A Peep into LADY W'''''Y'S Seraglio
Print
late 18th century (etched), 19/04/1782 (published), early 20th century (printed)
late 18th century (etched), 19/04/1782 (published), early 20th century (printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This print and the plate from which it is taken shows the drawn qualities of the technique of etching. James Gillray (1756–1815) – one of Britain’s foremost caricaturists – even wrote the words in the speech bubbles (in mirror writing). The diagonal text has been line-engraved and shows the difference between the two techniques, being more precise. Etching was a perfect medium for creating caricatures, which had to be made quickly as they were topical, reflecting the day’s news. The subject of this image is Lady Worsley, who in November 1781 had eloped with a Captain George Bissett, who was then sued by her husband Sir Richard Worsley. Some of Lady Worsley’s 27 lovers testified in the court case.
The plate from which this print was taken is double-sided, with an earlier caricature on the back, revealing the thrift of the artist. Being topical, these images would not have been printed for long and copper plates were the most expensive part of an etcher’s outlay.
The plate from which this print was taken is double-sided, with an earlier caricature on the back, revealing the thrift of the artist. Being topical, these images would not have been printed for long and copper plates were the most expensive part of an etcher’s outlay.
Object details
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| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | etching, with engraved lettering |
| Brief description | Etching. James Gillray. A Peep into LADY W'''''Y'S Seraglio, modern impression taken from original printing plate, published by W. Humphrey, England, 1782. |
| Physical description | A satirical cartoon of a group of men on a stairway, queuing to peep through a wall to look at a woman and her lover in bed, the husband being cuckolded. Each man in contemporaneous costume, with hats and wigs. Featuring speech bubbles (in English) with satirical comment, all seen in reverse. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This print and the plate from which it is taken shows the drawn qualities of the technique of etching. James Gillray (1756–1815) – one of Britain’s foremost caricaturists – even wrote the words in the speech bubbles (in mirror writing). The diagonal text has been line-engraved and shows the difference between the two techniques, being more precise. Etching was a perfect medium for creating caricatures, which had to be made quickly as they were topical, reflecting the day’s news. The subject of this image is Lady Worsley, who in November 1781 had eloped with a Captain George Bissett, who was then sued by her husband Sir Richard Worsley. Some of Lady Worsley’s 27 lovers testified in the court case. The plate from which this print was taken is double-sided, with an earlier caricature on the back, revealing the thrift of the artist. Being topical, these images would not have been printed for long and copper plates were the most expensive part of an etcher’s outlay. |
| Associated object | E.437-1935 (Original) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.438-1935 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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