Characters in High Life
Two ladies wearing evening dress move through the New Rooms at London's Opera House, their turbans adorned with expensive ostrich feathers which were then, literally, the height of fashion. The lady at left is tall and handsome and guides a much shorter companion who wears a simpler gown combined with feathers that rise to the same height as those of her companion. The figures have been identified as the celebrated beauty and society hostess Mary Isabella Manners, Duchess of Rutland (1756-1831) who is shown escorting an unmarried daughter, either Lady Elizabeth (who married in 1798) or Lady Katherine (who married in 1800).
Artwork Details
- Title: Characters in High Life
- Artist: James Gillray (British, London 1756–1815 London)
- Publisher: Hannah Humphrey (British, ca. 1745–1819)
- Date: June 20, 1795
- Medium: Hand-colored etching
- Dimensions: Plate: 13 3/4 × 9 13/16 in. (35 × 25 cm)
Sheet: 14 3/8 × 10 5/8 in. (36.5 × 27 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Gift of Jill Spalding, 2022
- Object Number: 2022.309.12
- 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.
Multiple artists/makers
June 13, 1781
Multiple artists/makers
[1830]
James Gillray
June 19, 1780
Multiple artists/makers
after April 1785
James Gillray
Hannah Humphrey
July 16, 1805
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.