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Two lovers in a parlour disturbed by prying maids
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Two lovers in a parlour disturbed by prying maids
Two lovers in a parlour disturbed by prying maids moving glasses in a cupboard. Miseries Domestic. Handcoloured copperplate engraving designed and etched by Thomas Rowlandson to accompany Reverend James Beresfords Miseries of Human Life, Ackermann, 1808
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Media ID 23389950
© Florilegius
Ackermann Alcoholism Angry Beresford Bottle Disturbed Etching Felicity Fight Georgian Human Husband Lovers Maids Miseries Parlour Regency Reverend Romance Rowlandson Satire Stag Violence Windowsill Conjugal Prying
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Two Lovers in a Parlour Disturbed - A Scene of Domestic Unhappiness and Prying Maids
EDITORS COMMENTS
This handcoloured copperplate engraving, designed and etched by Thomas Rowlandson, is a poignant and satirical illustration from Reverend James Beresford's "Miseries of Human Life," published by Ackermann in 1808. The image captures a moment of tension and turmoil in a seemingly ordinary parlour setting. At the heart of the scene, two lovers are embracing on a worn-out sofa, their faces expressing deep emotion and longing. Their moment of conjugal felicity, however, is disrupted by the intrusion of two prying maids. One maid is moving glasses from a cupboard, her back turned to the lovers, while the other peers through the window, her gaze fixed on the couple. The husband, evidently angered by the interruption, stands up and grabs a mop, ready to defend his wife. A bottle of gin, half-empty, sits on the windowsill, a sign of the couple's struggle with alcoholism and the challenges they face in their marriage. The scene is filled with a sense of misery and domestic violence, as the lovers' moment of romance is shattered by the harsh realities of life. The title "Miseries of Human Life" underscores the satirical and critical tone of the illustration, which highlights the complexities and challenges of human relationships. Rowlandson's masterful use of handcolouring and intricate engraving techniques adds depth and texture to the image, making it a visually stunning and thought-provoking work of art. The image is a powerful reminder of the complexities of human emotions and the fragility of love in the face of adversity. This engraving is a rare and valuable glimpse into the social and domestic life of the Regency and Georgian periods, and a testament to Rowlandson's skill as a satirical artist and caricaturist. It remains a captivating and thought-provoking work of art, over two centuries after its creation.
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