print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.6707
- Title
- Object: A m(eye)nute regulation of the opera step- or an episcopal examination.
- Description
-
An opera dancer (left) (? Mme Hilligsburg, though resembling Parisot, see BMSat 8893) dances with the left leg raised high, displaying herself to the inspection of Salisbury, the Lord Chamberlain, and Barrington, Bishop of Durham, who stand together (right), stooping to peer under her petticoats. The stiff and awkward Salisbury (cf. BMSat 8649) supports himself by his staff, his gold key dangles from his coat; he says: "My Dear Madam if you raise your foot one quarter of an Inch higher it will be impossible for me to grant you a Licence". The bishop, who wears a mitre and looks through a glass, exclaims: "No! No! No! Not a hair's breadth higher for the World; such sights as these is the cause of so many Divorces". The danseuse, who holds a garland of roses, says: "Vat! you see enof." On the wall are three pictures: 'Thais', flourishing two fire-brands; 'Temptation of St Anthony', by a courtesan, to whom he says "go along do", and 'Durham Cathedral'. 9 March 1798
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1798
- Dimensions
-
Height: 285 millimetres
-
Width: 390 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VII, 1942)
On 2 Mar. a divorce bill [On behalf of the husband of Harriet Esten, the actress, who as a widow became the third wife of John Scott-Waring (see vol. vi, s.v. Major John Scott).] was rejected by the Lords after a debate in which Auckland said the case was better suited to Paris. Bishop Barrington then made a violent protest against French opera dancers, as emissaries , from France to undermine morality, 'who by the allurement of the most indecent attitudes, and most wanton theatrical exhibitions, corrupted the people'. He attributed the increase of divorce (cf. BMSat 9305, &c.) to such displays, and appealed for an address to the King for a prohibition of 'these indecent spectacles', the performers to be sent out of the country. 'Parl. Hist.' xxxiii. 1306-8. See BMSats 9298, 9299, 9300, 9301, 9302, 9303, and cf. BMSats 8893, 9528.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.6707
