This is a portrait of the actress Nell Gwynn. Know her? Well, she was the mistress of Charles II. And this is the "daring topless painting" that Simon Verelst made in 1680. I swear that once for a few years I dated a girl with this exact same face. This is the way she looked. The eyes, the expression. I had a shock of recognition when I saw the image. Oh, she was ever so much fun, but I know why Charles didn't marry her. Maybe. Though our situations were slightly reversed. Her station in life was higher than mine. By birthright that is. She was far too young which is what made it so wrong, and so much fun. Both Charles and I were seduced, I think. I was. There is much to say about the art of seduction. Seductiveness, on the other hand, is another thing. Look at the eyes. That is exactly what I remember. That and the tiny bit of a smirk about the lips. Oh, my, I want to be led astray at least once again.
Rather, I am on autopilot. I Plod, I plod, I plod. Hope and Consequences.
Oh... Sorry for being so late with it, but:
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this photo.
XXX