Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (1789-1849), was famous for her charm, wit and beauty, the latter reflected in Sir Thomas Lawrence's famous portrait of her in 1822. Blessington had an unhappy childhood, and was forced into her first marriage at the age of fourteen, but had developed a love of reading and story-telling. With her second husband Charles John Gardiner, first Earl of Blessington, she lived for several years in France and Italy. This three-volume work, first published 1839-40, contains Blessington's humorous account of living abroad. In Volume 2 she gives detailed…mehr
Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (1789-1849), was famous for her charm, wit and beauty, the latter reflected in Sir Thomas Lawrence's famous portrait of her in 1822. Blessington had an unhappy childhood, and was forced into her first marriage at the age of fourteen, but had developed a love of reading and story-telling. With her second husband Charles John Gardiner, first Earl of Blessington, she lived for several years in France and Italy. This three-volume work, first published 1839-40, contains Blessington's humorous account of living abroad. In Volume 2 she gives detailed descriptions of her travels in Italy, where she stayed in cities such as Lucca, Siena, Florence, Rome and Naples, but also in smaller seaside towns such as Terracina. She draws attention to 'the odour of the cuisine' and the beautiful surroundings and weather, inspiring encounters with artists and locals, and daily visits to art galleries.
Marguerite Gardiner, the Countess of Blessington, was an Irish novelist, journalist, and literary hostess. She met Lord Byron in Genoa and later published a book about their chats. Margaret Power was born near Clonmel in County Tipperary, Ireland, as the daughter of Edmund Power and Ellen Sheehy, both small landowners. She described herself as "haphazardly educated by her own reading and by her mother's friend Ann Dwyer." Marguerite later relocated to Hampshire to reside for five years with the family of Captain Thomas Jenkins of the 11th Light Dragoons, a kind and erudite military officer. Jenkins presented her to Irishman Charles John Gardiner, 1st Earl of Blessington, a widower with four children (two legitimate), seven years her senior. They married on February 16, 1818, at St Mary's in Bryanston Square, Marylebone, just four months after her first husband died. She was noted by her remarkable beauty, charm, and wit, as well as her generosity and lavish preferences, which she shared with her second husband. On August 25, 1822, they embarked on a continental journey with Marguerite's younger sister, Mary Anne, 21 years old, and servants.
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1. Genoa 2. Lucca 3. Florence 4. Siena 5. Radicofani 6. Rome 7. Terracina 8. Mola di Gaeta 9. Naples 10. Environs of Naples 11. Naples continued 12. Rome 13. Florence 14. Genoa 15. Pisa 16. Florence 17. Rome.
