Boston Public LibraryJames Gillray (1756-1815). Prints and Drawings / English Caricature and Political Satire, 18th and 19th Centuries / British Artists / John D. Merriam Collection
Company shocked at a lady getting up to ring the bell
Item Information
- Title:
- Company shocked at a lady getting up to ring the bell
- Description:
-
A violent disturbance in a luxuriously furnished breakfast parlour. The only lady present has risen from her chair to pull a bell-pull. The frantic efforts of five elderly men to stop her have produced a sequence of disasters. An urn overturns and pours boiling water on a fat man who puts a large lump of food speared on his fork into his eye. A man behind him, rushing to seize the bell-rope, spears the former's wig with his knife. Crockery cascades to the floor, the contents of a tea-pot falling on a dog, who bites the knee of a man in regimentals -- he leans forward, planting his toe on the gouty foot of a man behind. The latter, about to fall, grasps the officer's pigtail, flourishing a knife, his mouth choked with food. A fifth man stands behind the table with raised hands and shrugged shoulders. The fare is boiled eggs, bread, and muffins. Over the chimney-piece is a picture of a fat Cupid firing his bow. His quiver is reversed, and one leg is transfixed with an arrow. The walls of the room are ornamented by gilt pilasters in the shape of palm-trees. Between them are empty candle-sconces decorated with palm-branches. The men appear to be the suitors of a rich widow (BM).
- Artist:
- Gillray, James, 1756-1815
- Name on Item:
-
B[rownlow]. [North] Esq. del.
- Date:
-
November 20, 1804
- Format:
-
Prints
- Genre:
-
Etchings
Caricatures
Satires (Visual works)
- Location:
-
Boston Public Library
Arts Department - Collection (local):
-
John D. Merriam Collection
- Subjects:
-
Eating & drinking
Accidents
Courtship
Widows
- Extent:
- 1 print : hand-colored etching ; plate mark 26 x 36 cm
- Permalink:
- https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2z111j47m
- Terms of Use:
-
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
- Publisher:
-
No. 27 St. James Street London :
Publish'd by H. Humphrey
- Language:
-
English
- Notes:
-
Title from item.
BM Satires 10303; Wright/Evans 529
- Notes (acquisition):
-
Gift; Louis Black; December 1953
- Notes (date):
-
Date from item.
- Notes (citation):
-
Stephens, Frederic George, George, Mary Dorothy. "Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum." British Museum Press, 1870, London.
Wright, Thomas, R. H. Evans. "Historical and descriptive account of the caricatures of James Gillray." Benjamin Blom, 1968, New York.
- Identifier:
-
18_17_000096
- Barcode:
-
36666003786932
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