Who Wins?
Let the whimsy begin! Reggianini was born in Northern Italy in 1853 but drew his lush inspiration from half a century before. It's no coincidence that his images crop up on the covers of Georgette Heyer novels because that is what you are looking at. This is a world of romance, of courtship, of flirtation and acres upon acres of satin...
An Illicit Letter
Do you know what your life is missing today? It is missing a trio of giggling, shiny women with scooped necklines, little pointy shoes and a little bit of scandel. I want to know what the letter contains! Does it read 'Dear Pinkie, What's going on with the side of your frock? Love, Your Concerned Suitor xxx' I hope the lass on the left gets a squizz at the letter too, it seems unfair that she has to be lookout while the other two enjoy it. Hang on...
The Letter
It's okay, she does. The thing about Reggianini is that you could accuse him of being a bit same-y, and there are definite groupings of pictures. You have the trio of saucy maidens, such as the two lots above, and these...
The Secret
Awaiting a Visit
The three graces appear in their palace-like home and enjoy intrigues and secrets and all manner of lovely shiny things. They are adorable, but look how much fun it is when you lob a chap into the picture!
The Recital
Section two of the Reggianini album is entitled 'Women like a man who can play/read' or 'Look at the shine on his breeches!' There are any number of images of a pair of young women admiring the young man who has come to entertain them. It's all very lovely at that moment but you know hair pulling will ensue when they work out that both of them fancy the same chap.
Who Wins?
This one is very blatent in its message. This young man can have a wife in pink or blue, although Pinkie is going the more direct route and has shut her fan. Oh, hang on, don't the fan positions mean something? Shut means 'I await your decision' or something and open means 'If you're getting up can you bring me some chips?' as far as I can remember.
The Reading
I believe it was Jane Austen who wrote 'It is a truth universally acknowledged that if you get a hot man in the room with a bunch of girls, it is on like Donkey Kong'. There is no way this will end well and I personally worry for the poor man's safety. Maybe the rug is a hint as to what happened to the last young poet who entered that room. Also, why is he wearing spandex disco pants?Anyway, if you want a bit more action, Reggianini has an entire series of 'Oh no!' pictures of high drama...
A Shocking Announcement
What on earth has gone on here? A chair has gone over, the maid is smiling and a chap has been forced to leave. The shame! The horror!
A Music Scene
This young woman looks a little startled by the size of the chap's cello and her friend has passed out. Lawks!
A Flirtation
Good heavens, not in front of the good coffee service! This pair look rather too jolly in their canoodling and should be careful. All that satin, they'll be lucky if they don't just slide right off of each other. Everyone just behave themselves for a moment!Back on safer ground, Reggianini did a nice series of women with animals, like these gorgeous examples...
The Pet
Good Companions
My personal favorite has to be this one...
The Interruption
The elegance of the long limbed dogs perfectly complement the high-waisted dresses of their mistresses and the smooth coats glimmer like the satin that surrounds them. I love The Interruption because there is a spontaneity of movement, a giggly connection to the audience that the others don't have. We are part of that shiny satin world, if only for a moment, and we are invited in to join in its pastel perfection. On such a gloomy, cold November afternoon I wouldn't mind pulling on a nice frock and enjoying some intrigues and flirtations.Now, where did I put my fan?
