An Italian family, in a poverty-stricken room, practise for opera. A young man stands full-face, singing, his fingers interlaced across his chest. He wears an open, ruffled shirt, awaistcoat, breeches, and ungartered stockings. To his right an old man plays an enormous 'cello. To his left a middle-aged man, seated in profile singing, plays a low harpsichord; he wears open ruffled shirt and breeches, with bare legs. Beside him on the extreme left a little boy dressed in a shirt plays the violin. On the extreme right a pretty young woman sits over the fire with an infant on her knee; she holds out a cloth to dry, looking over her shoulder to sing. Her score ('Affetuoso') is pinned to the chimney-piece, on which stands a crucifix with a tankard, &c. A lean greyhound howls up the chimney. All but the old man have fashionably dressed hair, and a certain elegance. The room is lit from an open casement window (left); there are dark cast shadows and the bare room has no ceiling. On the wall are a print of 'Vestris' dancing, a sword, a play-bill: 'l'Avaro Deluso' (opera by Paisiello, libretto by Vulpius), and a bunch of farthing dips; on the window ledge a cracked mirror, cocked hat, bottles, &c. Beneath the harpsichord is a large bowl labeled 'Macaroni'; and in the foreground lie a violin, music-books, earthenware pots, &c."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., 1 print : etching on laid paper, hand-colored ; sheet 35.8 x 46.1 cm., Sheet trimmed within plate mark resulting in loss of imprint., and Mounted on leaf 22 of volume 2 of 14 volumes.
Publisher:
Pubd. Decr. 1785 by S. Alken, No. 3 Dufours Place, Broad Street, Soho. Sold by W. Hinton, No. 5 Sweeting Alley, Cornhill
Subject (Name):
Vulpius, Christian August, 1762-1827, Paisiello, Giovanni, 1740-1816, and Vestris, Auguste, 1760-1842
Subject (Topic):
Children, Families, Italian, Mothers, Musical instruments, Musicians, and Singing
"Lady Strathmore leans back in an armchair, her legs crossed; in her right hand is a birch-rod, she holds in her left hand the hand of a boy, her (supposed) step-son, whom another woman (right) holds out for chastisement. He is crying, the woman is about to take off his breeches. On the extreme right a dinner-table is partly visible, with a large tureen decorated with coat of arms and coronet. Lady Strathmore's hair is decorated with flowers and feathers, her breasts are much exposed and her appearance is meretricious."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., 1 print : etching & stipple engraving laid paper ; plate mark 43.8 x 54.9 cm, on sheet 45.1 x 56.2 cm., and Mounted on leaf 34 of volume 7 of 12.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 25th, 1786, by W. Holland, No. 66 Drury Lane
Subject (Name):
Strathmore, Mary Eleanor Bowes, Countess of, 1749-1800 and Strathmore, John Bowes, Earl of, 1769-1820
"A stout and ragged woman, typical of St. Giles, bawls her broadsides inscribed: 'Last Dying Speech and Confession of the unfortunate Malefactors who were executed this Morning'. She stands full-face, one hand to her cheek, a pouch suspended from her neck hangs over her apron. She wears a cloak, and one foot is bare. Behind her is the corner of a house; in the doorway stands a young woman holding an infant; a little boy beside her looks up at the bawling woman, as does a dog. In the middle distance a little boy takes a handkerchief from a pedestrian's pocket. Behind (right) are houses."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Last dying speech and confession
Description:
Title etched below series title and number. and Mounted on leaf 3 of volume 6 of 14 volumes.
Publisher:
Pub. Feb. 20, 1799, at R. Ackermann's, 101 Strand
Subject (Topic):
Children, City & town life, Dogs, Mothers, and Pickpockets
A fashionably dressed woman sits (left) in profile, in an upright chair, while a carriage waits for her as seen through the window of the well-appointed sitting room. Her loose dress, high to the neck, has two embroidered slits to reveal the breasts. A pretty, buxom nurse holds out an infant, who eagerly sucks the breast thus conveniently laid bare. She wears a turban with two erect feathers, and short sleeves; her gloved right hand holds a closed fan. On the wall behind her is a large picture, 'Maternal Love': a seated woman suckles an infant. Through a high sash-window is seen a corner of the waiting coach, a footman holding open the door, a fat coachman on the box. The coach, hammer-cloth, and the lady's chair are decorated with a baron's coronet. A patterned carpet covers the floor
Alternative Title:
Convenience of modern dress
Description:
Title etched below image., 1 print : etching & stipple engraving on wove paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 35.0 x 24.8 cm, on sheet 38.5 x 27.5 cm., and Mounted on leaf 5 of volume 9 of 12.
Publisher:
Pubd. Feby. 15th, 1796, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Topic):
Breast feeding, Carriages & coaches, Clothing & dress, Coach drivers, Hats, Infants, Jewelry, Interiors, Mothers, Parlors, Rugs, and Servants
"A decrepit old man stands at the door of a house of ill fame at the corner of Portland Street; Mrs Burke is on the door-plate. One hand is on the knocker; he turns to scowl at a woman (right) who holds out a bunch of water-cress from a large shallow basket slung from the hip. A child clings to her shoulders; a little girl (left) with a small basket also offers him a bunch. Two young courtesans lean from a first-floor window. In the background (right), behind a spiked gate, are trees and a large house (or houses)."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Watercresses, come buy my watercresses
Description:
Title etched below series title and number., 1 print : etching with aquatint border on wove paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 36 x 29.6 cm, on sheet 49 x 30.8 cm., and Mounted on leaf 5 of volume 6 of 14 volumes.
Publisher:
Pub. Mar. 1, 1799, at R. Ackermann's, 101 Strand
Subject (Topic):
Brothels, Children, City & town life, Mothers, Peddlers, Prostitutes, Vegetables, and Women
"A lady working at her embroidery turns to watch a child holding a bird, an oval composition."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from British Museum online catalogue., Proof state before title. Cf. British Museum online catalogue, registration no.: 1917,1208.3321., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Companion print to: The tender mother., and Mounted on leaf 14 of volume 12 of 12.
Publisher:
Pubd. Feby. 27th, 1787, by S. Vivares, Great Newport Street
"A lady nurses a sleeping baby while another older girl approaches from the left; an oval composition."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from later state in the British Museum. See British Museum online catalogue, registration no.: 1868,0808.10396., Proof state before title., Sheet trimmed within plate mark on upper and lower edges., Companion print to: The happy mother., Sheet annotated at top with the name "James Gillray," written in ink and in a contemporary hand., and Mounted on leaf 15 of volume 12 of 12.
Publisher:
Pubd. Feby. 27th, 1787, by S. Vivares, Great Newport Street
