print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1925,0715.25
- Title
- Object: A peep behind the curtain at the widow Belmour
- Description
-
Miss Farren stands on the right, naked, and in the attitude of the Venus de' Medici; behind her is a stage curtain which Lord Derby, in the upper left corner of the design, draws aside to peer down upon her; he has a grotesque simian head. Their words are etched across the curtain; Miss Farren says:
"Here I stand afresh proof of our Managers Meanness
Not a Rag to my back like the Medici's Venus
At their second hand Wardrobe I turn up my Nose
By the Lord I wont act till they find me new Cloaths."
Lord Derby says:
"O fye ye Linleys curse your niggard Hearts
Why won't you let Miss Farren dress her Parts
Were I of Drury's property the Sovereign,
I'd give the lovely Maid a choice of Covering." December 1790
Etching
- Production date
- 1790
- Dimensions
-
Height: 268 millimetres
-
Width: 192 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VI, 1938)
Thomas Linley, Sheridan's father-in-law, had a share in the management of Drury Lane; the negligence and extravagance of Sheridan kept the theatre always short of money. R. C. Rhodes, 'Harlequin Sheridan', pp. 78, 174, &c. The Widow Belmour is a part in Murphy's 'Way to keep him' (cf. BMSat 7215), it was played at Drury Lane on 1 Dec. 1790 by Mrs. Goodall for the first time; the print may illustrate some refusal of Miss Farren's to take the part.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1925
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1925,0715.25