How the most popular courtesan of the 18th century won national fame: "Darling Thing" by Kitty Fisher

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

This woman was far from nationwide love, but she had nationwide fame. They wrote poems about her, made her the heroine of satirical stories, and not only street pamphleteers, but also quite respected authors. The most famous artists of the time immortalized Kitty Fisher in their canvases. Women of easy virtue called themselves "Kitty" to snatch even a small piece of her success. What was she like, the legendary seductress? What was it about her that all men wanted her and women hated fiercely?

If the Internet had existed in the 18th century, Kitty would have had worldwide fame and millions of subscribers. However, even within the capabilities of that conservative time, Kitty became more famous than one could imagine. The 18th century was marked in world history as the era of the Enlightenment. Europe was seething with revolutions, both intellectual and real. The clergy lost much of their influence on the minds of society. Educated people considered it fashionable to sin, it is not so scary, even progressive.

In the midst of all this apparent intellectual prosperity, a period of moral decline ensued. Prostitution flourished in full bloom. London was no exception. Selling their own bodies has become a convenient way for many women to improve their well-being. The demand was so great that it outstripped supply. Open registers of priestesses of love became the order of things, every gentleman could choose a girl to his liking.

As usual, someone was lucky and they saved up considerable funds for a decent life, opened a decent business, got married and became respectable gossips. Those who were not so lucky died in poverty and oblivion from indecent diseases. Kitty Fisher stood out among them all, she was unique and unique. She was lucky to become a real star of her time.

Kitty's origins remain a mystery. No one knows for certain who she is or where she came from. It is known that her full name was Catherine Maria Fisher and that she was born in 1741. Supposedly, she was a commoner from a poor Lutheran family. Her origins did not stop her from driving the wealthy aristocrats crazy. Kitty Fisher began her life by working in a hat salon. There she was spotted by Commodore August Keppel. Although their relationship was fleeting, it was this stern naval officer who introduced Kitty to high society. Fischer quickly replaced Keppel with a richer patron.

She had no end of lovers and clients. In London, they joked that the ladies from high society prayed every morning that their own husband was not involved in another scandal with Kitty. Miss Fisher was visited by famous aristocrats, politicians and military leaders. The most permanent was the Earl of Coventry. Kitty seduced the earl in an attempt to annoy her rival, Maria Gunning.

Maria was an Irish aristocrat and hunted a rich husband, whom she received as a result - he became Coventry. Kitty was jealous of a woman and dreamed of being in the same status more than anything else. It was not the courtesan who separated the countess from her husband, but death - Maria died young. No earls were in a hurry to marry Fischer. Kitty, however, lived on a grand scale. She lived in a posh house in a prestigious neighborhood for the nobility. She even had servants in livery - something that people of her class could not even dream of.

Miss Fisher was a real trendsetter. The secular lioness (she can rightfully be called that) invented models of dresses that the aristocrats happily copied. She was envied and admired, hated and given credit. Where she got such an exquisite taste was considered a real mystery.

Once a seemingly insignificant event happened, which was then discussed in secular salons for several months. Kitty fell off her horse. She did not receive any injuries, and the plot was reflected in numerous lithographs. Kitty Fisher was joked over, often very evil, even insulted, without hesitation in assessments and expressions. It did not bother her in the least - she even liked it. Now they would say that it was black PR. Fischer's popularity only grew. Kitty was famous not only as a courtesan, she was also a talented model. Fischer was extremely highly regarded by painters, not only for his magnificent photogenicity, but also for his incredible patience in posing sessions. From the paintings of famous artists, a huge number of her portraits have come down to our time, you can create a whole gallery. Among the artists she posed for: Joshua Reynolds, Philippe Mercier, James Northcott, Nathaniel Hawn and others.

Another curious story is connected with the name of the courtesan. It features the most famous ladies' man of all times and peoples - Giacomo Casanova. He visited London in 1763, was endlessly fascinated by the beauty of Fisher, but did not want to be among her lovers. According to Giacomo, because Kitty, they say, did not speak French, and he was used to pleasing all the senses at the same time and without exquisite speech in French, pleasure for him is unthinkable. It would be nothing, but only Kitty was fluent in French. Evil tongues say that the famous lover is used to getting everything for free, and the night with Kitty was worth a lot. He just couldn't afford it. Fischer was extremely frugal. Despite her luxurious lifestyle, she managed to amass a very decent fortune. She even managed to make her dream come true and get married. Yes, not for the count. A rural landowner of noble birth fell in love with her without memory, he was not stopped either by her indecent reputation, or by the impressive train of her lovers.

Kitty Fisher became Mrs. Norris. The only pity is that the happiness did not last long. Soon after the wedding, the couple settled in their husband's homeland, Kent. There, after only four months, the scandalous famous courtesan died. She, like many ladies of that time, was killed by the love of cosmetics. Then it was fashionable to use whitewash for the face, and their basis was lead. It was from the poisoning that Kitty died. She didn’t even live to see her thirtieth birthday, and the fame of this controversial woman is still alive today. She did not spare money for charity, the poor loved her. How did it get along with that and her frugality that she once ate a hundred pounds by slipping a bill between two loaves of bread? It is said that Lord Sandwich saw it and stole her idea. It is possible that in this way she did not just demonstrate her wealth, she sought to humiliate an unlucky lover. After all, Kitty preferred expensive gifts, what is a hundred pounds for her? Be that as it may, but she undoubtedly succeeded in perpetuating herself. Courtesans at all times could leave a significant mark in history, read our article about one more of them. The one who managed to realize the collective dream - to marry a prince: real Frenchwoman Margaret Alibert.