Anne Ford
Encyclopedia
Anne or Ann Ford, after 1762 Mrs. Philip Thicknesse, (22 February 1737 – 20 January 1824) was an 18th-century English musician and singer, famous in her time for a scandal that attended her struggle to perform in public.
and the viola da gamba
. This gave her a chance to perform privately with others at home, but her father, Thomas Ford, refused to allow her to perform publicly. This became irksome to her in her early twenties, but her earliest attempts to appear in public were unsuccessful; her father went so far as to have her arrested twice to prevent her escaping his control. Eventually she made a successful escape, and held her first public subscription concert on March 18, 1760. She performed a series of subsequent concerts, including daily performances from Oct. 24 through Oct. 30 of that year, though her playing on the "masculine" viol da gamba, comparable to a modern cello
, was considered a further point of controversy.
Ford gave a performance in 1761, 'English airs, accompanying herself on the musical glasses,' at Spring Gardens
. She published Instructions for Playing on the Musical Glasses, comparable to the glass harp
of Richard Pockrich
. These glasses were tuned with water, and preceded the 1762 armonica (Glass harmonica) produced by Marianne Davies
.
Ford's situation was further complicated by an infatuated lover, the Earl of Jersey
, who offered her £800 a year to be to his mistress. When she refused, Lord Jersey tried to sabotage her initial public concert, but she earned £15 from it nonetheless. In 1761 she published a pamphlet, A Letter from Miss F—d to a Person of Distinction, defending her position. This in turn provoked a pamphlet from the Earl, A Letter to Miss F—d. The brief pamphlet war between them differed in subject and tone from others conducted in that era.
On 27 September 1762, she became the third wife of Philip Thicknesse
, so gaining greater social standing and acceptance.
She and her husband were travelling to Italy in 1792 when Thicknesse died suddenly in Boulogne
and his wife was imprisoned during the Reign of Terror
in the French Revolution
. After the execution of Maximilien Robespierre
in July 1794, she was released under a general pardon for all prisoners who could prove that they could earn their living; her profession stood her in good stead.
In 1800 Anne Ford published an autobiographical roman à clef
entitled The School for Fashion, which included many public figures of the day in thin disguise. She herself featured as "Euterpe
."
After two centuries, she is perhaps best remembered as the subject of one of Thomas Gainsborough
's acknowledged masterpieces, painted in 1760 and later known as his "Portrait of Mrs. Philip Thicknesse, née Anne Ford." http://www.classicartrepro.com/artistsc.iml?painting=3754
Life and music
Some aspects of Anne Ford's life are not atypical of talented and ambitious women in the traditional society of 18th-century England, but she gained more education than most. She had a knowledge of five foreign languages and played several fretted string instruments, including the lute-like English guitarEnglish guitar
English guitar is a stringed instrument, a type of sister , which was popular in many places in Europe from around 1750-1850. The instrument was also known in Norway as a guitarre. There are many examples in Norwegian museums, including at the Norsk Folkemuseum. The english guitar has a pear-shaped...
and the viola da gamba
Viol
The viol is any one of a family of bowed, fretted and stringed musical instruments developed in the mid-late 15th century and used primarily in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The family is related to and descends primarily from the Renaissance vihuela, a plucked instrument that preceded the...
. This gave her a chance to perform privately with others at home, but her father, Thomas Ford, refused to allow her to perform publicly. This became irksome to her in her early twenties, but her earliest attempts to appear in public were unsuccessful; her father went so far as to have her arrested twice to prevent her escaping his control. Eventually she made a successful escape, and held her first public subscription concert on March 18, 1760. She performed a series of subsequent concerts, including daily performances from Oct. 24 through Oct. 30 of that year, though her playing on the "masculine" viol da gamba, comparable to a modern cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
, was considered a further point of controversy.
Ford gave a performance in 1761, 'English airs, accompanying herself on the musical glasses,' at Spring Gardens
Spring Gardens
Spring Gardens is a street in London, England, crossing The Mall between Admiralty Arch and Trafalgar Square.It was named after the gardens which were previously on the site, which featured a trick fountain...
