print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1935,0522.6.52
- Title
- Object: Cupid playing at Trap Ball!!
- Description
-
Maria Mercandotti (left), in ballet dress, stands elegantly poised on her toes, holding out her skirt to catch a big gold ball. Cupid (right) stands bat in hand beside the trap from which he has just hit the ball, saying, Ha! ha! ha! that was a Sender!!—By my Troth Mad'moiselle Mr. can.dot.i has caught it plump in her lap. His bow and arrow lie beside him. The danseuse smiles, saying, Ah! Ah! my pretty Golden Ball, I've caught you at last, though you've been rolling about so long!!—Well, my Doctor was right in prescribing Country Air and Exercise, for I find myself much improved by this Game. Behind Cupid are clouds, and in the air, on cloud, lies Danae extending her hand to receive a golden shower of coins. On the ground (right) is a large Valentine on which two hearts are transfixed by an arrow. Behind (left) a winding road across moorland leads to a small house: Duff House, to indicate the scene of the marriage and the part taken by Lord Fife. April 1823
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1823
- Dimensions
-
Height: 246 millimetres
-
Width: 347 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', X, 1952)
See No. 14549, &c.
A page of pencil studies for Mercandotti in this design, 1891,1117.104 (Binyon, i. 287, P&D pressmark 199. c. 1/104). On the reverse is another design (signed): the danseuse poised on one toe on a large ball. Inscriptions: 'Kings Theatre Opera Over the Hills & far awa Wooed & Married & a': Principal Characters Mrs Mer can dot I Messrs Hughes & Ball.'
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1935
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1935,0522.6.52
