The Graces they were culling posies…

description below

“Three grotesquely ugly old maids stoop delightedly over a Cupid who sleeps against a rose-bush, arrow in hand, his unstrung bow beside him. On the back of one sits an ape; a lap-dog is beside her. A parrot sits on the bonnet of another, the third kneels. On a mound (right) a cock stands crowing: ‘Cock a doodle doo.'”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878, printmaker.
  • Title: The Graces they were culling posies and found young love among the roses [graphic].
  • Publication: [London?] : [publisher not identified], [between 1817 and 1819?]

Catalog Record

817.00.00.24+

Acquired September 2023

Human nature is fond of novelty

description below

An old officer in uniform with a wrinkled face and carbuncles looks lustfully at a pretty young woman as they walk together on a path, his hand grasping hers.

  • Artist: Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827, artist.
  • Title: Human nature is fond of novelty – Pliny [art original].
  • Production: [England], [late 18th century?]

Catalog Record

Drawings R79 no. 24 Box D146

Acquired June 2023

The lovely Sacarissa dressing for the Pantheon

description below

“A stout, ugly, and elderly woman holds in her left hand a barber’s block, with a carved head in profile, on which is an elaborate pyramidal wig with ringlets. This she is covering with powder or flour from a dredger. Her hair is short and scanty; on her head is a very large black patch, two smaller ones are on her temple. She is dressed in undergarments, showing stays, and frilled petticoat over which is worn a pocket. Her dress, the bodice of which is almost cylindrical from its stiffening whalebone, is on a stool behind her. Her back is turned to the casement window (right) through which look two grinning old women, wearing frilled muslin caps. Over the window, and over the wall on its left, is a heavily festooned curtain. Sacarissa stands facing a low rectangular table (left), on which are a bottle and wine-glass, a candle (?) in a triangular shade, which is falling over, having apparently been knocked by the wig, patches, a comb, a paper, &c. Behind on the wall, in deep shadow, is a picture of a dome inscribed “The Pantheon”.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Dawe, Philip, printmaker.
  • Title: The lovely Sacarissa dressing for the Pantheon [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : [publisher not identified], publish’d Feby. 24, 1772.

Catalog Record

772.02.24.02+

Acquired April 2023

Does the harp of Rosa slumber

description below

An old woman in patched-up clothes with her harp huddles in a doorway. The satire contrasts the life of a street singer with the sweet lyrics of the popular ballad by Thomas Moore.

  • Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  • Title: Does the harp of Rosa slumber [graphic] / [man with an umbrella] Esqr.
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. by T. McLean, 26 Haymarket, London, [approximately 1829]

Catalog Record

829.00.00.117+

Acquired April 2023

Snuff and twopenny

description below

An ugly woman with only two teeth and with holes in her sleeve, shown half-length to left, a scarf over her head and tied under her chin, one hand around a tankard, holding up the other hand with thumb and forefinger pinched together, a small round snuff box on the table.

 

  • Title: Snuff and twopenny [graphic].
  • Publication: [Alnwick] : Printed and published by W. Davison, Alnwick, [between 1812 and 1817]

Catalog Record

812.00.00.107 Impression 2

Acquired August 2022

Snuff and twopenny

An ugly woman with only two teeth and with holes in her sleeve, shown half-length to left, a scarf over her head and tied under her chin, one hand around a tankard, holding up the other hand with thumb and forefinger pinched together, a small round snuff box on the table.

  • Title: Snuff and twopenny [graphic].
  • Publication:[ Alnwick] : Printed and published by W. Davison, Alnwick, [between 1812 and 1817]

Catalog Record 

812.00.00.107

Acquired September 2019

The various ages and degrees of human life

see description belowA print arranged on nine steps showing the stages in life of man and woman, ascending from infancy and descending toward deathbed, with scenes of marriage and dying within roundels above, all appearing above a scene of the Last Judgement, with scenes of christening and burying within roundels immediately above.

  • Title: The various ages and degrees of human life explained by these twelve different stages, from our birth to our grave [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Sold by C. Dicey & Co. in Aldermary Church Yard, London, [between 1764 and 1775]

Catalog Record 

764.00.00.82++

Acquired June 2019

Six old women discussing their cats

Click for larger image

 Two rows of women quarter-length and in profile, some cradling cats in their arms, with captions inscribed in ink near each figure: This is my Queensbury the finest Tom Cat in England; I’m going to see Arabella’s catery she had two charming sitters yesterday morning; God bless me these Irish captains are terrible men; Eighteen delightful little creatures I’m told what a sweet …

  • Creator: Woodward, G. M. (George Moutard), approximately 1760-1809, artist.
  • Title: [Six old women discussing their cats] [drawing].
  • Created: [England, ca. 1792]

Catalog Record & Digital Collection

Drawings W87 no. 34 Box D210

Acquired before 2002