"A scene from Act V of Murphy's play as performed at the private theatre of the Duke of Richmond at Richmond House, on 20 April 1787 and subsequently. Lovemore (Lord Derby) stands between Mrs. Lovemore (Mrs. Damer), who holds his right arm, and the Widow Belmour (the fat Mrs. Hobart). Beside the Widow, and on the extreme right, stands a very thin man dressed with exaggerated foppishness, his hat under his arm; he says, "As the man says in the Play your Lordship is right welcome back to Denmark". He is Sir Brilliant Fashion, played by the Hon. Richard Edgcumbe. Mrs. Damer says, "This is Lord Etheridge Madam", and Mrs. Hobart answers, "No Madam this is Lord Lovemore"; the speeches have been transposed by an engraver's error. In a stage box on the extreme left sit the Duke of Richmond and a lady (the Duchess?) holding an enormous muff, her high coiffure much exaggerated. The box is decorated with a group, two crossed cannon, lying on a plan of a fort, with a kettle-drum, surmounted by a laurel wreath, an allusion to Richmond's unpopular scheme for fortifying Portsmouth and Plymouth, see BMSat 6921, &c. The ladies have tiny faces, framed in elaborately dressed hair, which contrast with Lord Derby's large head. A draped curtain frames the stage; in the centre is the customary 'Veluti in Speculum'."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Veluti in speculum
Description:
Title from item., Attributed to Captain Mercer by the curator based on style., At top of print: Veluti in speculum., Temporary local subject terms: Horace Walpole refers to subject -- Richmond House Theatre -- Arms -- Richmond fortifications., and Watermark: E & P.
Publisher:
Pub'd Aprl. 23, 1787 by H. Humphries, Bond Strt
Subject (Name):
Buckinghamshire, Albinia Hobart, Countess of, 1738-1816, Richmond, Charles Lennox, 3d Duke of, 1735-1806, Richmond, Mary, Duchess of, 1740-1796, Damer, Anne Seymour, 1748 or 1749-1828, Valletort, Viscount 1764-1839 (Richard Edgcumbe),, Smith-Stanley, Edward, 1752-1834, and Derby, Elizabeth Farren Stanley, Countess of, 1759 or 62-1829