Pope Makes Love To Lady Mary Wortley Montagu 1852

William Powell Frith painted 'Pope Makes Love to Lady Mary Wortley Montagu' in England sometime in the mid-19th century. The painting depicts a moment between the famous poet Alexander Pope and the celebrated writer and intellectual Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, likely set in the early 18th century. Frith, working in Victorian England, frequently addressed social themes in his art. Here, we might consider how the artist uses historical figures to comment on contemporary gender roles and intellectual life. Is Frith idealizing the past, or perhaps critiquing the dynamics of power and influence within literary circles? Consider how Lady Mary is standing over Pope, who is seated and in the shadows. To fully appreciate this painting, one could explore the writings of both Pope and Lady Mary, as well as biographical accounts and critical analyses of their work and relationship. This can help us to examine the social and institutional contexts in which both artists were active.