Ahh, Summertime!

Summer gives us a chance to slow down, explore, and indulge our curiosity—whether that means visiting museums, wandering through historic cities, or simply reading about strange corners of the past from a shady garden chair.

In this issue, we’ll discover an unusual portrait with links to Alice in Wonderland and some themed travel experiences for those curious folks who like treasure hunts. You’ll also discover how Victorians went “swimming” and what happens when France collectively disappears on vacation in July and August.

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We’re going to begin with a painting. I realize that not everyone likes to go to museums on holiday, but I do… On a recent visit to the National Gallery in London, I was mesmerized by a painting of “The Ugly Duchess.” She piqued my curiosity, so I had to find out more. And now I find her even more fascinating…

The Ugly Duchess: The Most Unforgettable Face in Renaissance Art

This unforgettable portrait hangs in the National Gallery in London and never fails to make visitors stop and stare. Who is she? Why does she look so unusual? And why is she known as The Ugly Duchess?

You might think she resembles a character in Alice in Wonderland… And that’s because she does. When John Tenniel was doing illustrations for the original edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, he drew inspiration from this lady for the ugly Duchess in the story (can’t imagine why). And the name, The Ugly Duchess, attached itself to the painting.

Surprisingly, she also has links to Leonardo da Vinci. Renaissance artists all over Europe were experimenting with these types of exaggerated caricatures, and Leonardo made a very similar sketch. 

👉🏼 Find out who The Ugly Duchess might be and why her portrait was painted in the first place..

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If you are curious, like me, you might enjoy some themed travel. When you visit a city for the first time, of course, you want to see all the major sites. But what if you’ve already seen the major landmarks? That’s when themed travel becomes fun. It’s almost like a treasure hunt.

Themed Tours for Curious Travelers

Over the years, I’ve put together several themed tours — some are walkable city adventures, while others take you a little further afield. Instead of simply sightseeing, these self-guided tours invite you to hunt for literary figures, hidden details, forgotten history, and unusual cultural treasures.

So, if you enjoy travel with a side of curiosity, one of these themed tours might inspire your next trip. We have ideas for: 

• Florence, Italy
• Nice, the French Riviera, and Paris in France 
• London and the Lake District in England

👉🏼 Read more to see if any of these self-guided tours might tempt you. 

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🗓️ Curious History Calendar 🗓️

Here are a few Curious Rambler articles related to upcoming dates and events:

Jul	Lavender in Provence – Provence, France
Jul 4	Alice Day (Alice in Wonderland) – Oxford, UK
Jul 4-26	Festival of Avignon – Avignon, France
Jul 13-17	Swan Upping – London, UK
Jul 14	National Day (Bastille Day) – France
Jul 23-26	Nice Jazz Festival – Nice France
Aug 6	Next issue of Curious History Review – First Thursday of August

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I know that many people like going to the beach and swimming in the sea. Did you ever wonder how Victorians would have enjoyed the sea with all those layers of clothes?

Bathing Machines and the Victorian Art of Sea Bathing

A Victorian dip in the sea included a horse, a changing room on wheels, layers of wool, and a professional sea-dipper. Welcome to the curious world of Victorian sea bathing…

Victorians knew about the health benefits of sea bathing, and they were keen to partake of it. However, their strict social dress code made it quite difficult.

Enter the Victorian bathing machine. It allowed them to change into their multi-layered (for women, at least) wool bathing costume and enter the sea in privacy – without being observed by the opposite sex.

👉🏼 Read the whole story to find out more about these game-changing machines.

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I lived in Nice, France for several years, and in the summer the beaches were full of people (and not a bathing machine in sight.)

For those who live there, they might as well go to the beach, because nothing gets done in July and August because of those “grand vacations.”

FROM THE ARCHIVES

The Grand Vacations: July and August in France

The French do many things well, and one thing they do exceptionally well is vacation. Almost everyone takes 2-3 weeks off either in July or August. These are called les grandes vacances, or the “grand vacations.” 

Some companies close for a month in either July or August. And if you are living in France, don’t expect anything to get done – just head for the beach.

👉🏼 Discover how all this holiday making got started and what it might say about the people who take their vacations in July versus August.

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That’s it for this month’s Curious History Review. I hope something here sparked your curiosity.

What are your plans for summer? Are you heading somewhere special? I’d love to hear in the comments.

If you enjoy strange and lesser-known stories from history, make sure you’re subscribed – and feel free to share this with a friend who might enjoy it too.

See you next month for more curious histories!

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