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The Leg Brace
This piece remains in the collection at Newstead Abbey The spell is broke; the charm is flown! Thus is it with life’s fitful fever: We madly smile when we should groan Delirium is oue best deceiver "the Spell is Broke, the Charm is Flown" at the age of 22. Then he was visiting Athens Byron was born with a deformed foot, which gave him much pain, and caused him to wear a leg brace from childhood. Dr. Julius Millingen (1800–1878), physician and early biographer, wrote, “The lameness...was a source of actual misery to him; and it was curious to notice with how much coquetry he endeavored, by a thousand petty tricks, to conceal from strangers this unfortunate malconformation.” He was frustrated and felt trapped by his body, leading to comlcated feelings that affected his upbringing and later life deeply. Edward Trelawny, a close friend of Byron’s described his walking as a “halting gait.” However, despite the lameness, he was still able to swim, fence, box, and ride with consummate skill. Indeed, swimming became a key excercise which must have been easier without adding weight to his affected leg. Perhaps his experience also influenced his attitude to beauty, to appearance, leading towards his restricted diet 44.5x14x13cm Porcelain with Gold Lustre |
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