfume for men. He was fastidiously clean and someone with whom I would endure pains to acquaint myself if we were to have existed in the same era. All that, and he called the Prince Regent 'fat' to his face.

Washington Irving by John Wesley Jarvis

Washington Irving an American in England, he stayed with Sir Walter Scott at Abbotsford in 1817 and through him, we are able to see some of the new world’s view of the old. He was bright enough with a wit that was well admired by Byron and Coleridge. He was, it should be noted, somewhat good-looking.

John Wilson Croker by William Owen
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John Wilson Croker, Tory M.P. and partial journalist for the Quarterly Review. Though, I would not say he was entirely wicked, I do find him to be an unsympathetic character that used his position at the Review to torment poor Keats with his awful critiques.
I can't say for certain that this is an accurate portrait of the gentleman.

Colonel Dan Mackinnon as popular in London as he was in Lisbon, was famous for his black wit. He once asked by a lady to return to her a lock of hair that she had given him before the unfortunate end of their affaire Mackinnon sent the poor woman a packet full of locks of hair red, blonde, black and grey with a note instructing her to pick, from the pile, her property.
A lovely week for all,
Simone

27 comments:

  1. Hello dear Simone. I've been away for so long and I have so much to catch up on, especially all these lovely posts here. Hooray for the weekend. Looking at the picture of "Beau" Brummell, I remember as a teenager how disillusioned I was when I first saw a likeness of him. Alas, I had expected a tall, dark, handsome, brooding character, based, I suspect, on my fantasies of Heathcliff.

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  2. Oh love the last one ;)
    Some interesting gentlemen for sure

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  3. Aloha Simone, I am so happy to of dropped by,love your Blog, I am enthralled with the Romantics ...
    looking forward to my next visit
    Aloha wishes for a peaceful Sunday
    BRANDI

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  4. The Colonel Dan Mackinnon event that you relate made me laugh!At first I thought how cold hearted he was then I thought no, he is an arrogant genius.
    And aaaaaaaah...Washington Irving...makes me melt.A beautiful portrait indeed.

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  5. LOL :) That was fun & interesting!

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  6. This is so great. I love the paintings and the history you provide! And I love your soundtrack list.

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  7. Gosh, I love Brummell! Did you ever read that biography of him? I have it and love it :-)

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  8. Hi, welcome to the world of Brympton Towers!
    Take care Susan Ashman

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  9. I never knew Washington Irving was such a "hottie".

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  10. Sometimes, I'd like to come into your blog as Joseph Surface from School for Scandal... and see where I'd fit in. I played him once in college, was the most fun I ever had on stage. Anyway, I continue to love your blog and am flattered that you look at mine sometimes. Lastly, I am surprised and pleased at your soundtrack list! Any playlist with Zeppelin and Portishead on it gets an automatic seal of approval

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  11. I agree with Manifold 5 about the excellent playlist, but the inclusion of The French Lieutenant's Woman on the list of inspirational movies brought back wonderful memories of Streep and Woodruff for me! Classic performance!

    Steph x

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  12. Very interesting indeed. And to call him fat to his face, ha!
    This is for you

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  13. Oh, I love Washington Irving. Beautiful post.

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  14. Interesting post. I'd like to see Mr. Brummell dressed in 2010 fashion...wonder what his style would reveal.

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  15. Great post! This really doesn't go along with this post, but this is one of my more favorite paintings:

    http://www.camelot-irc.it/cavalleria/percival_temptation.htm

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  16. These faces are very expressive. The first one cracks me up. The last one is very intense.

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  17. I love it here! Wonderful posts, beautiful pictures.
    xoxo

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  18. Such lovely, handsome sensitive faces. Nicely portrayed.

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  19. OH! That guy who tormented Keats doesn't look that evil.

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  20. I would like a pair of Beau Brummell's boots please, size 8. Very nicely done as always, profoundly intriguing!

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  21. This makes me ponder as to which men from our present time would be regarded as distinguished in the future- a sort of 2210 meets 2010. I love stopping by, simply for the abundance of fascinating history!

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  22. Fat to his face....lol
    The pants in the first photo was crazy...

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  23. Oh! What a rotten thing to do, with the hair. I believe that if I had been her, i would have waited, waited, waited, until the proper moment, and then handed the man his lunch, one way or another. You know what they say about revenge and how to serve it.

    I am saving your previous post, your novella, until I feel better and have the concentration needed. I haven't forgotten it!

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  24. Thank you for the lesson. I never knew any of those details about those men. Loved it.

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  25. the Colonel was too cruel-but what a story. Brummel was portrayed in a BBC biopic that was very good-if you have not seen it. pgt

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  26. I can't help but smile whenever I see Beau's hair. I'm dead happy you all enjoyed getting better acquainted with the gentlemen.
    Aarti, I did read Beau's biography such a sad end.
    Lydia, you know I think I'll make the attempt, say 20 men from 2010 I think will stand the test of time.
    And Augury, no I did not see Beau's biopic but I'll keep an eye out for it know I'm aware of it.
    Thank you all for coming by and leaving your kind words.
    All my very best,
    Simone

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  27. Your post was quite good than other blogger, so simple yet imformational.
    mind if I put a link back to you?
    zoot suits
    anyway I'm william

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