The York [Shoe] Warehouse, William Dent, 1792

The interior of a shoemaker's shop; in which ladies are being fitted with shoes similar in size to those of the duchess of york. Between the words of the title is a low-heeled slipper with a rosette inscribed 'the exact size not a barley corn longer. Drawn from one worn on the wedding day. ' (it is 5 7/8 in. ) a shoemaker kneels at the feet of an enormously fat toy seated in profile to the right, trying to force a small slipper onto her large foot. She says, clutching her chair in agony, "oh! dear sir! i am afraid you wont get it in". He answers, "never fear, give me leave to try - push a little ma'am - to be sure its rather small for a person full grown like you - but i can stretch it, if you please. " behind (left) a lady has started from her seat, supporting herself by the back of the first customer's chair, her mouth wide as if shrieking. A kneeling shopman tries to get a shoe on her feet, saying, "you'll take a larger size miss - my master shall wait on you. " she answers, "good heaven! why, the man is mad. I am quite loose - a size smaller i want - its only an ugly corn that makes me cry out. " a third lady (right), in profile to the right, hobbles painfully to the door (right), her feet in tiny slippers. She holds a huge muff. On the lintel of the door is an oval bust portrait of the duchess of york; beneath is inscribed 'proudfoot shoemaker'. In each of the many panes of the shop-window are pairs of slippers. On the wall is a placard: 'corns cut. Feet pared and sweated down to the fashionable size on very easy terms. ' 16 january 1792 etching. Date: 1792. Dimensions: Height: 247 mm; Width: 350 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Frederica Charlotte Ulrica Catherine of Prussia, Duchess of York. Collection: British Museum. The York (Shoe) Warehouse (BM 1868,0808.6149)