Artists have always been weird people.This is a fact of life. People that write, perform, and create have the unfortunate downside of often outcasting themselves from society. The more fortunate of these people will ultimately go down in history for their creation and the things that outcasted them will end up being the things that make them the most memorable. As a historian, I’m obligated not to lean on conjecture and spread rumors about those who can no longer defend themselves (no matter how true they may be). As a teller of stories and a glutton for good gossip, I have an even bigger obligation to the world to help humanity’s heroes go down for more than the physical things they left behind. For now, you can consider me your historical Gossip Girl!
Wild Wilde
As a representative for the people that write, I can say that many of us are rather strange people. While a flair for the dramatic can be a definite benefit for somebody involved in creation, it is also, understandably a downside to others. One such dramatic writer was one Oscar Wilde. Clad in knee high breeches, riding boots, often a cape, and almost always a signature green carnation, Wilde was not very well liked in the states because of his flamboyant dress. Despite the way he presented himself, he also was quite a fighter. As a lecturer, when his students would attempt to bully him out of the room, the 6’3 Wilde would get into physical fights with them, once reportedly throwing a student down the stairs!
Dickens and his houseguest
Another one of our strange authors is none other than Hans Christian Anderson. While Oscar Wilde’s dramatics were more directed to the general public, our friend Hans was specifically a problem to another one of society’s greats: Charles Dickens. Once, Anderson visited Dickens for what was meant to be a short stay. This turned into 5 weeks of torment for Dickens. Hans was terribly paranoid of being robbed and was an absolute mess of a houseguest. During this visit, he received bad reviews on some of his writing and wept on Charles’ front lawn. Something to think about next time you get a bad grade on an essay. At least you’re not doing that.
Twain V. jane: Rivalry across time
Mark Twain, creator of Tom Sawyer and all his ensuing adventures famously could not stand the work of Jane Austen. He said that her work needed “spicing up” and that it was simply too boring. He once said that he only ever criticized work that he hated and that’s why he spoke so badly of Jane Austen, namely Pride and Prejudice. Twain reportedly also said that he wished he could dig up her body and desecrate it horribly (in much more violent terms than said here).
the difficulty of david
Michelangelo, the artist not the turtle, was famously difficult and argumentative. Despite his talent, he was reportedly obsessive over his work and simply awful to be around. Perhaps it was because of this rude and brooding personality that the artists contemporary to our friend, Michelangelo challenged him to make a sculpture out of the worst piece of marble they could find. This hunk of Carrara marble had sat abandoned in the elements for decades. Il Gigante, as it was called, was not only destroyed by its time outside, but had been chipped at by plenty of other artists. Not only this, but it was much slimmer than Michelangelo usually worked with, considering his penchant for broader pieces. (Cough cough. Sistine Chapel). Still, at only 26 years old, Michelangelo undertook the challenge in 1501. Over 3 years of chiseling away, Il Gigante gained as fine details as tiny veins in hands. It gained distinctly heart shaped pupils. It gained a head of curled hair. Over three years, Il Gigante became David. Now, what was once an attempt to destroy the confidence of a brooding and difficult to work with young artist became a 17 foot tall “Screw You!” To the rest of the art world.
It is all too often that historical figures get put on pedestals in society. We lift them up to the status of gods, all too often forgetting that they are simply human. They were humans that defended themselves with fisticuffs. They were humans that insisted themselves on others’ homes much longer than they were welcome. These artists, while incredibly talented, all found themselves with the same fault. Being human. I, for one like to think of this as a way to connect to the past and sometimes feel better about what I might call faults of my own. (I also think Jane Austen could use some more “spicing up”)
Until next time. XOXO Historic Gossip Girl