After the title: 'dedicated to the serious attention of the fashionable ladies of great britain'. An enormously fat lady flings up arms, legs, and tea-cup in terror, as her flimsy gown catches fire from a red-hot poker falling from the grate (left). She, a stiff military officer, and a young woman sit at a round tea-table. The man sits paralysed, alarmed and helpless, spilling his tea; the girl has added to the calamity by knocking over the tea-table so that urn and tea-pot spill their scalding contents, and crockery slides towards the floor. A loutish footman enters (right) but has stopped dead, dropping a dish of muffins. A frightened cat scampers from the hearth-rug. Over the chimney-piece is a picture of vesuvius in eruption. The woman is a monstrous creature with bare arms and elaborately dressed hair (or wig), a patterned carpet completes the design. Cf. Bmsat 9956. 15 february 1802. Hand-coloured etching. Date: 1802. Dimensions: Height: 258 mm; ; Width: 358 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. Advantages of wearing Muslin Dresses!- (BM 1851,0901.1079)
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