In her bedroom, a young woman seems to resist the advances of an eager-looking young man sitting on her canopied bed. He pulls her towards him as she pulls away. On the wall to the left is a picture which shows Cupid lighting a firework; it is titled "Before." As she pulls away she upsets the dresser with a mirror; her powders and cosmetics have tumbled to the floor. In the drawer can be seen letters, a novel, and "The Practice of Piety", but on top is a copy of Rochester's Poems. The lady's dog jumps toward the couple. Her willingness to be seduced is suggested by the fact that she is not wearing her corset which can be seen on a chair to the right; her bonnet hangs on the curtains around her bed
Description:
Title and state from Paulson., "Price two Shillings & 6 pence."--Below design, on the right corner mostly burnished out., Companion print to Hogarth's After, published on the same date., The man is said to have been modeled on Sir John Willes. See Paulson., and Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires.
Publisher:
Wm. Hogarth
Subject (Name):
Willes, John, Sir, 1685-1761
Subject (Topic):
Boudoirs, Canopy beds, Chamber pots, Couples, Cupids, Dogs, Fireworks, Seduction, Sex, and Women
