A follow-up to this post.
A dandy was the Black Prince of Elegance, the demigod of boredom who looked at the world with an eye as glassy as his pince-nez, suffering because his disarranged cravat had a crease, like the ancient Sybarite who suffered because his rose was crushed. He is indifferent about the horse he rides, the woman he greats, and the man he encounters and at whom he gazes a while before recognizing him. He bears, written on his forehead -in English- this insolent incription: What do you and I have in common? (page 140, quote from Paul de Saint-Victor, 1859.)
[…] Via The Victorian Era […]
Hello! I hope you have been well… I haven’t commented in way too long. :(
I thought I’d write to see if you’ve ever read Charles Baudelaire’s essay on “The Dandy,” which is included on his text “The Painter of Modern Life”? I had my students read it this semester, and they had MUCH to say on the topic…!
Best,
PauvrePlume
Hi PauvrePlume, thank you for dropping by and leaving a comment! I’ve read parts of the essay through quotes, but never read the whole thing. I should definitely read it some time soon, it seems very interesting indeed!
Have a nice sunday!
This entry reminded me of maxims I once read, and had to track down. Here’s one from “Pelham: Or the Adventures of a Gentleman,” by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1828:
#3 Always remember that you dress to fascinate others, not yourself.
David: That seems to have been the motto of many dandies indeed! Bulwer-Lytton’s book ik still on my to-read list, it definitely seems interesting.