. She published Instructions for Playing on the Musical Glasses, comparable to the glass harp
Glass harp
A glass harp is an instrument made of upright wine glasses....
of Richard Pockrich
Richard Pockrich (inventor)
Richard Pockrich , or Poekrich , was the inventor of the angelic organ in 1741.-Life:He was born at his family's estate Derrylusk, Co. Monaghan, Ireland. His father, also named Richard , was the member of Parliament for Monaghan and had commanded troops in the Williamite battles. The paternal...
. These glasses were tuned with water, and preceded the 1762 armonica (Glass harmonica) produced by Marianne Davies
Marianne Davies
Marianne Davies was an English musician, and the sister of the classical soprano Cecilia Davies.In 1762 she became the first person to publicly perform on the glass harmonica , an instrument consisting of variously sized and tuned glass bowls that rotate on a common shaft, played by touching the...
.
Ford's situation was further complicated by an infatuated lover, the Earl of Jersey
William Villiers, 3rd Earl of Jersey
William Villiers, 3rd Earl of Jersey PC was an English peer, the son of William Villiers, 2nd Earl of Jersey.Among other achievements, Villiers was a founding Governor of the Foundling Hospital, a charity which received its royal charter on 17 October 1739 to operate an orphanage for abandoned...
, who offered her £800 a year to be to his mistress. When she refused, Lord Jersey tried to sabotage her initial public concert, but she earned £15 from it nonetheless. In 1761 she published a pamphlet, A Letter from Miss F—d to a Person of Distinction, defending her position. This in turn provoked a pamphlet from the Earl, A Letter to Miss F—d. The brief pamphlet war between them differed in subject and tone from others conducted in that era.
On 27 September 1762, she became the third wife of Philip Thicknesse
Philip Thicknesse
Captain Philip Thicknesse was a British author, eccentric and friend of the artist Thomas Gainsborough.Philip Thicknesse was born in Staffordshire, England, son of John Thicknesse, the Rector of Farthinghoe, Northamptonshire and Joyce Thicknesse and brought up in Farthinghoe. In later life he...
, so gaining greater social standing and acceptance.
She and her husband were travelling to Italy in 1792 when Thicknesse died suddenly in Boulogne
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
and his wife was imprisoned during the Reign of Terror
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror , also known simply as The Terror , was a period of violence that occurred after the onset of the French Revolution, incited by conflict between rival political factions, the Girondins and the Jacobins, and marked by mass executions of "enemies of...
in the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. After the execution of Maximilien Robespierre
Maximilien Robespierre
Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre is one of the best-known and most influential figures of the French Revolution. He largely dominated the Committee of Public Safety and was instrumental in the period of the Revolution commonly known as the Reign of Terror, which ended with his...
in July 1794, she was released under a general pardon for all prisoners who could prove that they could earn their living; her profession stood her in good stead.
In 1800 Anne Ford published an autobiographical roman à clef
Roman à clef
Roman à clef or roman à clé , French for "novel with a key", is a phrase used to describe a novel about real life, overlaid with a façade of fiction. The fictitious names in the novel represent real people, and the "key" is the relationship between the nonfiction and the fiction...
entitled The School for Fashion, which included many public figures of the day in thin disguise. She herself featured as "Euterpe
Euterpe
In Greek mythology, Euterpe + τέρπειν terpein ) was one of the Muses, the daughters of Mnemosyne, fathered by Zeus. Called the "Giver of delight", when later poets assigned roles to each of the Muses, she was the muse of music. In late Classical times she was named muse of lyric poetry and...
."
After two centuries, she is perhaps best remembered as the subject of one of Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough was an English portrait and landscape painter.-Suffolk:Thomas Gainsborough was born in Sudbury, Suffolk. He was the youngest son of John Gainsborough, a weaver and maker of woolen goods. At the age of thirteen he impressed his father with his penciling skills so that he let...
's acknowledged masterpieces, painted in 1760 and later known as his "Portrait of Mrs. Philip Thicknesse, née Anne Ford." http://www.classicartrepro.com/artistsc.iml?painting=3754