The Reverend Luke Forte was the rector of the Episcopal Church of Saint Thomas. His parish is attended by many of New York society's elite. He was married to Ada before passing away from cancer.
Biography[]
Luke was born to the Italian-American Forte Family. His grandfather had immigrated to Boston, Massachusetts in 1794 to escape the French Revolutionary Wars in Europe. Whilst Italian, the family settled in the largely Irish Boston due to their shared Roman Catholic faith.
Eventually, Luke's father married his mother, an Episcopalian. His mother's strong character and the death of his father while he was still young led to Luke entering the Episcopal church. Some years before 1883, his mother died.[1]
Luke moved to New York and performed the Easter service at the Episcopal Church of Saint Thomas.[2] He then met the Brook-Van Rhijn family, including Ada, whom he married just some months after. They went to the Niagara Falls for their honeymoon, after which Ada moved into the Saint Thomas church rectory wit him. Around the time of their marriage, Luke started suffering from intense backpains, and was diagnosed with cancer. He died at the Brook house sometime before October 22 1883.
Season 2[]
Episode 1[]
Luke gives his first Easter service at the Episcopal Church of Saint Thomas, where many of the New York elite attend, including the Van Rhijn-Brook family, the Astors and the Russells. His cermon impresses Ada Brook. He meets her, Agnes, Marian and Oscar outside the church after the cermon, and tells them that he's moved from Boston. He also tells them that he'll conduct the wedding of Tom Raikes and Cissie Bingham next week.[2]
Episode 2[]
Luke visits The Brook house,and tells about his family background to Ada, Agnes and Marian, while holding Pumpkin in his lap. He also tells them that he's not married. He leaves to hold an evening song at the church.[1]
Episode 3[]
Luke attends a luncheon hosted by Agnes. He talks about his enjoyement of watercolor paintings, which Ada shares. Agnes is shocked by New England Chowder being served at luncheon. Ada reveals that she had asked for Bauer to prepare it as Luke had told them that he'd like to taste the dish now that he's in New York.
On another day, Ada comes to bring a clothing donation at the church and meets Luke. After a chat, he invites Ada to visit the Adolph Menzel exhibition at the Ross Gallery. They meet at the gallery on the next Saturday. Ada is impressed by his knowledge of the painter. Luke is worried about Agnes's opinion on him, but Ada insists that they're all very pleased with him. [3]
Quotes[]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Gilded Age, season 2 episode 2: "Some Sort of Trick"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Gilded Age, season 2 episode 1: "You Don't Even Like Opera"
- ↑ The Gilded Age, season 2 episode 3: "Head To Head"