A stout and ugly lady holding out a book gesticulates and rants in the name-part of rowe's tragedy. On each side of the room three persons sit facing each other on high-backed chairs; a man and woman (left) yawn violently, the man stretching his arms above his head. On the right a young man flirts with a good-looking young woman; next him a stout elderly man sits asleep. A foot-boy bringing in a coal-scuttle drops coals; a servant negligently spills the contents of a tray of tankards which he hands to a lady (left), looking over his shoulder at the actress. At the back of the room a man sits with closed eyes behind a table on which is a large book. Behind him is a bookcase up which a monkey has climbed and is throwing down books. The actress stands before a massive chimney-piece (right) on which is a large clock with a grotesque figure of time and figures of shakespeare and (?) rowe. 1 february 1790
hand-coloured etching and aquatint. Date: 1790. Dimensions: Height: 324 mm; Width: 444 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Albinia Hobart, Countess of Buckinghamshire. Collection: British Museum. A private rehearsal of Jane Shore. (BM 1991,0720.16)
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