print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1867,0511.93
- Title
- Object: British graces, attireing the Circassian Venus in the English costume.
- Description
-
Three fat Englishwomen, wearing feathered bonnets, are dressing the fair Circassian, see No. 13391, &c. One laces a corset-bodice, which covers her breasts and reaches almost to the knee. The victim throws up her arms, exclaiming, "Ah! Ah! me no bear dot; too tight; nasty tiff ting Me no eat no drink no do noting at all in dat." The other says: "Poh! Poh Child You will soon be used to them, and we'll shew you what You can do in them." A second woman (left), much more décolletée than the Circassian, holds a collar with vandyked edging. She says: "And then she'll like the nasty tiff ting, as well as we do they keep us in shape! Pray what would the Dandys do without them [see No. 13394]." On the right are two bearded Persians wearing scimitars and pistols, the so-called eunuchs. One stoops to touch the stiff corset, saying to his companion: "Very good ting Muley No want us guarde now!" The other answers: "Ah! den we go drink de brown tout Hamet!" A woman stands behind them holding out a gown; she says over her shoulder: "Aye and you must drink a rare quantity before it will make men of ye!!" The Circassian's oriental dress and jewelled turban lie on the ground. From a band-box (left) projects an enormous bonnet vulgarly trimmed with feathers and flowers. Behind it is a dressing-table.
Plate numbered 357.
1819
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1819
- Dimensions
-
Height: 250 millimetres
-
Width: 351 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', IX, 1949)
For the Circassian see No. 13391, &c. She left Gravesend for Constantinople in a brig hired for the purpose on 30 Aug., in English costume, with a fashionable Cashmere shawl draped over her head. 'Europ. Mag.' lxxvi. 221-4.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1867
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1867,0511.93