H Beard Print Collection
Print
January 1807 (published)
January 1807 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This cartoon, by Isaac Cruickshank, refers to a campaign led by the Bishop of Durham against the French dancers appearing in London in the 1790s. The ballets of Charles-Louis Didelot in 1796 were a huge critical success, but caused a sensational scandal because of the diaphanous, short, body-revealing dresses that were worn by the dancers. In 1798 the Bishop made a furious speech in the House of Lords accusing contemporary society of loose morals. He blamed this corruption on the influence of Catholic France and spoke of 'the allurements of the most indecent attitudes, and the most wanton theatrical exhibitions' of the dancers at the King's Theatre. He was convinced that the French government had sent the dancers over to 'taint and undermine the morals of our ingenuous youth' in a deliberate attempt to weaken Britain in preparation for invasion. The cartoonists had a field day.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | H Beard Print Collection (named collection) |
| Materials and techniques | Hand-coloured etching |
| Brief description | Satirical print entitled 'Durham Mustard too powerfull for Italian capers, or the opera in an uproar', 1807, Harry Beard Collection |
| Physical description | Hand coloured print entitled 'Durham Mustard too powerfull for Italian capers, or the opera in an uproar'. Four female dancers on a stage are confronted by a irate bishop who steps across the footlights, left. |
| Dimensions |
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| Summary | This cartoon, by Isaac Cruickshank, refers to a campaign led by the Bishop of Durham against the French dancers appearing in London in the 1790s. The ballets of Charles-Louis Didelot in 1796 were a huge critical success, but caused a sensational scandal because of the diaphanous, short, body-revealing dresses that were worn by the dancers. In 1798 the Bishop made a furious speech in the House of Lords accusing contemporary society of loose morals. He blamed this corruption on the influence of Catholic France and spoke of 'the allurements of the most indecent attitudes, and the most wanton theatrical exhibitions' of the dancers at the King's Theatre. He was convinced that the French government had sent the dancers over to 'taint and undermine the morals of our ingenuous youth' in a deliberate attempt to weaken Britain in preparation for invasion. The cartoonists had a field day. |
| Other number | F.120-46 - H Beard collection numbering |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.2752-2009 |
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| Record created | September 21, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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