The first case of sending nudes: Sarah Goodridge and her "Exposed beauty"

In the modern world, the exchange of erotic photos is in the order of things. This is not only done by couples in love — you can get juicy photos from a complete stranger. In the USA, dickpicks have become a real disaster and are equated with sexual harassment. But it was in this country that the first case of sending nudes occurred, back in 1828.

The first message known to history with a candid image was sent to her lover by American artist Sarah Goodridge. She painted a small painting, which she called "Beauty Unmasked" for lawyer and politician Daniel Webster. The couple's relationship was not very successful, and perhaps Goodridge wanted to change something.

Today it is difficult to say how the man reacted to such an unusual gift. But Sarah Goodridge's act went down in history, and the image of her breasts took its rightful place in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Today this image seems unremarkable, but 200 years ago it was a case of unheard-of frankness.

Sarah Goodridge was born in the small town of Templeton, Massachusetts on February 5, 1788. She was the third daughter in a family with six children. Sarah has been fond of drawing since childhood. Her parents were not rich people, so the girl had to learn to draw not on paper, but on pieces of birch bark.

The future artist graduated from an ordinary school and received only two drawing lessons in her entire life. A big role in the formation of Goodridge as an artist was played by her older brother William, who took young Sarah on trips around the country. Together they went to exhibitions and discussed the works of famous masters.

In 1820, Sarah and her sister Eliza left home and moved to Boston. There the artist began to earn her talents by drawing miniatures. These were small portraits for medallions, which were very popular in the 19th century. The experience of drawing on small pieces of birch bark came in handy — Sarah painted tiny portraits with incredible detail.

Very soon the whole of Boston knew about the artist and the customers went one by one. Sarah worked tirelessly and her work was worthily rewarded. For several decades, the artist supported her large family by painting portraits. Later, works painted on ivory were added to the pictorial miniatures. Goodridge's paintings were recognized as masterpieces during her lifetime and were repeatedly exhibited in the best galleries in the USA.

Sarah Goodridge had a favorite job, recognition and money. But in her personal life, the artist was not lucky. In the mid-1820s, a lawyer Daniel Webster commissioned a portrait of a woman. This man was a well-known politician and statesman, and in life he was distinguished by a cool temper. Sarah fell madly in love with a burning brunette with the manners of an aristocrat and he reciprocated. Webster's heart was free—his wife was dead.

The romance between the artist and the politician lasted for several years and did not bring happiness to anyone. The couple was constantly breaking up, then coming together again. The reason for everything was the turbulent state activity of Webster, who was constantly on the move. After another breakup, Goodridge sent her beloved a frank gift unheard of at that time.

The painting "Exposed Beauty" captures the artist's chest framed by folds of fabric. Her woman painted with watercolor paints on an ivory plate measuring only 7 by 8 centimeters. The frame in which the miniature is inserted now was made later.

The gift could not save the relationship. Webster soon forgot about his affair with the artist and remarried. Despite this, Daniel secretly kept the "Exposed beauty" until his death. Sarah Goodridge painted portraits until 1851, as long as her eyesight allowed. Leaving her favorite business, she lived only two years and died in 1853 of a heart attack.

Sarah's greatest love is the handsome Daniel Webster left this world a year earlier, in 1852. His death was tragic. During a horse ride at his estate in Massachusetts, the politician fell from his horse and hit his head hard. The injury turned out to be fatal and, despite the efforts of the best doctors in the state, Daniel died of a brain hemorrhage.