A fashionable lady in dress & undress [graphic]

"A design partly bisected by a vertical line. The same lady sits (left) directed to the left at her dressing-table, wearing only a long chemise or petticoat, and slippers. On the right she sits, in the same attitude but directed to the right, fully dressed at the same dressing-table. In undress she is almost bald; a wig of naturally-dressed hair is on a stand on the table. She has an over-long neck and skinny arms. On the the table (left) are her fan, a locket suspended on a ribbon, cosmetic-boxes, and a bottle labelled 'Wrinkles'. When dressed her neck is concealed by a lace ruffle on a chemisette, she has long rucked sleeves, in her gloved hand is her fan. She wears a high-waisted gown under which her legs are defined; she wears elaborately embroidered stockings with flat slippers. Her wig seems to be luxuriant natural hair; she wears an ear-ring. On the dressing-table are boxes, a bottle of 'Lavender', and tickets inscribed 'Opera' and 'Cards'. She looks young and handsome, the dress (not exaggerated) effectively concealing her weakest points."--British Museum online catalogue