Another thing that amazed me a lot when I moved to Edinburgh was the incredible amount of free museums open to the public. My favourite so far is the Scottish National Gallery, not only because it has a great collection of works from around the world, but also because I found my first ‘love’ there.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I have been, and still am, a fan of Jane Austen and have read, in addition to the author’s original novels, also an obscene amount of variations. Well, once I got to the upper floor of the gallery, I found myself face to face with what for me has always been the perfect representation of Mr Darcy: the painting Portrait of a man by François-Xavier Fabre.
Considered a minor and often overlooked work by scholars of the founder of the famous Musée Fabre, Portrait of a man has acquired a certain fame among the fans of the English writer, appearing on many book covers dedicated to the original or reinterpreted stories of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy.
The subject, dressed in the style of the time and with unruly curls, has never been identified despite the name: M Camille engraved on the canvas. What is certain, is that the picture was painted around 1809 in Paris, just four years before the publication of Pride and Prejudice.
It’s hard to explain, but when I need to recharge, I like to go back to the gallery to admire at this painting, and be gazed upon by the mysterious gentleman. This helps me remember who I am, where I’m from and what I really like in a magical way…
