The witty wine merchant

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Isaac Cruikshank
1756?-1811?
The witty wine merchant
etching, hand colored
image: 210 x 173 mm; plate mark: 250 x 190 mm; sheet: 315 x 233 mm
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan, 1900.
Peel 1806
Published: 
London : Pub June 11, 1792 by S W Fores No 3 Piccadilly, [1792]
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Inscription: 

Explanatory inscription in pencil in the margin at the bottom of the sheet: Mr. Caleb Whiteford / The author of the original cross readings under the signature / of Papirius Cursor. - This caricature at a distance / gives a tolerable idea of the air, manner, & usual costume / of the original.

Notes: 

Title from item.
This state of the print lacks the etched caption title "Caleb Curious" in the upper margin directly above the image.

Summary: 

Print shows a thin man standing in profile to the left, in the corner of a picture-gallery, inspecting through a glass a picture of a nude and buxom nymph or Venus. He holds a long cane and a 'Catalogue of Paintings'. He has a long pigtail queue and wears a cocked hat. Three other pictures are visible, all of nude women in the manner (burlesqued) of 'high art'. Cf. BM Satires.

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