Gossip

Victor Marais Milton (1872-1948) 

The Gossips 

Oil on canvas 

15 x 18¼ in. (38.2 x 46.4 cm.) 

Private collection

Philip Hook and Mark Poltimore in their book Popular 19th Century Painting wrote:

"The domestic antics of members of the higher echelons of the Roman Catholic Church exercised a powerful fascination for a number of popular painters and their patrons in the second half of the nineteenth century. 

These intimate scenes, set behind closed doors of the private quarters of a cardinal’s palace, constitute a clearly-defined genre of painting in their own right. …  

But to understand the original motivation behind this choice of subject, one must not overlook the element, present in varying degrees in most such works, of anti-clericalism.  

There is no doubt that contemporary collectors and spectators took great pleasure in the sight of noble figureheads of the church reduced to banal, even undignified proportions. 

The comedy was appealing, and the anti-clerical message suited the prevailing political mood of the buying public."

Victor Marais Milton was one of a number of French painters who catered for this taste

They are small vignettes which make a point. Effectively, pointedly through the use of humour

Blaise Pascal, the renowned 17th century philosopher and mathematician in his Pensées said of gossip:

“101. I set it down as a fact that if all men knew what each said of the other, there would not be four friends in the world. This is apparent from the quarrels which arise from the indiscreet tales told from time to time.”

The Holy Father in his succinct way made a number of points about gossip, a pastime which we all love to do

He noted that today, for example, the aspect of "meekness in the community," is a somewhat ‘forgotten virtue’. 

Meekness is stigmatized, it has "many enemies”, the first of which is gossip. 

Pope Francis further developed this reflection. 

“When we prefer to gossip, gossip about others, criticise others- these are everyday things that happen to everyone, including me – these are the temptations of the evil one who does not want the Spirit to come to us and bring about peace and meekness in the Christian community". 

"These struggles always exist" in the parish, in the family, in the neighborhood, among friends”. Instead through the Spirit we are born into a new life, he makes us “meek, charitable."

The Holy Father then outlined the correct behaviour for a Christian. 

First, "do not judge anyone" because "the only Judge is the Lord." 

Then "keep quiet" and if you have something to say, say it to the interested parties, to those "who can remedy the situation," but "not to the entire neighbourhood." 

"If, by the grace of the Holy Spirit – concluded Pope Francis - we succeed in never gossiping, it will be a great step forward" and "will do us all good".