Armorial bookplates: Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex; Ex musaeo Huthii., Dedication signed: Richard Wates., Illustrated with 29 woodcuts (3 repeats)., Imperfect: a few foot-lines very slightly bled., In verse., and Wing (CD-ROM, 1996) W1060
Publisher:
Printed for John Wright, at the Crown upon Ludgate-Hill, and Thomas Passinger, at the three-Bibles on London-Bridge
Subject (Name):
Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex, 1773-1843 --Provenance and Huth, Henry, 1815-1878 --Provenance
Two women stand on a balcony, mouths open in song and eyes cast downward at their music sheet. They wear corsetted dresses and feathered head wear. A satire of the duet performed by Harriet Abrams (1758-1821), the English soprano and composer, and her sister Theodosia (ca. 1770-1849), a contralto, on 9 May 1788 at Hanover Square Rooms. The piece performed was 'Gia che mia sposa sei' by Antonio Sacchini, and the occasion was the annual benefit concert for the tenor Samuel Harrison
Alternative Title:
Duet at the Hanover Square concert
Description:
Title etched below image., After a drawing by John Nixon, now in the Gerald Coke Handel Collection, Foundling Museum, London. The artist's "JN" monogram and "1788" date are etched within center left portion of image., Imperfect; sheet trimmed within plate mark with loss of imprint statement from bottom edge. Imprint supplied from impression in the Gerald Coke Handel Collection, Foundling Museum, London., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum., and Laid down onto album paper, with a cropped portrait of an unidentified man on the verso: I. Hiresman pinx. ; M. Vdr. Guchta sculp.
"A design partly bisected by a vertical line. The same lady sits (left) directed to the left at her dressing-table, wearing only a long chemise or petticoat, and slippers. On the right she sits, in the same attitude but directed to the right, fully dressed at the same dressing-table. In undress she is almost bald; a wig of naturally-dressed hair is on a stand on the table. She has an over-long neck and skinny arms. On the the table (left) are her fan, a locket suspended on a ribbon, cosmetic-boxes, and a bottle labelled 'Wrinkles'. When dressed her neck is concealed by a lace ruffle on a chemisette, she has long rucked sleeves, in her gloved hand is her fan. She wears a high-waisted gown under which her legs are defined; she wears elaborately embroidered stockings with flat slippers. Her wig seems to be luxuriant natural hair; she wears an ear-ring. On the dressing-table are boxes, a bottle of 'Lavender', and tickets inscribed 'Opera' and 'Cards'. She looks young and handsome, the dress (not exaggerated) effectively concealing her weakest points."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Fashionable lady in dress and undress
Description:
Title etched below image., Leaf 14 in an album with the spine title: Characatures by Dighton., and 1 print : etching on laid paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 29.7 x 19.7 cm, on sheet 31.1 x 25.5 cm.
Publisher:
Robert Dighton
Subject (Geographic):
England
Subject (Topic):
Clothing & dress, Dressing tables, Wigs, and Cosmetics