A barbers-shop in assize time from a picture painted by H.W. Bunbury, Esqre. / [graphic]Gillray, James, 1756-1815, printmaker[15 May 1818]eng"A country barber, his assistant, and a boy, are engaged in shaving and wig-dressing. An elderly rustic sits full-face and well-lathered in an arm-chair in the centre of the shop, while a lean and tattered barber holds the bowl. A stout farmer in top-boots (left) with a stubbly face dubiously contemplates a wig, which he holds on a tall wig-block. On the right a fat barber painfully shaves an old man, while a younger customer stanches a cut over a basin. A young boy in front of them holds two elaborately curled legal wigs. A long judge's wig, uncurled, hangs from a wig-block. Behind (left) a prim, elderly man in a newly dressed wig adjusts his neck-cloth at a small mirror; a coachman in back view puts on his tightly curled wig. There are also two dogs, two cats, a magpie taking part of a wig from a box on the floor, and another bird in a cage. Above the door (right) are fishing-rods and a creel. On the wall are four prints: a naval battle (framed); a view of the 'County Gaol'; an execution scene; and a skeleton fiddling to exulting demons. There is also 'A Calendar of the Prisoners to be Tried. . . '. The room is ramshackle with a casement window, bricks showing through the plaster. From the roof hang a ham and a bundle of turnips and carrots."--British Museum online catalogue, description of an earlier state of the same compositionTitle etched below image.Later state, with partially scored-through imprint of H. Humphrey burnished from plate. Cf. No. 11779 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 9.Plate dated in lower left corner below image: London, January 9th, 1811.Text above image, preceding publication line: The last work of the late James Gillray.Mounted on leaf 85 of volume 11 of 12.