The Gig Shop or Kicking Up a Breeze at Nell Hammiltons Hop
Rowlandson's early cataloguer Joseph Grego describes this impromptu boxing match in "a place of 'fast' resort, [where] dancing has given way to much rougher diversions...[with] the place appropriated for the dance...given up to a "mill" conducted on strikingly professional principles. One of the combatants has "peeled" in recognized style, and his opponent has stripped to his shirt; the backers and seconders of the fisticuffing bucks...are members of the fair sex...A ring of delighted spectators are enjoying the fight and the fun from the benches, while other gentlemen are prudently engaged in restraining their fair partners from getting mixed up in the squabble."
The term gig in the title refers to something that whirls–first dancers, now boxers–and Nell Hammilton may be Elizabeth, Duchess of Hamilton wife of the 8th Duke who had been a well-known boxing enthusiast. Their divorce in 1794 ended a marriage marred by affairs on both sides, so notorious that a country dance of the period was named "Hamilton House" because it contained so many changes of partner.
The term gig in the title refers to something that whirls–first dancers, now boxers–and Nell Hammilton may be Elizabeth, Duchess of Hamilton wife of the 8th Duke who had been a well-known boxing enthusiast. Their divorce in 1794 ended a marriage marred by affairs on both sides, so notorious that a country dance of the period was named "Hamilton House" because it contained so many changes of partner.
Artwork Details
- Title: The Gig Shop or Kicking Up a Breeze at Nell Hammiltons Hop
- Series/Portfolio: Tegg's Caricatures
- Artist: Thomas Rowlandson (British, London 1757–1827 London)
- Publisher: Thomas Tegg (British, London 1776–1846 London)
- Date: February 16, 1811
- Medium: Hand-colored etching
- Dimensions: Sheet (trimmed within plate and inset): 9 7/16 × 13 9/16 in. (23.9 × 34.4 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959
- Object Number: 59.533.1891
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Thomas Rowlandson
Thomas Tegg
February 16, 1811
Thomas Rowlandson
1780–1827
Thomas Rowlandson
1780–1827
Thomas Rowlandson
1780–1827
Multiple artists/makers
January 1794
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.