Grown Gentlemen taught to Dance, 1768

A satire on pretensions to be fashionable showing an ungainly young man being instructed in dancing by a lithe fashionable teacher, who had curl papers in his hair, one of which is lettered “newton’s works” and another “lock on the understanding” (query, is the teacher meant to be french, see his hair-style?) and who holds the pupil by the hand, while pointing to his own feet. The pupil has a handkerchief in his pocket and a paper lettered “the blunderer a comedy”. A violinist sits in front to left, another instrument (described by stephens as an ear trumpet) leaning against his chair, and books including “of harmony in music”, “select minue[ts]” and “country dances / the lads a dunce” lie on the ground at his feet. Two kittens play around his violin case; one threatened by a crouching dog. At the back, beneath a paper reading “grown gentlemen taught to dance & qualifyd to appear in ye most brilliant assemblies at the easy expence of 1. 11s. 6d. Nb. Those gentlemen that chuse it may also learn to sing”, another young pupil wearing spotty stockings, his cane beside him, awaits his turn for a lesson. On the wall behind is a full-length picture of an elegant dancer, “madame elastique” (based on the print of anne auretti by scotin, see 1933,1014. 405). 20 august 1768 etching and engraving. Date: 1768. Dimensions: Height: 362 mm; Width: 265 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Anne Auretti. Collection: British Museum.