beau–brummell: St. James’ Park and the Mall, attributed to Joseph Nicholls, circa. 1745
beau–brummell: St. James’ Park and the Mall, attributed to Joseph Nicholls, circa. 1745 The scene depicts St. James’ Park and the Mall as the bustling snapshot of life in Georgian London that it was. The Mall itself, on the right, is almost entirely given over to the Beau Monde and London’s fashionable elite, whereas on the left we see the lower orders of society going about their day and ready to mingle. In the background, Westminster Abbey looms. The Park was a place to go to see and be seen. It was fashionable and fun but also ripe for an assignation. One French visitor, César de Saussure, wrote: “Society comes to walk here [along the Mall] on fine, warm days, from seven to ten in the evening, and in winter from one to three o’clock … the park is so crowded at times that you cannot help touching your neighbour. Some people come to see, some to be seen, and others to seek their fortunes; for many priestesses of Venus are abroad … all on the look out for adventures.” THINGS TO SPOT: • A woman adjusting her stocking in the foreground.• A woman breastfeeding her baby, whilst speaking to her friend, also in the foreground.• A milk-bar, with lower class women selling cups of milk to the gentry (a penny a mug, by all accounts, and wonderfully clean and tasty), found to the left of the scene.• Two Anglican priests in black, walking and talking near the trees, right to centre of the scene. • A sailor in conversation with a very well dressed man. They are accompanied by a fashionably dressed black woman, who walks slightly in front of them. She is probably the wife of the well-dressed gentleman. This is to the left of the scene, near the milk-bar. • In the midst of the fashionable on the right of the scene, a elderly Middle Eastern gentleman is in deep conversation with a younger Middle Eastern gentleman.• In the far background, a man is taken short (i.e. he takes a piss), not very subtly. He has failed to hide behind the trees. • There are three different regiments of soldiers represented in this painting. Two soldiers from a ‘Grenadier Company’ of a Guards or Line regiment with their high mitres chat in the centre background; two Hungarian Officers, the one in scarlet probably a Nádasdy Hussar, appear at the lower left - Austria was Britain’s ally during the war of the Austrian Succession (1740-48 two Highland Officers in government tartan stride across the centre just in front of a foot-soldier. • A foppish gentleman makes an incredibly flourishing, Frenchified bow to some incredibly proper looking ladies to the right of the scene. • Front and centre, wearing red and gold, we see Frederick, Prince of Wales, son of King George II, in conversation with two Garter members. He enjoyed mingling with the people, it gave him the air of a ‘People’s Prince’ and distinguished the British Royal Family from the other, more distant and reserved crowned heads of Europe at this time. Immediately behind the viewpoint of this picture is the gate leading to Carlton House, Frederick’s main abode. Essentially, he is taking a stroll in his back garden. -- source link