Harmony before matrimony

Harmony before matrimony

Item Information

Title:
Harmony before matrimony
Description:
A pretty young woman and a fashionably dressed man sing together seated on upright chairs. She (r.) plays the harp, her head thrown back to look over her shoulder at the music-book which he holds open. On a round table which supports his elbow as he leans towards her is an open book, 'Ovid' [Art of Love]. She wears clinging draperies. Two cats gambol amorously on music-books on the ground. The elaborate décor of the room stresses the subject of the design. A large wall mirror (l.) hangs above a marble console which is supported on winged heads; a butterfly flies towards its own reflection. Chinese vases containing roses (twin flowers) flank a bowl in which gold-fish swim to meet each other. One vase only is fully visible; it is a scene of courtship. Below the console a heart-shaped vase, decorated with a Sphinx, stands on the floor. An oval picture elaborately framed hangs above the heads of the lovers. A Cupid fires a blunderbuss at two doves billing on a dove-cot. This is flanked by carvings of flowers with (l.) crossed torches (of Hymen) and (r.) the bow and arrows of Cupid. In the foreground (r.) is one corner of a console table supported by a grinning satyr with a cloven hoof; on it is a myrtle plant in an ornamental pot. The luxury of the room is shown by an arcaded wall with pilaster reflected in the mirror, and by a palm-tree pilaster (BM).
Artist:
Gillray, James, 1756-1815
Name on Item:
Js. Gy. des. & ft.
Date:
October 25, 1805
Format:
Prints
Genre:
Etchings
Caricatures
Satires (Visual works)
Location:
Boston Public Library
Arts Department
Collection (local):
John D. Merriam Collection
Subjects:
Courtship
Harps
Musicians
Extent:
1 print : hand-colored etching ; sheet 27 x 37 cm
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2z111j452
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Publisher:
27 St. James Street London : Publish'd by H. Humphrey
Language:
English
Notes:
Title from item.
BM Satires 10472; Wright/Evans 538
Notes (date):
Date from item.
Notes (citation):
Stephens, Frederic George, George, Mary Dorothy. "Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum." British Museum Press, 1870, London.
Wright, Thomas, R. H. Evans. "Historical and descriptive account of the caricatures of James Gillray." Benjamin Blom, 1968, New York.
Identifier:
18_17_000095
Barcode:
36666003786924