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bf is in malaysia for a friend's wedding and took a lil trip to the botanic gardens, he saw a mural that read 'love you forever' and immediately sent me a photo like. HOW pray tell did i get so lucky

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“Teach me to hear mermaids singing…”

— John Donne, from “Song” (via naiveties)

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"About your portrait of Madame X, with her loose strap falling away from her naked shoulder?" - Bertha Russell, The Gilded Age Season 3: Episode 1

When John Singer Sargent's Portrait de Mme *** (Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau) debuted at the 1884 Paris Salon, it caused a huge scandal. The public's reaction was so negative that Sargent moved out of the country, and his high-society model’s reputation was ruined.

The portrait initially showed one of the dress straps hanging from Gautreau’s shoulder, and some people criticized it for being 'lewd'. But Parisian society's main issue with the portrait was that they found it 'tacky'.

Madame Gautreau was derided and jeered - people believed the painting hinted at her 'loose morals'. The married Gautreau already had a reputation as an adultress - it was rumored that she had affairs with French statesman Léon Gambetta and diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps. (Though some people sympathized with her alleged cheating since her husband was twice her age and said to be very unattractive.)

Apart from Gautreau's 'revealing' clothing in the portrait, the appearance of her very pale skin was also derided. Like some fashionable women of the day she may have used arsenic or maybe rice powder to lighten her skin. But people generally thought her skin's paleness was way too exaggerated and 'ghostly' looking in the portrait.

"Gautreau’s mother was furious. According to the Tribune article, she lamented to Sargent, “All Paris is making fun of my daughter... She is ruined. My people will be forced to defend themselves. She’ll die of chagrin.” Melodrama ensued. Gautreau never recovered from the shameful incident and retreated from Parisian society for the rest of her life. De Costa cites a letter in which she moaned, “I will try to get over the sadness which for several days has overwhelmed me and which makes me depressed enough to die.’” Sargent was meanwhile concerned with his own reputation. Critics so lambasted the canvas that the artist opted to make a crucial change to the composition: After the exhibition ended, he repainted Gautreau’s strap to fall properly on her shoulder. In 1886, he escaped his infamy in Paris and lived the rest of his life in London, never again taking such a risk with his practice. He did also take a major step to limit Gautreau’s notoriety: When he gave the painting to the Metropolitan Museum in 1916, he insisted the institution continue to disguise the subject’s identity. And thus, “Madame X” has, instead of adopting the far more banal Portrait of Mme. Pierre Gautreau, retained its teasing title." Why Madame X scandalized the art world - Alina Cohen

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we need a tankini renaissance now more than ever

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i have BEDECKED myself in these GEEGAWS and FOR WHAT!!!!!!!!

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one william dollars isnt even that much money anymore due to the flation

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THE GILDED AGE (2022-) SEASON 3 + ART HISTORY

Giovanni Boldini - Portrait of Emiliana Concha de Ossa, 1888 Gladys Russell in Episode 1: Who Is In Charge Here?

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Well, as rule, I'm the sort of person who gets what she wants. BERTHA RUSSELL in SEASON 3 of THE GILDED AGE

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Gonna add "bedecked myself in these geegaws" to my vocabulary.

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THE BUCCANEERS 2.01, The Duchess of Tintagel

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oscar should find himself a rich lesbian to do a lavender marriage with btw. they can both do what they like on the side and have the appearance of decorum in public, what's not to love

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how life feels now that the buccaneers and the gilded age are airing again

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lucky stars by haim save me. save me lucky stars by haim

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The Buccaneers (2023) S02E01

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Cleo & Lewis in H2O: Just Add Water 3x26

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LEIGHTON MEESTER as ELEANOR "NELL" WOLFE THE BUCCANEERS 2.01 — The Duchess of Tintagel

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the friends i can always count on to eat my leftovers when i don't finish my meal >>>>>>>>>