Rehearsing a cotilion [graphic]

"Groups of dancers practise figures of a cotillion in a ballroom with a small musician's gallery supported on pillars, in which are an oboist, two violinists, and a harpist, playing intently and paying no attention to a man who stands below, with outstretched arms, shouting directions. The room is lit by candles in wall brackets. In the centre of the balcony is an oval medallion: a man plays a lyre and three nude nymphs dance. Several of the dancers hold papers of directions headed 'Cotilion', with a description of figures '1' to '8'. The scene is one of confusion. On the left persons stand inspecting the dancers. One man only is dressed as a blood of the period with cropped hair, high-collared waistcoat, 'hanging collar', and long breeches (see British Museum Satires No. 8040, &c). He stands (left) superciliously inspecting the dancers through an eye-glass."--British Museum online catalogue

The pictures in the image amplify the subject: Nymphs dancing to music of lyre