A young, pretty English woman in fashionable attire takes the arm of a handsome, well-dressed Frenchman.
816.00.00.84
Acquired April 2024
“A handsome young Highland officer walks arm-in-arm with a slightly taller young woman. Her hair under her flat feathered hat is in a small bag or net of tartan. Behind these walk in single file the family descending in height. First, a youth in Highland uniform, next three girls, the second without a hat, her hair curling on her shoulders. Last a small boy, in Highland uniform, carrying a stick across his shoulder, musket-wise, and holding a dog on a lead. The dress of all the girls is plainer, skimpier, and shorter than that of Frenchwomen; all, except the youngest, have bodices or spencers of different colours from their skirts.”–British Museum online catalogue.
816.02.00.01
Acquired April 2024
“Satire on the English: a family in descending order of height, the father in military uniform, the daughter an identical version of her mother, and the smallest boy dressed as a jester..”–British Museum online catalogue.
816.02.00.02
Acquired April 2024
“Satire: an Englishman falls while reaching out for a side of meat; in the background a wall with mock advertisements.”–British Museum online catalogue.
816.02.17.01
Acquired April 2024
“Two very tall and lank Englishmen walk arm-in-arm in profile to the left; one grasps a big (red) umbrella, and looks down at a dog. Before them walks a dwarfish man holding a tall cane, perhaps a servant, but dressed in the fashion of the day apart from striped trousers. Behind walks a second couple, shorter, broader, and more cheerful. All have flower-pot hats, and all double-breasted long-tailed coats, except one of the second pair, who wears top-boots. The others wear either long tight trousers or tight gaiters reaching above the knee. Two have large bows suspended from their fobs, to which seal and watch-key are attached. Three wear neckcloths with projecting ends.”–British Museum online catalogue.
814.00.00.44
Acquired April 2024
“A grossly obese John Bull and his lean and ugly wife, both wearing hats, sit on upright chairs, gormandizing. The man holds a whole chicken to his mouth, taking a huge bite. The woman (left) faces him, biting a large melon which she holds with both hands to an enormous mouth. He is morosely savage, she is melancholy; both are gap-toothed. On the ground (right) by the man’s chair are collected a ham or gigot, a large irregular (?) galantine, a raised pie: ‘pâté de périgueux’, a huge jar of ‘vin de lafitte’ round which four bottles are grouped: ‘frontignac’, ‘Clos de Vouge[ot]’, and ‘. . . seac’. Beside the woman are a basket and tray filled with grapes, peaches, and pears. Through a wide doorway (left) the street is seen with a seated fruit-seller who serves three grotesquely hideous Englishwomen. Two are lank and emaciated, one tries to stuff a big peach into an immense mouth, holding an armful of grapes and peaches; the other gnaws at a bunch of grapes held in both hands. The third, also with bulging cheeks, bites a peach. The fruit-seller’s tray is empty; she holds out her last peach. All the women wear small absurd hats or caps, tight long-waisted bodices (coloured) with long white skirts (cf. No. 12359).”–British Museum online catalogue.
814.11.00.01
Acquired April 2024
“Two elderly Scots discuss the Melville case; one, wearing old-fashioned court dress with a sword, takes snuff from the other’s ram’s-horn mull; he says: “Touch the Sillar!!! – T’is a on disgrace on aw Scotland!” They have sly, twisted expressions. Melville (left), weeping, clutches the back of the speaker’s coat. He wears Highland dress, and says: “What my ain Countrymen turn their backs on me! then tis aw up with Johny Mac-cree [see British Museum Satires No. 10378]”. On the right, Pitt runs off furtively to the right, saying, “I must cut out this Connexion – & leave him to his fate”.”–British Museum online catalogue.
805.04.12.02+
Acquired February 2024
A scene in a kitchen showing a French male cook on his knees beside a cross-looking female cook holding a spatula. In the background, a roaring fire in the hearth with a slab of beef on a spit.
794.03.01.04
Acquired September 2023
Members of the Royal Family at an informal dance, the centre couple being Princess Elizabeth, grotesquely stout, and the Prince of Hesse-Homburg, who grasps her dress, unable to reach her waist.
818.05.04.01
Acquired September 2023
818.11.14.01+
Acquired February 2024