An Easy Introduction to Dancing: or, the Movements in the Minuet full explained.

Designed and etched by George Bickham, Jr. British

1738

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 690

The minuet, a social dance of enormous popularity in the eighteenth century, was the subject of several popular treatises like this one. In the final illustration in the book, the artist cleverly pictured the complete path of the dancers across the floor—with tiny footprints indicating the direction of the movement—and their changing hand positions.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Catalogue Raisonné

Title: An Easy Introduction to Dancing: or, the Movements in the Minuet full explained.
Artist: Designed and etched by George Bickham, Jr. (British, London ca. 1704–1771 Richmond, Surrey)
Publisher: Thomas Cooper (British, died ca. 1743)
Published in: London
Date: 1738
Medium: Illustrations: etching
Dimensions: 10 9/16 x 7 3/4 x 3/8 in. (26.8 x 19.7 x 1 cm)
Classification: Books
Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1940
Object Number: 40.128
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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