The Slumbers of Ragotin Interrupted.

Henry William Bunbury

The Slumbers of Ragotin Interrupted.

London, James Bretherton May 29th 1773

Etching

225x315mm

£150

An illustration satirising the French poet, dramatist and husband of Mde de

Maintenon Paul Scarron’s (1610-60) comedy Roman Comique first performed 1651. The scene is a room in an inn, and the dwarfish figure of Ragotin sits sleeping in a chair wearing jackboots and a long sword, oblivious to the fact that he is about to be attacked by a large, hairy dog. The encounter is being watched by the cast, including the heroine Inezilla. The play had recently been revived in London. BM 5218.