The Rest Is History 607. Nelson’s Lover: The Scandalous Lady Hamilton
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Oct 8, 2025 Discover the captivating life of Emma Hamilton, mistress to Horatio Nelson, who transformed from poverty to international celebrity. Explore their famed love affair, fueled by passion and political intrigue. Hear about her rise on the London stage, her artistic partnerships, and how she became a high-end courtesan. The hosts dive into Emma's influence on Nelson's military campaigns and her role as a socialite in Naples, revealing a story of ambition, betrayal, and remarkable resilience.
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Emma As A Pre-Modern Superstar
- Emma Hamilton was a Europe-wide celebrity before Nelson, famed for 'attitudes' that animated classical images.
- Her performances stunned contemporaries and prefigured modern visual spectacle.
Attitudes As Live Statues
- Emma's 'attitudes' recreated statues and vase-images through pose, gesture and expression to vivid effect.
- Observers like Goethe compared the shock to seeing moving images for the first time.
Breakthrough At Graham's Temple Of Health
- At Dr. James Graham's 'temple of health' Emma posed as the rosy goddess of health on an elaborate, electrically shocked bed.
- The spectacle launched her as a living statue and led to higher-class patronage.
