| Method | Mezzotint |
| Artist | after Samuel Hieronymus Grimm |
| Published | Printed for Carington Bowles, No.69 in St. Pauls Church Yard, London. [Published 25 June 1773] / [Published 14 June 1771] |
| Dimensions | Each Image 147 x 122 mm, Plate 159 x 123 mm |
| Notes |
A very rare matching pair of satirical mezzotints commenting on 18th century fashion. "Welladay! is this my son Tom!": Features a street scene, in which an old English farmer, dressed in top boots, breeches, coat, and flatblack felt hat, carrying a riding whip, raises his left arm above his head in an attitude of amazement upon meeting his son, dressed in the macaroni fashion of 1770-5. The son 'Tom', a caricature, wears small shoes, ribbed stockings, corded breeches tied with ribbons at the knees, ruffles, and cravat, a long cane and a large tassel held in his right hand; he wears an enormous wig with two curls at each side and a bulky club behind, he also wears a tiny black cocked hat. The boy greets his father by touching the hat with his sword, worn for this purpose. "Heyday! is this my daughter Anne": Depicts the farmers wife dressed in black hat and mantle trimmed with fur and an apron looks on in astonishment, shielding her eyes at the approach of her daughter, the young woman wears an outfit which displays in the extreme the fashion c. 1765-75. She wears a 'shepherdess' straw hat trimmed with ribbon surmounted on the summit of an incredibly high wig, a cape hangs around her shoulders, long sleeves descend from her wrists to below her knees; her dress is cut away to expose a frilly petticoat. Behind the two main figures, stood in an avenue of trees, a black page boy attends the daughter and carries a lap dog, he wears a white turban with a large ostrich feather. This miniature mezzotint is recorded in BM Satires (4537) a reduced copy of "Be not amaz'd Dear Mother - It is indeed your Daughter Anne", with changed title; however, the larger print was published in 1774, three years after this print. 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) 242 and 243, BM Satires 4536 [b] and 4538, Lennox-Boyd i/i Condition: Slightly light impressions. Dates erased from end of publication lines. Inscribed "220" and "221" below titles to the left. Framed in matching simple oak frames. |
| Framing | framed |
| Price | £575.00 |
| Stock ID | 51700 |