Britannia in French stays, or, Re-form at the expence of constitution [graphic]Gillray, James, 1756-1815, printmaker[2 January 1793]eng"Britannia (left), a buxom young woman, clasps the trunk of a large oak, while Paine tugs with both hands at her stay-lace, placing a large foot on her posteriors. He wears blue and buff with a tricolour cockade on his bonnet rouge. From his coat pocket protrudes a pair of scissors and a tape inscribed: 'Rights of Man'. His face is blotched with drink and his expression is fiercely intent, but he is neatly dressed. Behind him is a thatched cottage inscribed: 'Thomas Pain, Stay-maker from Thetford. Paris Modes, by express.' Britannia looks over her shoulder at the stay-maker (cf. BMSat 9240) with an expression of pained reproach. Her shield leans against the tree; her spear is on the ground; across it lies an olive-branch."--British Museum online catalogue, description of an earlier state of the same compositionTitle etched below image.Printmaker from British Museum catalogue.Plate first issued with title: Fashion before ease, or, A good constitution sacrificed for a fantastick form.Sheet trimmed within plate mark.Mounted on leaf 23 of volume 3 of 12.