An African woman known as 'Sartje' or the Hottentot Venus stands, left, in profile, a smoking pipe in her mouth and tall staff in her right hand. She has an enormous posterior and stands nude except for a pair of garters around her calves, a thin girdle round her waist, a beaded headdress and beaded necklace. Grenville stands behind her but looks back over his shoulder at her. Dressed in formal court dress, he too is depicted with an enormous posterior. Grenville says: Well I never expected Broad Bottoms from Africa! but one should never dispair! Mind Sherry dont let your Fireey nose touch the Venus for if theres any conbustibls about her we shall be blown up!!" In his pocket is a paper inscribed Chaselor [sic]. Between them, half-kneeling, Sheridan measures her bottom using a compass and answers: I shall be carefull your Lordship! but such a spanker it beats your Lordship's hollow."
Description:
Title from item/, Artist and imprint information based on a close copy with same title and same dialogue with misspellings. Cf. British Museum catalogue, no. 11578., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Watermark: J Whatman Turkey Mill., and Collector's stamp on verso: half-length raised figure of fox with initials MW below.
Publisher:
Walker Cornhill?
Subject (Name):
Baartman, Sarah, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, and Great Britain. Court of Chancery
Subject (Topic):
Officials and employees, Khoikhoi (African people), Africans, and England
