← James Gillray

–So Skiffy-Skipt On, With his Wonted Grace" – Vide Birthday Ball. See Morning Herald. Jan-y 20th

Original title: "–So Skiffy-Skipt On, With his Wonted Grace"–Vide Birthday Ball. See Morning Herald. Jan-y 20th

Artist

James Gillray

Date

February 1, 1800

Medium

Hand-colored etching

Dimensions

plate: 10 x 7 13/16 in. (25.4 x 19.9 cm) sheet: 12 3/16 x 8 15/16 in. (31 x 22.7 cm)

Credit line

Gift of Georgiana W. Sargent, in memory of John Osborne Sargent, 1924

kurzbeschreibung

James Gillray's hand-colored etching from 1800 caricatures a dancer in flamboyant historical dress. The figure performs a mincing step, his face drawn with distorted features and a grotesque expression. The print refers to a public ball mentioned in the Morning Herald of January 20, 1800.

Description

A gentleman appears in a purple shirt with rich ornamentation and matching breeches decorated with yellow ribbons. His sleeves are pushed up, and white gloves cover his hands. Curly hair is held back by a black neckcloth, and he wears a headband or headpiece. The nose is exaggeratedly large, and the facial expression is almost mask-like. He stands upright, arms and legs in a dancing pose, against a plain background with a pale green sky and brown ground. The colors are applied by hand and look restless but bright.

Context

James Gillray is among the most prominent British caricaturists of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This print was made in February 1800, a period when political and social satire flourished in Britain. The title alludes to a birthday ball announced in the Morning Herald on January 20, 1800. Gillray often lampooned the fashions and events of high society, frequently with direct reference to specific people or occasions.

Impact

The exaggerated facial features and unusual costume give the print a comic, almost absurd note. The figure's dynamic posture and the garish colors heighten the impression of movement and extravagance. Viewers are prompted to smile, while the satire targets the sitter's vanity.

Technique

An etching, subsequently hand-colored with watercolors. The contours and details are etched in fine lines, and the coloring was applied unevenly and vividly. The plate measures 25.4 x 19.9 cm, the sheet 31 x 22.7 cm.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)