A satire on Madame Mara: She sits in an armchair decorated with Masonic symbols which is in the center of a concert room, with a boarded floor and low platform along the back for the performers. She sings the lines "Oh, Oh, de roasta beef-a de charmante pudding O"; in her hands is an open music book titled "Oh the road beed of Old England, Fieldings popular song. The plebeian audience sit or stand along the right and left foreground. On the left a lady asks her neioghbor, "Did she sing this sogn at the Abbey?" He responds, "She never sung so well as the Abbey in her life." In the center foreground sits a dog who watches the vocalist. The wall is decorated with candle-sconces and a placard with the "Rules to be observed in this meeting" which jabs at the plebeian audience. One man performs on a salt-box, another with marrow-bone and cleaver while yet another puts a Jew's harp in his mouth; a fourth plays a bladder bridge. See British Museum catalogue for further discussion
Description:
Title etched below image., Seven lines of descriptive prose inscribed below title., Possibly engraved by Henry Wigstead (d. 1793). See attribution in British Museum catalogue to Mr. Hawkins., and Watermark in center of sheet: J Whatman.
Publisher:
Publish'd Feby. 28th, 1786, by S.W. Fores, at the Caracature Warehouse, No. 3, Piccadilly
Subject (Geographic):
Wapping (London, England)
Subject (Name):
Mara, Gertrud Elisabeth, 1749-1833
Subject (Topic):
Social life and customs, Masons, Audiences, Concerts, Dogs, Etiquette, Harps, Musical instruments, and Musicians
An audience of spinsters (variously caricatured) is entertained by an orchestra and chorus of cats who play instruments but mostly sit before large volumes or scores singing. The stage is decorated with curtains decorated with tassels and supported by grand pillars. To the right a chandelier with candles is partially visible
Description:
Title from text on banner in image. and Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires.
Publisher:
Pubd. by Willm. Holland, No. 50 Oxford St.
Subject (Topic):
Audiences, Cats, Chandeliers, Concerts, Musical instruments, Single women, and Theater curtains
785.06.28.01 Framed, shelved in Object Room Rack 1.
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"An evening scene in Vauxhall Gardens. On the extreme left is the orchestra with the organ behind and performers on the kettledrums, string and wind instruments. The vocalist, Mrs. Weichsel, sings, in profile to the right, from the adjacent (and slightly lower) balcony, just above the heads of the crowd. A violinist and another musician are seated behind her. In the supper box beneath the orchestra is Dr. Johnson seated full-face, between Boswell and Goldsmith (d. 1774), who face each other in profile, both caricatured; of two stout women one is reputed to be Mrs. Thrale. Many groups fill the foreground and middle distance. The two centre figures are the Duchess of Devonshire and Lady Duncannon arm in arm. A naval officer with a wooden leg and a patch over one eye is reputed to be Admiral Paisley (Admiral Pasley, 1734-1808?). Major Topham, an excellent portrait, stands (left) in profile to the right staring through an eyeglass. Between Topham and the supper-box are two men, one of whom is identified as Lord Camelford. [In the reproduction in Angelo's 'Reminiscences'; to whom the name refers is not clear.] An elderly parson, [he closely resembles the parson of BMSat 7059 who is probably William Jackson of the 'Morning Post'] reputed to be Bate Dudley but not resembling him, gazes at the Duchess from behind a tree. Next him a man dressed as an officer in a Highland regiment with kilt and broadsword is supposed to be James Perry, editor of the 'Morning Chronicle'. On the right the Prince of Wales, conspicuous by his star, whispers to Mrs. Robinson (Perdita), though their liaison was ended. Her right arm is linked with an ugly and elderly little man, probably Robinson. On the extreme left an elderly couple advance arm in arm in profile. Behind the Prince is a group standing on a small platform (or tables), showing half length above the crowd. In the foreground (right) is a supper-table under trees where two cits entertain two courtesans. Lamp-lit trees and the covered way form a background on the right."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Vauxhall
Description:
Title from item. and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Publish'd June 28th 1785, by J.R. Smith, No. 83 Oxford Street
Subject (Geographic):
Vauxhall Gardens (London, England), London (England), England, and London.
Subject (Name):
Billington, Elizabeth, 1765-1818., Boswell, James, 1740-1795, Cavendish, Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire, 1757-1806, Bessborough, Henrietta Frances Spencer Ponsonby, Countess of, 1761-1821, Pitt, Thomas, Baron Camelford, 1737-1793, George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Goldsmith, Oliver, 1730?-1774, Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784, Pasley, Thomas, Sir, 1734-1808, Perry, James, 1756-1821, Piozzi, Hester Lynch, 1741-1821, Robinson, Mary, 1758-1800, and Topham, Edward, 1751-1820
Subject (Topic):
Social life and customs, Parks, Audiences, Concerts, Couples, Crowds, Musicians, Orchestras, Peg legs, and Singers
"View of the new orchestra stand in Vauxhall Gardens at night; lights illuminating front, elegantly dressed figures dancing or watching orchestra in foreground."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Vauxhall Gardens
Description:
Title etched below image., Plate numbered in upper right, above image: Plate 88., Plate from: Microcosm of London. London : R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts, No. 101 Strand, [1808-1810?], v. 3, opposite page 204., and 1 print : aquatint and etching on wove paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 27.9 x 23.6 cm, on sheet 34.2 x 26.5 cm.
Publisher:
Pub. Octr. 1st, 1809, at R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts, 101 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Vauxhall Gardens (London, England), London (England), England, and London.
A group of four monkeys perform on musical instruments or sing from a songsheet. All are well-dressed in human clothing
Description:
Title from ms. text added to supporting mount., Date of publication from unverified data from local card catalog record., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., and Mounted to 27 x 32 cm.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Topic):
Animals in human situations, Concerts, Harps, Monkeys, and Violins
