A morning ramble, or - The Milliners Shop, Robert Dighton, 1782

Interior of a milliner's shop, the counter running across the print, behind it are three milliners, dressed in the fashion of the day with elaborately frilled muslin caps on their high-dressed hair. Two fashionably dressed men are on the near side of the counter, intent on a flirtation. One, wearing riding-dress, sits on the edge of the counter, his legs dangling, while he leans on his elbow and looks over his right shoulder towards a pretty young woman who is sewing, seated in profile to the right. The other visitor (right) lounges against the counter as he hands a "masquerade ticket" to a young milliner. The third milliner stands; she is sewing at one of the elaborately frilled muslin head-dresses of the day. The print shows the arrangement of a shop at this period. The shop-window is partly visible on the left, with wares for sale suspended across it on cords. On the wall is an oval mirror in a carved frame, while on the right shelves fill a recess in the wall and support boxes, inscribed "feathers, love coxcomb, mode". An arched-top coffer, such as milliners in street scenes are depicted as carrying, stands open on the counter, a piece of lace hanging from it. On the near side of the counter is a tall circular stool for customers. In the foreground is a pomeranian dog. 1782 hand-coloured mezzotint. Date: 1782. Dimensions: Height: 348 mm; Width: 248 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. A morning ramble, or - The Milliners Shop (BM 1935,0522.1.31 1)