"Seurat, see British Museum Satires No. 14882, &c, stands full-face before a curtained archway, displaying himself to ladies (left and right) who crowd to see him. Both arms are raised from the extended elbows, and in his left hand is a wig of short hair that he has just taken off. He says: I am de Anatomie Vivante dat is come to Londres to please all de pretty Lady, and give dem all de much satisfaction. The notorieties are on the left, Mrs. Coutts, the only seated visitor, is the most prominent; she stares up at him through an opera-glass: Poor creature, he seems very little calculated in my opinion to please the ladies, tho' really he is as stout as the Old Banker was. She holds a pamphlet: Claude Seurat or The Living Skeleton. From her arm hangs a reticule ornamented with a flaming heart. Behind her chair (left) is Maria Foote, her arm round Mercandotti's waist. She says: What a very extraordinary Foot; the other answers: And a head as round as a Ball [see British Museum Satires No. 14549]. There are two others (? actresses) on this side. One stoops to finger Seurat's little petticoat, saying, I wonder what this is a yard? The other: I wonder how long he can stand in that position. On the other side, the two most prominent visitors wear wide-brimmed straw hats (cf. British Museum Satires No. 15183); with them is a little girl who wears drawers to the ankle. A hideous woman exclaims What a fright. Another says: I declare he is a greater curiosity than Senior Velluti; a third: My goodness Death upon wires. There are other comments."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched above image., Printmaker Robert Cruikshank's "R.C." initials are etched on the dog's collar in image., Text below image: A number of ladies have gone daily to view the French Living Skeleton in Pall-Mall since the commencement of the exhibition of this extraordinary being. Morning Chronicle, Augt. 13th., and Temporary local Medical Library subject terms: Anomalies -- Thinness.
Publisher:
Pubd. Septr. 1825 by J. Fairburn, Broadway, Ludgate Hill
Subject (Name):
Seurat, Claude-Ambroise, 1798-1841,
Subject (Topic):
Freak Show, Thin people, Leanness, Human curiosities, Physical conditions, Spectators, Women, and Dogs
A thin man wearing bedclothes and slippers sits on a stool at right, clenching his fists in obvious pain. Three winged demons harass him, one clutching the back of his collar. A well-dressed doctor, wearing spurred boots and glasses, stands before him on the left; two medicine bottles protrude from his jacket pocket, and he holds a third bottle and glass for the patient. Additional bottles and canisters of medicine sit on the table and floor behind the doctor; a skeleton and skull and crossbones are seen above the table
Description:
Title supplied by curator., Print signed "Robert Cruikshank" in ink in lower left., Date assigned by cataloger., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., This record is derived from historic data and may not reflect our current information. Review and updating of records is ongoing., and Temporary local Medical Library subject terms: Devils & demons -- Taking medicine.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Topic):
Physicians, Sick persons, Stools, Medicines, Bottles, Skeletons, and Boots