Notorious characters. No. 1 [graphic]

"A travesty of a half length portrait of S. Ireland: ('Hamilton pinxt S = Ireland fect.'). In both Ireland wears the dress of a Rubens picture, cf. BMSat 7020, and looks over his right shoulder, holding up folds of drapery which hang from the left shoulder. The original is young and handsome, with well-dressed hair, tied and falling on his shoulder. [The B.M. impression is dated in a contemporary hand 'Octr 1785'. Listed in Bromley's 'Catalogue', p. 390.] Gillray follows closely the pose and dress of the original, but the head is that of an older man, with a sly smile; his short curling hair recedes from his forehead. In his hand is a book, 'Ireland Shakspe . . .' ..."--British Museum online catalogue