print; satirical print

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

Object Type: print; satirical print
Museum number: J,1.150
Title: Object: The lovely Sacarissa dressing for the Pantheon
Description: A stout, ugly, and elderly woman holds in her left hand a barber's block, with a carved head in profile, on which is an elaborate pyramidal wig with ringlets. This she is covering with powder or flour from a dredger. Her hair is short and scanty; on her head is a very large black patch, two smaller ones are on her temple. She is dressed in undergarments, showing stays, and frilled petticoat over which is worn a pocket. Her dress, the bodice of which is almost cylindrical from its stiffening whalebone, is on a stool behind her. Her back is turned to the casement window (r.) through which look two grinning old women, wearing frilled muslin caps. Over the window, and over the wall on its l., is a heavily festooned curtain. Sacarissa stands facing a low rectangular table (l.), on which are a bottle and wine-glass, a candle (?) in a triangular shade, which is falling over, having apparently been knocked by the wig, patches, a comb, a paper, &c. Behind on the wall, in deep shadow, is a picture of a dome inscribed "The Pantheon". Beneath the title is engraved, "She Blooms in the Winter of her Days, like the Glastonbury Thorn"; state republished 1773. 24 February 1772 Mezzotint
Producer name
School/style
Production date: 1772
Production place: Published in: London (England)
Materials
Technique
Dimensions: Height: 349 millimetres; Width: 250 millimetres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', V, 1935) The design appears to be based on that of BMSat 4647, Lady Drudger going to Ranelagh, 1772. (Supplementary information) The attribution to Dawe was suggested by Dorothy George. It is likely, but not certain. This is a republished state, with the final digit in the year altered from a 2 to a 3. See 2010,7081.1066 for an impression of the earlier state.
Bibliographic references: BM Satires / Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum (5533); Chaloner Smith 1883 / British Mezzotinto portraits from the introduction of the art to the early part of the present century (undescribed)
Location: Not on display
Exhibition history: 2002 Jan-Mar, Newcastle, Hatton Gall, Followers of Fashion 2002 Jun-Jul, Belfast, Ulster Mus, Followers of Fashion 2002 Aug-Sep, Nottingham, Djanogly AG, Followers of Fashion 2002/3 Dec-Feb, Brighton MAG, Followers of Fashion 2003 Apr-Jun, Braintree District Mus, Followers of Fashion
Subjects: satire; costume/clothing
Acquisition name
Previous owner
Acquisition date: 1818
Department: Prints and Drawings
Registration number: J,1.150

Free entry

Opening hours