News & Features

The Art of Falling in Love

Unlucky in love? Here are Bridgeman's 10 steps to wooing the object of your desire.

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Ask me no more, 1906 Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912) / Private Collection / Bridgeman
Ask me no more, 1906 Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912) / Private Collection / Bridgeman

Step 1.  Women like confident men. You are not going to meet Mrs. Right by staying with the pack. 


Step 2.  As hard as it may be, remember to look into her eyes not down her top!

Very Good Friends in the Same Outfit, 1972. Malick Sidibe(b.c.1935) / Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, USA
WH48616 Flirtation, 1902 (gouache on paper) by Walter Sigmund Hampel (1868-1949)/ Whitford & Hughes, London, UK

Step 3.  Muster the courage to ask her out. Remember the lessons learned from the Jane Austen classic, 'Face and Facebookability.'

Step 4.  Cooking badly is endearing; cooking well is bon vivant; ordering extra spicy Pepperoni means you'll have an early night.

NOO55584 Fan Flirtation, 1908 by Henry Gillard Glindoni/ Private Collection/ John Noott Galleries, Broadway, Worcestershire, UK
HJN343258 Valentine, 2008-09 (mixed media) by Henry John (Contemporary Artist)/ Private Collection

Step 5.  Pay attention to her, ask questions and listen.

Step 6.  Don't assume she needs doors opened for her, as most are automatic nowadays. But a little chivalry goes a long way!

CHT252573 Postcard depicting two lovers, 1932 (colour litho) by Italian School/ Private Collection/ Archives Charmet
BAG13619 La Belle Dame Sans Merci, exh 1902 (oil on canvas) by Sir Frank Dicksee/ Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, UK

Step 7.  Learn to dance. 

Step 8.  Make her laugh. Girls love guys with a great sense of humour.

Quadrille at the Bal Bullier, Place de l'Observatoire, Paris, engraved by G. Barry, c.1860-65 Philippe Jacques Linder (fl.1857-1880) (after) / Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet, Paris, France / Archives Charmet
Henriette de Gaulle and Lieutenant Philippe de Gaulle at a masked ball at Lanveoc-Poulmic, 1950 French Photographer, (20th century) / Archives de Gaulle, Paris, France / Giraudon

Step 9.  In the words of Beyonce....'if you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it.'

Step 10.  If you plan on getting old and grey together, tell her she looks beautiful even when she's wearing a hair net and orthopaedic shoes.

ALG 173084 The Declaration Giacomo Favretto (1849-87) / Museo Civico Rivoltello, Trieste, Italy / Alinari
PNP254338 Listening to one of President Roosevelt's 'Fireside Chats' on the radio, Kansas, c. 1930 (b/w photo) by American Photographer/ Peter Newark American Pictures

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