A Peep into LADY W'''''Y'S Seraglio
Printing Plate
1779-1782 (etched), 19/04/1782 (published)
1779-1782 (etched), 19/04/1782 (published)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This plate 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 is double-sided, with an earlier caricature featuring on the back just about visible, 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 is double-sided, with an earlier caricature featuring on the back just about visible, 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 | etched copper printing plate |
Brief description | Double-sided etched copper plate. James Gillray, published by W. Humphrey. A Peep into LADY W'''''Y'S Seraglio, and on the back, APOTHECARIES_TAYLORS, &c. Conquering FRANCE and SPAIN, 1782 & 1779 respectively |
Physical description | A double-sided etched printer's copper plate; Showing: 'A Peep into LADY W'''''Y'S Seraglio'; 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. ‘APOTHECARIES_TAYLORS, &c. Conquering FRANCE and SPAIN’; A satirical cartoon of drunken men dining at a table, with a dog jumping up at it. With speech bubbles (in English). |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions |
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Credit line | Given by Mr C. H. Perry |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This plate 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 is double-sided, with an earlier caricature featuring on the back just about visible, 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.438-1935 (Version) |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.437-1935 |
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Record created | June 30, 2009 |
Record URL |
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