Lullaby! soothe him with a lullaby (after E. Blunt)
James Gillray (Chelsea 1757 - London 1815)
Category
Art / Prints
Date
12 Jul 1798
Materials
Hand-coloured etching on paper
Measurements
160 x 193 mm (6.3 x 7.6 in)
Place of origin
St James's Street
Collection
Fenton House, London
NT 1448649
Summary
Hand-coloured etching on paper, Lullaby! soothe him with a lullaby,(after cartoon by E. Blunt) by, James Gillray (Chelsea 1757 - London 1815), 1798. A woman in yellow decolte dress plays harpsichord. A stout, red-faced old man seated in chair beside her, looking crossly at the music propped up on the instrument. On yellow, green and pink diamond patterned carpet. Caricature of an elderly, ugly lady playing a piano and singing to an obese man sitting beside her. The song on the piano shows the words "Song: would you hurt a harm less maid maid I am young and sore afraid afraid'." Mount stained and moulded frame. Another version of this print acquired by V&A in 1937.
Makers and roles
James Gillray (Chelsea 1757 - London 1815), engraver (printmaker) E. Blunt (fl.1797 - 1798), artist Hannah Humphrey (1740 - 1818) , engraver and publisher