The Old Beau in an Extasy thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Not currently on display at the V&A
On short term loan out for exhibition

The Old Beau in an Extasy

Print
13 July 1773 (published)
Artist/Maker
Dixon, John (engraver)
Dixon, John (artist)
Bowles, Carington (publisher)
Place of origin
London (published)

Print depicting a macaroni or dandy seated at a dressing table and admiring himself in a mirror. The man is seated, his legs crossed, wearing a dressing gown and has curling rags in his hair; behind him stands a servant who is helping him prepare. In the background, on the wall, is a picture, possibly depicting Narcissus; to the right is a bookcase.


Object details

Categories
Prints
Caricatures & Cartoons
Gender and Sexuality
Men's Clothes
Costumes
Masculinity
Object type
Print
TitleThe Old Beau in an Extasy (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Mezzotint
Ink
Paper
Mezzotint
Brief description
Print entitled 'The Old Beau in an Extasy', depicting a dandy at his dressing table. Mezzotint by John Dixon, 1773.
Physical description
Print depicting a macaroni or dandy seated at a dressing table and admiring himself in a mirror. The man is seated, his legs crossed, wearing a dressing gown and has curling rags in his hair; behind him stands a servant who is helping him prepare. In the background, on the wall, is a picture, possibly depicting Narcissus; to the right is a bookcase.
Dimensions
  • Sheet height: 462mm
  • Sheet width: 300mm
  • Image height: 353mm
  • Image width: 253mm
Style
British School
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'The Old Beau in Extasy' (Lettered with title)
  • 'Behold this Wretch! a Fop at sixty two, / A true conceited ugly worn out Beau, / Whose Toilet boasts of every scarce Perfume / With Chinese Paint for Artificial Bloom; / A half starv'd paltry Thing - so strange all o'er / That England ne'er beheld his like before / The Girls all hate him, and at their request / Up hangs the Cap they thing will suit him best.' (Lettered with a verse)
  • '286' (Numbered)
  • 'Drawn from the Life & ect by J.Dixon / Printed for Carington Bowles at his Map & Prints Warehouse. No.69 in St. Pauls Church Yard, London. Publish'd as the Act directs [13 July 1773 erased].' (Lettered)
Credit line
Given by Mrs E. B. Westwood
Subjects depicted
Fashion
Vanity
Dandy
Macaroni
Toilette
Toilet
Mirror
Servant
Wig
Bookcase
Dressing Gown
Camp
Narcissus
Bibliographic reference
Victoria and Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1959 . London: HMSO, 1964.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.325-1959

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O568806/the-old-beau-in-an-print-dixon-john/
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