Such Things are - Such Things were, William Dent, 1787

Three figures, one above the other (left), headed modern. , are compared with three others (right) headed ancient. : [1] a man with wide-brimmed hat, cutaway coat, projecting shirt-frill (see bmsat 7249), short waistcoat, with two pendant seals, tight breeches and horizontally striped stockings, low shoes with ties, is contrasted with a man wearing a large wig, long coat with wide cuffs, long waistcoat, and high-quartered shoes of c. 1740-50. [2] a lady with loose hair decorated with feathers and the inflated breast and petticoats of c. 1785-8 stands in profile to the right. Opposite her stands demurely, full-face with her hands clasped, a lady with the closely dressed hair, fichu, ruffled sleeves, and slightly hooped petticoats of c. 1750. [3] a man stands with legs astride and arms akimbo, a bludgeon under his right arm. He is dressed in the fashion of the day with vertically striped stockings, wearing a large kevenhuller hat. Opposite him a man stands in profile to the left wearing a small hat with long coat and waistcoat; his cuffs are very wide, he wears gloves and holds a short tasselled stick. The dress appears to be that of the late 60's. 28 march 1787 etching with hand-colouring. Date: 1787. Dimensions: Height: 358 mm; Width: 253 mm (trimmed). Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. Such Things are - Such Things were (BM 1877,1013.894)