Laughter and gasps of surprise interrupted
the dignified silence of the Wallace Collection when Gabrielle Verrall – one of
its art experts - embarked on telling a story of cuckolded husbands through the
centuries. She showed us this paining,
made by Boucher in the mid 18 century France; it depicts two lovers – Venus and
Mars, and – on the right hand side – there is Venus` husband, Vulcan who
entrapped the cheating pair in a golden net – visible above their heads. He hoped
to humiliate them in the eyes of other gods. With a typical twist, aroused by
the sight of her naked flesh, the gods - Neptune and Mercury - fell in love
with Venus and become her lovers, which – of course - humiliated and enraged Vulcan.
The glints of gold and sombre colours of Mars` armour are like opposing sides
of human nature, where frivolity and jealousy can equally enrich and destroy
our relationships.
With a promise of more delightful stories to
come, we gathered around another Boucher`s masterpiece – The Swing. Commissioned by Baron de St. Julien as a
portrait of his mistress, the painting - as Gabrielle pointed out - alludes to
the illicit affair between a jolly Madame, and her lover, who is hiding in the
bushes, in the bottom left hand-side of this most iconic work of the French
Rococo. He admires his mistress` legs…. and
maybe more than just her legs….while her unsuspecting husband pushes the swing.
Gabrielle also took us to see a portrait
of a well-known adulteress, and images of tragic lovers, and disgraced
husbands, all portrayed by famous painters.
Her usual restrained elegance, exhaustive
knowledge of art, and infectious sense of humour, made Gabrielle`s stories
pulsate with life. Full of drama and examples of immorality, her tales left lasting
impression. I, and I am almost certain the other members of her audience,
realised that the human nature has not changed one bit through the centuries!
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