Three playing cards, or transformation cards, drawn in pen and ink by an unidentified artist, showing caricatured figures using the shape of the pip, only hearts or diamonds (red watercolor) in this incomplete set. One of the cards (two hearts) features two gentlemen meeting. The other two cards (three of diamonds) feature a lady with a fan and two gentleman in one card; the other incomplete, has a lady with a fan and only one gentleman
Description:
In English., Title from dealer's description., and Cards appear to have been removed from an album; remains of paper and glue are present on verso of each card.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Topic):
Playing cards, Card games, and Social life and customs
A set of playing cards, or transformation cards, drawn by an unidentified artist, showing caricatured figures; each vignette incorporates the formation of hearts or diamonds into the scene. Some of the cards are numbered or annotated on the backs while others show drafts of other sketches. The set contains only the red suits, cards numbered from one to ten in each, although some numbers are missing and there are multiples of some numbers. Illustrations are also duplicated while others appear not to have been finished. There are no cards with clubs and spades. A number of the cards center on Shakespearean themes, social history, and street scenes (such as courtroom drama, musicians performing, a man in the stocks and, in a few, card playing itself). Some of the scenes depicted on these cards show more ribald, drawing from Macbeth’s Weird Sisters, Twelfth Night, King John, and The Merry Wives of Windsor; several are annotated on the reverse with lines from the plays. Falstaff is featured on several cards. Many of the cards reflect the mores of the period and the contrast between ruling passions and rules of conduct. In one, two men cast judgment upon a pregnant woman; it is annotated on the reverse with a dialogue between a Constable and a Judge. In "Village School" a schoolteacher manages to simultaneously hold a book and pinch a child's ear (nine of hearts). Other subjects include a game of chess (five of diamonds); drinking and smoking in a pub (seven of diamonds); and "Bunbury’s Country Club" (six of diamonds) in which the artist has kept elements from the print (published circa 1788). On the ten of diamonds the artist depicts a game of whist (annotated on the reverse "Can you one?").
Description:
In English., Title devised by cataloger., Some cards annotated and numbered on the verso., and For further information, consult library staff.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
Subject (Topic):
Playing cards, Card games, and Social life and customs
A collection of hand-drawn transformation playing cards using the suit symbols incorporated in the sketches of people in a variety of scenes, some clearly English, others continental. Two examples are a fireside scene illustrating a mother and child (and two others) seated in front of a fireplace with a hanging cauldron, and an illustration of an amorous couple enjoying a dance as a violinist plays stage left. The cards depict both black and white characters, all of whom are wealthy or of high status, including soldiers, bishops, and men and women in fashionable dress. At the top of one card above the head of a man who reads from a sheet as he addresses a woman who looks down demurely, are the words "Mio ben.". On the verso of two cards are inscriptions in English. The first shows a figure in Shakespearean-era costume on the front and on the back, a quote from Twelfth night (Act II, Scene 5): "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” A second shows a couple sitting across from each other with an empty table between and on the back three stanzas from William Cowper’s The Diverting History of John Gilpin, first published in 1782
Description:
Title devised by cataloger. and In a later envelope inscribed 'Mlle. de Bernardy' and 'N. Anderson'.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Topic):
Playing cards, Card games, and Social life and customs
