A broad hint of not meaning to Dance.

James Gillray

A broad hint of not meaning to Dance.

London, H. Humphrey Nov. 20^th 1804

Etching

Original hand-colouring

270x390mm

Old central fold

£950

A scene in a provincial Assembly Rooms, with a crowd of ugly, fashionably dressed, bucolic guests dancing energetically in the background. In the foreground, an ugly, foppish, conceited beau, his large backside to the fire, bows low to a young lady, inviting her to dance, while treading on a fold of her dress. She looks at him in dismay while walking rapidly away (tearing her dress), holding her chair in one hand. On the right a pretty young woman, holding her closed fan, sits disconsolately without a partner. Candlesconces decorate the walls and a large clock with the hands at half past midnight stands on the mantelpiece. BM 10302.