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The Female Philosopher, smelling out the Comet
etching with stipple
image: 222 x 167 mm; plate mark: 249 x 179 mm; sheet: 258 x 188 mm
Peel 2716
Provenance:
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Notes:
Probably inspired by the publicized discoveries of German-British astronomer Caroline Herschel, including her discovery of Comet C/1790 A1 (Herschel), observed by her during the month of January, 1790.
Summary:
Social satire; a woman looking into a telescope at a comet in which is shown a cupid holding firebolts, and whose tail, emanating as flatulence from the figures buttocks, is directly in the line of the telescope, with "Catch" written in it. Cf. British Museum online catalog.
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