Short of French

William Heath

Short of French

London, G Humphrey, 12^th. May 1823

Etching

Original hand colouring

112 x 150 mm

£120

Two grotesquely dressed men exchange words (etched in the tipper margin) on a London pavement. One (left) wears a bell-shaped top-hat and immensely wide trousers strapped under the boots; he holds a furled umbrella, and strides off to the left, looking over his shoulder at a seeming Frenchman, in small hat, skirted coat, breeches, and Hessian boots who stands shrugging and gesturing. Inscription: Quel heure et ils [sic] Ye ne Sais pas Bless me is it so Lat