tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post4409019982755171062..comments2023-10-12T02:21:40.102-07:00Comments on English Historical Fiction Authors: Dido Elizabeth BelleDebra Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-23685036081692307742015-09-16T17:56:51.214-07:002015-09-16T17:56:51.214-07:00Thanks again, Torben. I appreciate your interest.Thanks again, Torben. I appreciate your interest.Lauren Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02938146663557663891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-81406599529294130702015-09-15T18:02:03.186-07:002015-09-15T18:02:03.186-07:00Thanks for your message. I am glad to see that you...Thanks for your message. I am glad to see that your original post has been revised. I would like to add two references:<br /><br />(1) Dido and Elizabeth were raised at Kenwood House. There is a book about this place: "Kenwood: The Iveagh Bequest" written by Laura Houliston and Susan Jenkins and published by English Heritage in 2014 (52 pages).<br /><br />(2) The painting of Dido and Elizabeth remained at Kenwood House until 1922 when most of the furniture was sold at auction. A few precious items were not sold. Instead they were moved to Scone Palace, the Scottish residence of the Murrays, near Perth, and the birthplace of William Murray, the first Earl of Mansfield. The painting is still on display at Scone Palace. <br /><br />There is a book about the place: "Scone Palace" written By Jamie Jauncey and published by Jarrold Publishing in 2015 (56 pages).<br /><br />Both guidebooks are well-written and well-illustrated. I have reviewed both of them on Amazon UK.<br /><br />PS. My review of the film "Belle" is posted on Amazon UK.<br /><br />Best wishes,<br /><br />Torben Retboll<br />Bangkok<br />Thailand<br /><br />Torben Retbollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10926236238217887540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-36958709643065442382015-09-10T19:16:15.544-07:002015-09-10T19:16:15.544-07:00I appreciate your comments, Torben.I appreciate your comments, Torben.Lauren Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02938146663557663891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-41364104503476180502015-09-09T18:07:33.428-07:002015-09-09T18:07:33.428-07:00Regarding the painting of Elizabeth and Dido: you ...Regarding the painting of Elizabeth and Dido: you say this painting is attributed to Johann Zofany (whose last name is spelled Zoffany).<br /><br />The German painter Johann Zoffany lived 1733-1810. Previously, the painting was attributed to him, but today this idea has been rejected.<br /><br />Perhaps the painter is the Scottish artist David Martin (1737-1797) who did a large painting of Lord Mansfield around 1776.<br /><br />Whoever was responsible for the painting of the two young ladies, it seems it was completed in 1779, when Elizabeth and Dido were almost 20 years old.<br /><br />If you edit your original post, you can correct the minor flaws which I have pointed out here. I suggest you do that.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Torben Retboll<br />Bangkok<br />Thailand<br /><br />Torben Retbollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10926236238217887540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-34360898121620913522015-09-08T19:41:39.526-07:002015-09-08T19:41:39.526-07:00It is important to distinguish between the movie (...It is important to distinguish between the movie (which is partly fiction) and the real world. In the movie, Dido inherits £ 2,000 from her father. In the real world she did not inherit anything from him. Her father left £ 1,000 to be given to two other children.<br /><br />In the movie, John Davinier is the son of a clergyman who wants to become a lawyer. He is also an ardent abolitionist. In the real world, Davinier was a servant. We do not know if he was an abolitionist. But it is true that he married Dido in 1793, shortly after the death of Lord Mansfield.<br /><br />There are several minor flaws in your essay about Dido:<br /><br />(1) You say John Lindsay brought Dido to Lord Mansfield in 1763. This is not correct. He brought her to Lord Mansfield in 1765. At the time she was about four years old.<br /><br />(2) The Zong massacre took place in 1781. The case was heard by Lord Mansfield in 1783. You say: "He ultimately ruled in favour of the insurers against the owners." This is not correct. He merely ordered that the case be reviewed again, this time based on all the relevant evidence. <br /><br />In the movie, Lord Mansfield rules against the owners (Dido and Davinier are ecstatic about it). In the real world he did no such thing.<br /><br />(3) Lord Mansfield died in 1793. You say at this point Dido was 30 years old. This is not correct. She was born in 1761, so she was 32 years old when he died.<br /><br />As you say later: she died in 1804, when she was 43 years old. In other words: she was born in 1761.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Torben Retboll<br />Bangkok<br />Thailand<br />Torben Retbollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10926236238217887540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-33248208978605885162014-12-30T11:36:00.724-08:002014-12-30T11:36:00.724-08:00Or to slow her down! I do love this painting. El...Or to slow her down! I do love this painting. Elizabeth is in the center, as you say, but I think Dido might have completely cast her in the shade if brought more to the foreground.Lauren Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02938146663557663891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-21010651051680604972014-12-30T11:11:47.370-08:002014-12-30T11:11:47.370-08:00But Elizabeth is in the foreground, seated like th...But Elizabeth is in the foreground, seated like the typical high-born model for a portrait, almost seeming to affectionately calm Dido down from a lively personality to one who can sit for moment for a portrait.Debra Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-70300404285460217542014-12-30T10:23:08.839-08:002014-12-30T10:23:08.839-08:00Thank you, Grace! I'm glad it was useful.Thank you, Grace! I'm glad it was useful.<br />Lauren Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02938146663557663891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-63618630116200570092014-12-30T10:22:31.768-08:002014-12-30T10:22:31.768-08:00Thank you both for your replies. Somehow, I never...Thank you both for your replies. Somehow, I never saw Dido as a lesser or secondary subject in the portrait-she has so much more life, and has so much more style than poor Elizabeth. It's almost like an orchid and a tea rose sitting next to each other.Lauren Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02938146663557663891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-42883125449173717442014-12-30T10:18:59.975-08:002014-12-30T10:18:59.975-08:00Thank you, Fiona. I'm so glad you enjoyed it!...Thank you, Fiona. I'm so glad you enjoyed it!Lauren Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02938146663557663891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-39648429166193077032014-12-30T09:52:39.901-08:002014-12-30T09:52:39.901-08:00I too think she seems a bit "lesser" but...I too think she seems a bit "lesser" but in an affectionate way, and perhaps that is because she was illegitimate and not titled. She certainly looks treasured and loved. I think her stance in the picture might indicate that she was a person of personality.Debra Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-43758826390015644282014-12-30T09:28:45.820-08:002014-12-30T09:28:45.820-08:00A great precise and very helpful. Only last week I...A great precise and very helpful. Only last week I was trying to remember Dido's name- but totally failed, so a very timely post. Thank you. <br />G xPippa Elliotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10128414630918980034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-13989089024501402772014-12-30T05:18:53.056-08:002014-12-30T05:18:53.056-08:00Thanks for doing all of that research. You answere...Thanks for doing all of that research. You answered so many questions I had! I've looked at the painting many times, both before and after seeing the movie twice, and see Dido as being featured in it as somewhat secondary and maybe a bit subservient, though still exceptional for the times.Tameri T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16607894505990748200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-35198126953970085652014-12-30T01:02:53.035-08:002014-12-30T01:02:53.035-08:00Thanks for such a fascinating article, well writte...Thanks for such a fascinating article, well written and detailed!Fiona Ingramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12858421058191075567noreply@blogger.com