DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51519#0186
ICO NELL GWYNN.
her pretty foot so very diminutive, as to afford occasion for mirth
as well as admiration.
The engraved portrait is after a picture by Sir Peter Lely, in the
possession of General Grosvenor: it agrees perfectly with the
foregoing description, and there can exist no doubt of its authen-
ticity. The dress is certainly in the extreme of that negligence
for which the lady was remarkable;
“ Robes loosely flowing—hair as free.”
Her left hand rests upon a lamb which she crowns with flowers.
The turn of the neck and the air of the head are full of grace and
character ; and the whole picture, though a little injured by time,
is exquisitely painted.
[Mrs. Jameson has said enough to make her readers suppose
that there were versions of the youthful history of Nell Gwynn
which differed much from the one she has given. It would,
indeed, have been strange had not the love of scandal, and even
curiosity and less culpable feelings, been employed, not only in
raking up, but in inventing, anecdotes relating to the obscure
beginnings of one who had gained so great a notoriety. As far as
regards Nelly, or her contemporaries in the same class, the bad
feelings are long ago laid asleep and forgotten ; but with many of
our readers one at least, that of curiosity, may still live, and for
its gratification we will trace briefly one of the stories that were
sent afloat of her birth and first introduction to the world. It
will easily be seen, that the object of the person who wrote it was
to make her birth appear as respectable as possible.
She was the daughter, (this story tells us,) of a tradesman in
mean circumstances, who early implanted in her mind a great
sense of virtue and delicacy, the former of which she was not long
in parting with, and yet without the misfortune of losing the
latter. She no sooner became conscious of her own charms, than
she solicited her father to permit her to go into the world under
her pretty foot so very diminutive, as to afford occasion for mirth
as well as admiration.
The engraved portrait is after a picture by Sir Peter Lely, in the
possession of General Grosvenor: it agrees perfectly with the
foregoing description, and there can exist no doubt of its authen-
ticity. The dress is certainly in the extreme of that negligence
for which the lady was remarkable;
“ Robes loosely flowing—hair as free.”
Her left hand rests upon a lamb which she crowns with flowers.
The turn of the neck and the air of the head are full of grace and
character ; and the whole picture, though a little injured by time,
is exquisitely painted.
[Mrs. Jameson has said enough to make her readers suppose
that there were versions of the youthful history of Nell Gwynn
which differed much from the one she has given. It would,
indeed, have been strange had not the love of scandal, and even
curiosity and less culpable feelings, been employed, not only in
raking up, but in inventing, anecdotes relating to the obscure
beginnings of one who had gained so great a notoriety. As far as
regards Nelly, or her contemporaries in the same class, the bad
feelings are long ago laid asleep and forgotten ; but with many of
our readers one at least, that of curiosity, may still live, and for
its gratification we will trace briefly one of the stories that were
sent afloat of her birth and first introduction to the world. It
will easily be seen, that the object of the person who wrote it was
to make her birth appear as respectable as possible.
She was the daughter, (this story tells us,) of a tradesman in
mean circumstances, who early implanted in her mind a great
sense of virtue and delicacy, the former of which she was not long
in parting with, and yet without the misfortune of losing the
latter. She no sooner became conscious of her own charms, than
she solicited her father to permit her to go into the world under