"Two enormously fat courtesans sit side by side on a settee which they completely fill; between them and on the knees of both sits the Duke of Norfolk, a wine-glass in his left hand, in his right he holds the hand of one of the women at whom he gazes with a smile. Both women look amorously at him; they are dressed decorously and without extravagance. At the Duke's feet lies his baton as hereditary Earl Marshal. Above the two women is etched: (left) 'The Royal Sovereign, was formerly to be seen by all admirers of Natural Curiosities at Sixpence pr Head, & is reported to weigh near Forty-Stone', (right) 'Nell H--t--n, weighs rather under Thirty Stone; & in the absence of the Great Man, his place is agreeably filled by T------ W-----d, the celebrated collector on the Highway.' After the title is etched: 'Vide. Strand Lane; Temple Barr; &c. &c. &c.' [places frequented by prostitutes]."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Rich pickings for a noble appetite
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Temporary local subject terms: Furniture: settees -- Dishes: wine glasses -- Emblems: baton of Hereditary Earl Marshall., and Watermark: Armorial shield with fleur de lis above and monogram W below.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 1792 by H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
"Two enormously fat courtesans sit side by side on a settee which they completely fill; between them and on the knees of both sits the Duke of Norfolk, a wine-glass in his left hand, in his right he holds the hand of one of the women at whom he gazes with a smile. Both women look amorously at him; they are dressed decorously and without extravagance. At the Duke's feet lies his baton as hereditary Earl Marshal. Above the two women is etched: (left) 'The Royal Sovereign, was formerly to be seen by all admirers of Natural Curiosities at Sixpence pr Head, & is reported to weigh near Forty-Stone', (right) 'Nell H--t--n, weighs rather under Thirty Stone; & in the absence of the Great Man, his place is agreeably filled by T------ W-----d, the celebrated collector on the Highway.' After the title is etched: 'Vide. Strand Lane; Temple Barr; &c. &c. &c.' [places frequented by prostitutes]."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Rich pickings for a noble appetite
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Temporary local subject terms: Furniture: settees -- Dishes: wine glasses -- Emblems: baton of Hereditary Earl Marshall., 1 print : etching on laid paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 24.7 x 34.9 cm, on sheet 27.0 x 37.0 cm., and Mounted on leaf 38 of volume 8 of 12.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 1792 by H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
Opposite page 214. New London spy, or, A twenty-four hours ramble through the bills of mortality.
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"A courtesan stands at a wash-tub, washing her last shift. She wears a cap over ringlets in curl-papers and a tattered petticoat, a shawl covers her naked shoulders. The room is squalid, with plaster falling from the bricks. Across the fireplace stockings hang on a string to dry. The corner of a bed appears on the right. On the table by the wash-tub is a small gin tankard. Under it is a pair of stays. A cat tries to reach a (broken) plate of cheese on a chair. On the floor, beside a fashionable high-crowned hat, lies a ballad: 'How happy were my days till now...'. Papers are thrust under the vertical bar of the casement window, one inscribed 'Admit Two to the Boxes'. Probably an imitation of Gillray's 'The Whores Last Shift', see British Museum Satires No. 5604."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark on left edge., Plate numbered "626" in lower left corner., Folded to 31.3 x 25.5 cm., and Bound in opposite page 214 in a copiously extra-illustrated copy of: King, R. The new London spy, or, A twenty-four hours ramble through the bills of mortality. London : Printed for J. Cooke [and 3 others], [1771?].
Publisher:
Printed for & sold by Carington Bowles, No. 69 St. Paul's Church Yard, London
Subject (Topic):
Courtesans, Interiors, Wash tubs, Fireplaces, Hosiery, Corsets, and Cats
Opposite page 106. New London spy, or, A twenty-four hours ramble through the bills of mortality.
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"Satire on prostitution and foolish clergy; two courtesans tease a fat and smiling clergyman in a well-furnished room. The costume of the women appears to be c. 1792-3."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., "Probably published by Carington Bowles. This print was included in BM Satires twice. Dorothy George correctly placed it c.1792 (no. 8235), Stephens c.1770 (no. 4588). Thomas Holcroft's popular 'Road to Ruin' was first played at Covent Garden on 18 February 1792."--Curator's comments, British Museum online catalogue, registration no.: 1935,0522.2.17, Sheet trimmed within plate mark on lower edge., Temporary local subject terms: Parsons -- Prostitutes., Folded to 30.6 x 26 cm., and Bound in opposite page 106 in a copiously extra-illustrated copy of: King, R. The new London spy, or, A twenty-four hours ramble through the bills of mortality. London : Printed for J. Cooke [and 3 others], [1771?].
Publisher:
Carington Bowles?
Subject (Topic):
Clergy, Courtesans, Interiors, Sofas, Mirrors, and Draperies
