Pope Makes Love To Lady Mary Wortley Montagu

Early in his career, William Frith specialised in painting episodes from the lives of famous historical personalities. Here he depicts the disastrous moment that spelled future enmity between the poet Alexander Pope and his potential patron Lady Mary Wortley Montagu.

Frith explained the situation for viewers of the 1852 Royal Academy exhibition. ‘Her own statement, as to the origin of the quarrel, was this: That at some ill-chosen time, when she least expected what romancers call a declaration, he made such passionate love to her, that in spite of her utmost endeavours to be angry and look grave, provoked an immediate fit of laughter: from which moment he became her implacable enemy.’

The salon displays several references to Lady Mary’s social position and personal background – the coronet on the wall above the sconce, the literary texts, the tulip – while the writing materials indicate her position as the wife of the first Ambassador to Turkey and her fame as a correspondent and writer. Although the sculpted lovers in the background gently mock Pope’s declaration, Frith has in fact treated both figures kindly; Pope’s hunched back is hidden from sight because he is seated, and Lady Mary’s face is shown without disfiguring smallpox scars.

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