"Mrs. Cox, in décolletée evening dress with roses in her hair, sits on a sofa with Kean on her lap. He wears slashed doublet and trunk hose. She caresses him, saying, O Romeo, I would thy love were pure as is the virgin snow --. He gazes at her with an intent, cynical smile, answering, By Heaven 'tis as pure as ever lover felt in the purlieus of Drury -- pure as refined gold, as ere was seen in Great or little Britain dearest Juliet --!!!! He holds a glass of brandy; on a table (left) a decanter of Brandy, with a second glass, stands on a playbill: Theatre [Royal] Drury [Lane]. A bold Stroke for A Husband [Mrs. Cowley, 1783] with the Devil to Pay [Coffey, 1731]. On the sofa are a pile of 150 Love Letters; a book, Ovids Art of Love; a paper, Cox and Co. Above Mrs. Cox's head is a picture, Europa and the Bull, a nude woman astride the bull. On the right is a sash-window reaching to the floor. Through this stares Cox; on his head are bull's horns and huge antlers. He wears his alderman's chain, and holds a letter: Dear C- I advise you to keep a Keen eye on you [sic] wife, or Mr -- will --Yours truely E. K-. He shouts: Fire! Fury! and gold dust!! what do I see? K-Kissing my Wife! my head swims and my hair stands erect, but Damages, Damages, Damme!!!!- In front of the window two cats caterwaul angrily at each other: Waough!!! Waough!!!; Maoul Roouw!!"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Keenish sport in Cox's court! and Symptoms of crim. con in Drury Lane May 1824
Description:
Title from caption below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., State with imprint. Cf. No. 14710 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 10., and Temporary local subject terms: Costume: male, female, 1824 -- Brandy -- Bull's horns -- Huge antlers -- Crim con -- Cox, Mrs. Charlotte (Newman), fl. 1824 -- Cox, Robert Albion, fl. 1794-1826.
Publisher:
Pubd. May, 1824 by J. Fairburn Broadway Ludgate Hill
