"Britannia (left), a buxom young woman, clasps the trunk of a large oak, while Paine tugs with both hands at her stay-lace, placing a large foot on her posteriors. He wears blue and buff with a tricolour cockade on his bonnet rouge. From his coat pocket protrudes a pair of scissors and a tape inscribed: 'Rights of Man'. His face is blotched with drink and his expression is fiercely intent, but he is neatly dressed. Behind him is a thatched cottage inscribed: 'Thomas Pain, Stay-maker from Thetford. Paris Modes, by express.' Britannia looks over her shoulder at the stay-maker (cf. British Museum Satires No. 9240) with an expression of pained reproach. Her shield leans against the tree; her spear is on the ground; across it lies an olive-branch."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Good constitution sacrificed for a fantastick form
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Temporary local subject terms: Female costume: stays -- Emblems: tri-colored cockade -- Male costume: bonnet rouge -- Reference to tailors -- Literature: Thomas Paine's Rights of Man -- Allusion to French Revolution -- Reference to Thetford and Paine's stay-making past -- Britannia's shield -- Symbols: olive branch., and Mounted to 42 x 30 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. Jany. 2d, 1793, by H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809
Subject (Topic):
Britannia (Symbolic character), Corsets, Scissors & shears, Liberty cap, Shields, Spears, and Olive branches
