Female Whimsicalities, William Dent, 1793

Two ladies stand back to back, one (left) inscribed 'prominence, 1785', the other, 'prominence, 1793'. The former has the contour of 1785 (see bmsat 6874, &c), with vast protuberances below the chin in front and below the waist behind. The other, whose bust still projects, but in a less exaggerated manner, has an enormous protuberance in front, far exceeding that of any pregnancy. One wears a wide-brimmed hat (see bmsat 7099, &c), the other a small hat trimmed with large bunches of ribbon; a piece of drapery passing over the crown meets under the chin. Between and behind the pair is a smaller figure, a girl standing in profile to the left, wearing a high-waisted dress which falls limply to the ground. She is 'virgin shape'. Beneath the design: 'since all confess the nat'ral form divine, what need to swell before or add behind?' 16 may 1793 hand-coloured etching. Date: 1793. Dimensions: Height: 244 mm; Width: 351 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. Female Whimsicalities (BM 1902,0825.3)