print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1935,0522.6.55
- Title
- Object: A new ballet on the tight rope, of matter-o-money
- Description
-
Maria Mercandotti dances on a tight rope stretched between the keyhole of a church door (right) and two crossed poles (left) where it is held by Lord Fife, and by a weight inscribed 6000. Hughes, dressed as a dandy, stands with his back to the door, looking up at her. She balances herself with a pole, at the upper end of which is a ball, at the lower end (left) a fife. She raises her leg high, pointing the toe at Hughes who is below her, and saying, I fear this cord will not support me long, but never mind I must make the best of it while it lasts Gold covers all defects. He says: Now Ive the whole of my happiness before me!!! Fife, in full Highland costume, strains to hold the rope taut, saying, There I've made it fast, that weight I think will keep it—So Ive kiss'd and I've prattled with fifty fair maids and changed them as oft d'ye see [Gay, 'Beggar's Opera']. In the middle distance Señora Mercandotti runs forward, saying:
An O.P. Dance is just the thing a pretty leg to shew Sir,
To catch the Eye—inflame desire as Opra Squints well know Sir.
But when you've raised the scorching flame & lust is boiling hot Sir
Then strike the Iron while tis warm & Tye the Marriage Knot Sir
Behind, a newsboy runs off, blowing his horn, from which issue the words: Count & Countess of Milan—Duff House—Marriage Clergyman 100 Gs Broomstick too too too all Paid for. 21 April 1823
Etching with hand-colouring
- Production date
- 1823
- Dimensions
-
Height: 238 millimetres
-
Width: 338 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.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1935
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1935,0522.6.55
