“Portrait of Samuel Foote in character; whole length, standing, wearing the latest ‘French’ fashions, including large fur muff, wig with pointed sides, mis-matched tights, and coat with over-sized cuffs; his outfit is scrutinized by two English gentlemen to the right; two men in background, one preparing a hat, bending over a dressing table with mirror.”–British Museum online catalogue.
On the back wall are two large framed pictures, both with scenes from mythology. On the left, Apollo with bow and arrow pursues Daphne who has begun the turn into a laurel tree. On the right, Leda and the swan.
- Printmaker: Smith, Gabriel, 1724-1783, printmaker, artist.
- Title: Buck metamorphos’d, or, Mr. Foote in the character of the Englishman return’d from Paris [graphic] / drawn & engrav’d by Gabl. Smith.
- Publication: London : Printed for John Ryall & Robt. Withy, at Hogarth’s Head in Fleet Street, [ca. 1756]
756.00.00.99+
Acquired January 2021
“Six French émigrés are grouped at the roadside beside a signpost (right) pointing (left) to ‘London’ and (right) to ‘Dover’. A lean and elderly woman holding a clipped poodle stands with her left hand in the arm of a man wearing a cocked hat with a tricolour cockade, and a long coat reaching almost to his ankles; he holds a tasselled cane. Next him is a stout man wearing a long cloak, and a boy or dwarfish man. On the right are two women holding large muffs. A second clipped poodle runs beside them. In the background a coach (right) inscribed ‘London Dover Canterbury’ is driving towards London with outside passengers; one, a sailor, waves his hat. The gable end of a cottage (left) and trees complete the background.”–British Museum online catalogue.
