Celebrity in the Regency period
27th February 2023
A late 18th century portrait of the actress, Sarah Siddons, has thrown up stories proving that fat-shaming and criticism of women in the public eye is a far from modern concept.
The metre high oil painting by Sir Thomas Lawrence (lot 261) is expected to make in the region of £10,000 when it comes up for sale at Woolley and Wallis in Salisbury on 8th March. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1797, but rather than focusing on the artist’s handiwork, critics turned their attention to Siddons herself, branding the portrait as overly flattering. Many felt that the actress appeared much younger than her 42 years and John Williams, under his pseudonym Anthony Pasquin, claimed the portrait was “no more like her than Hebe is similar to Bellona”. The comparison of the goddess of youth to the goddess of war was a reference to Siddons’ apparently formidable appearance. Williams continued, “We have here youth, flexibility of feature, and an attempt at the formation of beauty, to denote a lady who is so proverbially stern in her countenance that it approaches savageness”.
“Siddons was, by all accounts, an actress of considerable acclaim and talent who not only made the role of Lady Macbeth her own, but who played Hamlet multiple times up until the age of 50,” explained Paintings specialist, Victor Fauvelle. “That’s a remarkable feat, given the complexities of cross-gendered roles in the 18th century theatre world.”
The artist himself had been a fan of Siddons since his youth, perhaps leading him to wield his paintbrush in a flattering manner. It was even rumoured at one time that the pair intended to elope, and he executed a total of 14 portraits of her over a period of 22 years. Their relationship was brought to life by a five part drama for BBC Radio 4.
“Many people believe that celebrity culture is a modern phenomenon, but Sarah Siddons had just as much cachet 250 years ago as someone like Kim Kardashian might have today,” continued Fauvelle. “Sadly, that meant she was also subject to the harsh criticisms that many of today’s public figures attract.”
Siddons officially retired from the stage in 1812 but made several reappearances, her last being in 1819. Considerably older, overweight and weaker of voice, the actress was mocked for no longer reaching the high standards she had achieved in her youth.
“Satirical cartoons of the 19th century presented Siddons in a far from flattering light and were a long way from the oil paintings that recorded her during her heyday. This portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence shows a woman in her prime, painted by a man who clearly adored her,” said Fauvelle.
The painting comes under the hammer on 8th March at the Old Masters, British and European Paintings auction in Salisbury.
