Improper Pursuits: The Scandalous Life of an Earlier Lady Diana Spencer

by Carola Hicks

With these words to Boswell, Samuel Johnson dismissed Lady Di Beauclerk, the wife of one of his closest friends, a woman of the highest rank, the daughter of a duke, who had forsaken her reputation, her place in society, her children, and her role as lady-in-waiting to the Queen for love.

Born Lady Diana Spencer in 1735, the eldest child of the third Duke of Marlborough, she was expected rigidly to follow a traditional path through educated in the fashion considered suitable for a girl, and married to a man of the appropriate rank for a duke's daughter. But finding herself in a desperately unhappy marriage to Viscount Bolingbroke, Lady Di overturned convention. She left her husband, maintained a secret relationship with her lover, Topham Beauclerk, hid the birth of an illegitimate child, and eventually helped to support herself by painting.

Lady Di Beauclerk was a highly gifted artist who was able to use her scandalous reputation as an adulteress, aristocratic woman to further her career as a painter and designer. She painted portraits, illustrated plays and books, provided designs for Wedgwood's innovative pottery, and decorated rooms with murals. Championed by her close friend Horace Walpole, whose letters illuminate all aspects of her life, she was able to establish herself as an admired artist at a time when women struggled to forge careers.

Carola Hicks provides an enthralling account of eighteenth-century society, in which Lady Di encountered many of the most eminent artistic, literary, and political figures of the day. Improper Pursuits is an absorbing study of a singular life.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction

416 pages, Hardcover

First published May 10, 2002

About the author

Carola Hicks studied archaeology at Edinburgh University, and was an actress, journalist and House of Commons Researcher, before taking up an academic career. For several years she was curator of the Stained Glass Museum at Ely Cathedral, and then became a Fellow and Director of Studies in art history at Newnham College, Cambridge. Her books include Animals in Early Medieval Art, Improper Pursuits: The Scandalous Life of Lady Di Beauclerk, and two fine 'biographies' of works of art: The Bayeux Tapestry: The Life Story of a Masterpiece and Girl in a Green Gown: The History and Mystery of the Arnolfini Portrait.

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very well written, providing plenty of background to events and not extrapolating too much when the source material was unavailable. Definitely a must-read for anyone interested in women's history.

[Lisa Caudill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good details and historical connections

[Nicole C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A titled woman of the 1700s learned about art and it was perfectly acceptable for her to do this as a hobby, but not as a career. However, Lady Diana Spencer, who was a Viscountess through marriage, ended up selling some of her paintings in her adulthood. The scandals were the fact that she was an adulteress, leaving the Viscount Bolingbroke (and his massive debts and philandering) for another dude (who also had problems with money) by the name of Beauclerk, and of course, had the requisite love-child while still under Bolingbroke's roof. However, as we know, quiet women never make history, so her adulteress role probably helped her artistic life.

[Taylor Sassy Countess · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book started out talking about her grandmother, then it felt like everyone except Diana. However, I would say that it is definitely worth the read! And, had I had more time, I would have read it quicker. This only makes sense if you know how much time I spend on homework. However, every moment that I could read for enjoyment was caught up in this book, especially toward the end.

Four GOOD stars... and maybe add a quarter star to it as well.

I will be writing a review on the Sassy Countess blog about the house histories within probably tomorrow...

[Sarah Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and useful, but a little too dry for my taste and the organization is rather confusing. Like many people writing biography the author seems to be unable to decide whether to follow chronology, people or story and as a result sometimes jumps rather chaotically between the three.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about the scandalous life of this little known 18th Century artist. I was especially interested in many of her sketches being used by Josiah Wedgwood to decorate his jasper ware. Reading about the life of many a titled aristocrat was also an eye-opener. This is a fun gossipy read about people and life in the 1700s. My main problem with the book was getting bogged down in all the genealogy and seemingly unrelated reference quotations that the author gave us.

[Diana Sandberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way too long at 350-something pages. Still, a fairly interesting look at the society of the times – her dates are 1735-1808. The profligacy and intemperance of the upper classes, and the dreadful difficulties they got into, make rather disturbing reading. The most interesting parts of the book are the very first chapters, which actually deal with Lady Di’s grandmother, Sarah Churchill, a right old harridan of breathtaking proportions. Also of some interest is a brief glimpse of Josiah Wedgewood, for whom Lady Di did design work later in her life. What a fascinating blend of artistic vision, technical creativity, and marketing savvy. Lady Di’s life is mostly just depressing, especially the end. And yes, she is an ancestress – more or less – of the more contemporary Lady Di. It was the previous Lady Di’s brother who is the direct ancestor, not only of Lady Di but of Winston Churchill.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good biography of Lady Diana Spencer Bolingbroke Beauclerk, whom I only knew as the designer of Bacchanalian Bous for Wedgwood. Lots of extracts from letters, especially her great admirer Horace Walpole.

[Whimsical · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed with how the book was written. The life of the protagonist, although interesting was lost in the minutiae that was this book. At times I had to really ask myself what was the intent of the author. This was not an enjoyable read.