satirical print
- Museum number
- 2021,7063.2
- Title
- Object: Chesterfield's Principles of Politeness.
- Description
-
Satire on Lord Chesterfield's letters of advice to his son with six humorous illustrations, headings above and descriptions below: 'A modest assurance in company - a nervous young man sits in a chair, his hands 'in perpetual motion between his bosom and his breeches'; 'By way of Relish' - he carves a joint of meat so awkwardly that 'he scatters the sauce' in the faces of his lady and gentleman companions; 'Delicate sensatioins to susceptible minds' - he is eating alone, failing conspicuously 'to eat & drink genteely'; 'How to hold a man so close to the argument that he shalll feel, hear, see, & smell conviction' - he holds another young gentleman by a button of his coat and thrusts his face towards him, speaking avidly; 'How to warm yourself all over, and acquaint a lady with the state of the weather' - he stands with his back to a fireplace, lifting the tail of his coat with his left hand to warm his backside, his right hand inside his breeches, grinning at a young lady who steps back in horrort holding out her right hand to keep a distance, while on the left a monkey sits on a copy of 'Chesterfield['s Letters]' resting on a chair and imitates the young man's gestures; 'Here's my watch and you may view it' - he sits on a chair holding out a large pocket watch ignoring the advice to 'Wear your learning like your watch in a private pocket and do not pull it out and strike it merely to show that you have one.' 1 January 1791
Soft-ground etching with stipple
- Production date
- 1791
- Dimensions
-
Height: 263 millimetres
-
Width: 530 millimetres (left-hand part)
-
Width: 527 millimetres (right-hand part)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Nicholas Knowles pointed out that the print bears some simliarities with a print after Colllings also dated 1 January 1791, etched by 'JT'; see BM Satires 7795 (1876,1014.38).
The print was originally printed on two sheets and when acquired it was divided into two parts at the centre.
See also 2021,7063.1.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 15 Dec 2021
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 2021,7063.2