A peep at the Parisot! with Q in the corner!, Isaac Cruikshank, 1796

A corner of the opera house. A dancer is poised on her right toe, while she leans forward, both arms extended, her left leg extended horizontally towards the audience. Her head is turned full-face. Those in the pit are peering under her skirt, which, falling limply almost to her ankles, defines her figure. In the front row of the pit sit (left to right) the duke of queensberry peering through an opera-glass; sheridan, biting his thumb apprehensively (probably fearing competition with drury lane); fox, leaning back laughing, while pitt stands behind him, holding his shoulders, and staring intently at the dancer. Among the heads behind are burke on the extreme right, bedford next him, then loughborough and (?) erskine in their legal wigs. In a box on the first tier sit two ladies and a man, looking down upon the dancer, except that one of the ladies stares at the man she sits next through a glass. A door giving on to the stage is open, through which two men are staring up at the dancer. Behind stands a prim-looking man wearing spectacles. A scene of trees and foliage forms a background to the stage. 7 may 1796 etching. Date: 1796. Dimensions: Height: 253 mm (printed image); Width: 376 mm (printed image). Medium: paper. Depicted People: Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford. Collection: British Museum. A peep at the Parisot! with Q in the corner! (BM 1868,0808.6523)