Idly searching though google I stumbled upon this fascinating
bit of news; a mirror, once belonging to the legendary beauty Maria Gunning who
(along with her two sisters) was a major celebrity during the middle part of
the 18th century was sold at a fabulous price of £300,000. Her story captivating
and tragic; as a lover of face paints, she became one of the most famous
victims of lead paints dying at just twenty-seven. Poor Maria, began loosing
her looks and beauty due to this compulsive use of poisonous makeup, which she
first used to enhance her looks but soon after to cover her spoilt beauty; it must have been painful
for her to look into this gorgeous mirror, bought for by her husband in 1759
and see her abruptly decaying looks.
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| Maria Gunning by Allan Ramsey |
