"The interior of a bedroom, with Miss Gunning in bed (left), facing the spectator; a stout woman, her mother, holds her arm; both look round in alarm at a much-caricatured creature, Miss Minifie, who rushes towards them (right) from an open door, arms outstretched, gaping with staring eyeballs. Mrs. Gunning raises a leg in her surprise, breaking a bottle of 'Brandy' which with a glass had been concealed under her petticoats. Beneath the design is etched: 'What's the matter Auntee-Peg, what makes you put on such a long Face?"' In the upper and lower margins is the inscription: 'I was sitting by the Bedside of my smiling-injured-innocent-Lambkin, & holding one of the sweet tender hands of my amiable-gentle-dovelike-Cherub, when her Aunt came into the Room, with a face paler than Ashes, - "What is the matter, Auntee Peg" - says my dear-chaste-adorable-kind-benificent-enchanting-heart-feeling-benificent-paragon of Goodness \ She broke upon us the dishonorable-infamous-false-accusations, & the cruel most cruel messages that accompanied them, at that moment a Vow issued from my torn, my rent, my wounded, my agonizing, my suffering Heart, & my dear-divine-glorious-Arch angelic-Angel, said &c &c.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
What's the matter Auntee-Peg, what makes you put on such a long face?"
Description:
Title etched at top of image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Temporary local subject terms: Interiors: bedrooms -- Furniture: side tables -- Beds -- Glass: wine bottles -- Alcohol: brandy -- Allusion to the Gunning scandal -- Literature: burlesque of Mrs. Gunning's A Letter ... to the Duke of Argyll., and Watermark: fleur-de-lis on crowned shield with initials G R below.
Publisher:
Pub. March 25th, 1791, by H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Gunning, Miss 1769-1823 (Elizabeth),, Gunning, Mrs. 1740?-1800 (Susannah),, and Minifie, Margaret
