Lionel Benedict Nicolson (6 August 1914 – 22 May 1978) was a British art historian and author.
Nicolson was the elder son of authors Harold Nicolson and Vita Sackville-West and the brother of writer and politician Nigel. His godmothers were Violet Trefusis, Olive Custance and Rosamund Grosvenor.
The boys grew up at Sissinghurst Castle, in the rural depths of Kent, surrounded by the renowned gardens that are now run by the National Trust. Nicolson was educated at Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford, studying modern history. In 1939, he was appointed Deputy Surveyor of the King's Pictures under Kenneth Clark, but soon after, war was declared and he joined the Intelligence Corps, rising to the rank of captain. In 1945 he resumed his Royal post as Deputy Surveyor, then under Anthony Blunt.
He was married on 8 August 1955 to Luisa Vertova, the elder daughter of Professor Giacomo Vertova of Florence, and they had a daughter, Vanessa Pepita Giovanna (b. 1956), before divorcing in 1962.
After being appointed a MVO, Nicolson resigned from the Royal Household in 1947 and went on to edit The Burlington Magazine. Nicolson spent much of his life collecting photographs of early seventeenth-century works in the Caravaggio manner which he wrote about in The Burlington Magazine and which eventually filled three large volumes.
Nicolson died in 1978 and was buried in Trinity Church Cemetery in Sissinghurst, Kent, adjacent to his father.
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Some of their strengths
Benedict Nicolson has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Energetic, Bold, Extroverted, Passionate, Intelligent, Intellectual, and Analytical.
Bold and Confident
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Benedict Nicolson is someone who is a bold, confident, energetic, and optimistic person, who is able to combine personal warmth and charisma with intelligence. A person who sees life as a journey not a destination.
Strong and Resilient
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Benedict Nicolson well know them as someone who can be strong, expansive, and stable like a big tree.
Ambitious and Forceful
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Benedict Nicolson as someone who is ambitious, hard-working, determined, and intelligent.
A person who has a knack for identifying opportunities, has amazing concentration and focus, who can work independently, who likes starting new things, and who is somewhat of an intellectual.
Easygoing and Energetic
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Benedict Nicolson is someone who has an easygoing nature and a healthy sense of humor, with a mind that requires constant stimulation in order to feel fulfilled.
They are also someone who is calm, comforting, and stable, and who loves stability and being a good friend and loyal partner.
Creative and Leadership-oriented
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Benedict Nicolson tends to be someone who is a natural leader, with determination, motivational powers, and who takes obligations seriously. Who has charisma, a sense of humor, and who tends to attract attention.
Some of Benedict Nicolson's challenges
While Benedict Nicolson has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Benedict Nicolson can be Rebellious, Emotional, Arrogant, Status-seeking, Emotionally Distant, Impulsive, and Careless.
Arrogant and Status-seeking
One of Benedict Nicolson's key challenges is that they are someone who can come across as arrogant and status-seeking.
Benedict Nicolson must also exercise caution as they can have a hard time reconciling wants and needs, and can be excessive and unrealistic.
Relentless and Inflexible
Benedict Nicolson is someone who can be relentless, obsessive, and inflexible, who can be confrontational with work colleagues, can have difficulty communicating feelings and be somewhat reclusive, and who can be self-destructive, overindulgent, and extravagant.
Domineering and Stubborn
Finally, Benedict Nicolson also can be too rebellious, not respond to criticism well, and be too emotional and extreme about things.
