Billiards [graphic]Bretherton, James, approximately 1730-1806, printmakerMay 23, 1799.eng"One corner of a billiard-table is visible, the rest being cut off by the right, margin of the print. A player, in profile to the right, holds up with exaggerated care a cue in front of a ball lying near the corner. He wears a long pigtail queue, on the back of his coat is a large ribbon bow or cockade to which a key is attached. A number of spectators stand round watching intently: of two behind the player, one resembles a footman. Two others stand behind the corner of the table, one wearing a hat like that of a coachman; two others stand on the right behind the table. They are probably all men-servants. The wall behind is papered or stencilled in a pattern of horizontal lines and spots. On it are a rack of cues, the "[Rules of the Ga]me [of Billia]rds", three framed pictures: (a horse-race, a duel, and an oval portrait) and what appears to be a satirical print."--British Museum online catalogueTitle from text below image.Printmaker from signature on earlier state.Reissue, with different imprint statement and lacking printmaker's signature, of a print originally published 27 January 1781. Cf. No. 5913 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 5.Sheet trimmed within plate mark on right and left sides.