Dressing for a birthday [graphic]Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827, printmaker[April 1790]eng"A fat and ugly lady (left) and a young and pretty one (right) are being dressed for a Birthday at St. James's. A huge wig decked with feathers and roses is being placed by a maid on the bald head of the elder lady, who stands holding a bouquet and looking in a mirror which reflects a delighted grin. A little black page supports the mirror; he turns to a dog which fawns on him. Another maid fastens in front a false 'derrière', which will distend her dress below the waist, see BMSat 7100, &c. The girl is seated; a friseur dresses her long hair; a man-milliner, 'chapeau-bras', prepares to adjust a 'derrière'; she touches approvingly the dress which an ugly old woman wearing a hat holds out to her. On the floor is a round box containing roses."--British Museum online catalogueTitle etched below image.Reissue, with alteration of date in printmaker's signature and addition of shading and background elements in design. For earlier state published 3 March 1789, see no. 9678 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 7.Companion print to: Dressing for a masquerade.Temporary local subject terms: Birthday at St. James's Palace -- Female costume: Derrières -- Dressing for St. James's Birthday Ball -- Black page -- Hairdressers: Friseur -- Male milliners -- Feathered female wigs.Mounted on leaf 8 of volume 4 of 14 volumes.