Back in January, we looked at the rise of celebrity culture in the 18th century by way of Casanova, who became a celebrity for no other reason than being a celebrity. He had a counterpart in England named Kitty Fisher. Fisher's entry into high society and wealth came not from her family, but from the succession of high society lovers she charmed in the 1750s, plus her instinct for self-promotion. Kitty was a master at sparking rumors, and wasn't above staging a publicity stunt, like that time she was thrown from her horse and accidentally exposed her body to rescuers and onlookers. In other words, she became famous for being famous. Portrait artists found her both irresistible and lucrative, as people would buy prints of etchings of Kitty, making her the original pin-up girl. She was even connected to Casanova, although there was no chemistry between them. Or maybe it was celebrity rivalry. Read about the 18th-century celebrity Kitty Fisher at Messy Nessy Chic.
(Image credit: Nathaniel Hone the Elder)