The Fashion Behind but not Behind the Fashion: 1829–T'is Thus to Follow the Mode
Heath served in the army and began by drawing military satires but, by 1827, had returned to London and focused on satirizing exaggerated dress styles. He also started to sign his prints with a small top-hatted dandy holding an umbrella–Paul Pry, a nosy character in a play. This work centers on a comely young woman, seen from behind, who wears a full skirted green dress with a hem shortened to reveal flat slipper held on by ribbons. Huge puffed sleeves emphasize her tiny waist and an earring dangling below a huge beribboned hat echoes the shape of her ensemble. The woman's backward glance suggests that she is fully aware of her allure.
Artwork Details
- Title: The Fashion Behind but not Behind the Fashion: 1829–T'is Thus to Follow the Mode
- Artist: William Heath ('Paul Pry') (British, Northumbria 1794/95–1840 Hampstead)
- Publisher: Thomas McLean (British, 1788–1875)
- Subject: Francis Beaumont (British, 1584–1616)
- Subject: John Fletcher (British, 1579–1625)
- Date: May 1829
- Medium: Hand-colored etching
- Dimensions: Sheet: 16 5/16 × 10 15/16 in. (41.5 × 27.8 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Gift of Jill Spalding, 2022
- Object Number: 2022.309.16
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
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William Heath ('Paul Pry')
S. Gans
1830
William Heath ('Paul Pry')
Thomas McLean
1827–29
Multiple artists/makers
1827–29
William Heath ('Paul Pry')
Thomas McLean
1828–29
William Heath ('Paul Pry')
Thomas McLean
1828
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