Five rows with titled dot-and-line figure vignettes engaged in various activities including fencing, duelling, interpersonal actions. Top row from left to right show the stick figures (or "pin men"): "Asking to dance", "Leading out", "Hands round", "Down the middle", "Right & left" and "Setting". Second row from left to right: "Cross hands", "Pousette", "Hornpipe", "Tete à tete", "Fainting", and "Taking home royal". Third row: "Battledore", Tight rope", "Single stick". Fourth row: "Believe me", "O' how lovely", "Don't [illegible] me", "Feeling queer". Fifth row: "Feeling querrer", "Attack", and "Friends arriving too late"
Description:
Title from related published print., Formerly mounted on blue paper with residue on the back of the sheet., The first two lines are identical (with the exception for a slight change in the title of the third figure, top row) to a plate entitled "Dottator et lineator loquitur" and published in: Ackermann's Repository of Arts for February 1, 1817, following page 90., An example of the "line and dot" caricature., The genre was perhaps originated by G.M. Woodward who designed two plates of acrobatic feats, &c., entitled 'Multum in Parvo, or Lilliputian Sketches shewing what may be done by lines and dots'. See Curator's note to British Museum online catalogue, Registration number: 1935,0522.10.220.b, and The published print was accompanied by a satirical poem from the artist's perspecive, scorning the great masters' classical training in figure drawing and sculpture.