| Method | Mezzotint |
| Artist | [Anonymous] |
| Published | Printed for Carington Bowles, No. 69 in S.t Pauls Church Yard London. [n.d. c.1790]. |
| Dimensions | Image 135 x 112 mm, Plate 150 x 112 mm |
| Notes |
A very rare miniature mezzotint droll featuring a well dressed lady looking directly at the viewer, with flowers in her hair and wearing choker necklace with a heart pendant, she lifts her right hand at the approach of a somewhat ugly, older man clenching a coin sack marked '500'. The male figure in this print is similar in appearance to another mezzotint published by John Bowles in 1773 entitled "The Scramble, or Old Gripus plunder'd by his Young Wife" that features a miser and his scheming wife. The curator's comment on the British Museum's catalogue suggests that the later is one of a series of prints; however, the fact that the male character is not guarding his money bag suggests that he is approaching the lady in an attempt to seduce her with his wealth, and the title implies she is indeed tempted. The subject is more akin to the mezzotint 'The Power of Beauty' published by Thomas and John Bowles earlier in the eighteenth century. The printer and publisher Carington Bowles (1724 - 1793) was the son of the printer John Bowles, to whom he was apprenticed in 1741. In 1752 until c.1762, they became a partnership known as John Bowles & Son, at the Black Horse, Cornhill, London. Carington left the partnership in order to take over the business of his uncle, Thomas Bowles II in St Paul's Churchyard. When Carington died in 1793 the business passed to his son (Henry) Carington Bowles. Carington Bowles (1790) 138, BM Satires undescribed, Lennox-Boyd undescribed Condition: Excellent rich impression, with engraved guideline to the title still visible. Framed in a simple oak frame. |
| Framing | framed |
| Price | £300.00 |
| Stock ID | 51715 |