Tales of Sam and Bess, 1660-1700
Tales suggesting famed 17th century diarist/naval adminstrator Samuel Pepys and his lady had more going on than even his famed daily diary let us know...
Note: The best way to know Mr. Pepys is through his magnificent nine year daily Diary...Which is now available on-line on a day-to-day basis at pepysdiary courtesy of the wonderful Phil Gyford.
I would also recommend "The Unequaled Self", a new biography by Claire Tomlin...Just terrific and fills in the gaps the diary leaves...
…
"Pepysing at an Exhibition…"
"Lely?!"
"Oh, no…" sigh.
"Ah, there you are…Thought I'd drop by and see how the new portraits
were coming…."
"Mr. Pepys. What a blessing."
"No problem, glad to the chance…Hmmn…No, no. Lely, now we discussed
this…"
"Did we, Mr. Pepys?"
"Yes, indeed. I went into no little detail about this last time I was
here. You don't want to paint my Lady Castlemaine in this light."
"I don't?"
"No, of course not. It totally obscures the luminous glow of her
skin."
"Luminous glow…I see."
"Here, let me show you…"
"Mr. Pepys, if you wouldn't mind giving me back that brush…"
"There, much better. See?"
Thank God I substituted the old practice work…Lely sighs.
"Yes, very nice, Mr. Pepys. Now if you wouldn't mind…?"
"Of course, of course…Don't mind me. Now what do we have here…?"
"Mr. Pepys, those pigments are priceless!"
"Hmmph…Rather dull, I would say. Now you know Halys has some
wonderful bright things…"
"Susan?! Susan! "
"Anything wrong?"
"Oh, no, Mr. Pepys. Susan just doesn't hear all that well."
"Sir?"
"Ah, Susan. Would you mind showing Mr. Pepys our latest work…
Upstairs?"
"Ah…Susan…" Sam beams.
(Help, the Clerk of the Acts has fallen…Susan thinks, grimly.)
…..