Description:
This is a caricature of Nathaniel St André (c.1680-1776), a Swiss surgeon who was appointed as surgeon and anatomist to the royal household by George I in 1723. However, in 1726 he supported the claim of Mary Toft that she had given birth to fourteen rabbits, even publishing an account. When she admitted the deception St André lost his Royal salary. In spite of the scandal caused by its exposure he eloped with, and afterwards married, Lady Elizabeth Molyneux on the night of the death of her husband whom he had been professionally attending. The couple settled in Southampton about 1750. In the scene, St. Andre is shown with Lady Molyneux on the Southampton coast. He is using crutches; a gouty left leg is swathed or in a bootikin, and suspended in a sling which goes over his right. shoulder. He has an impossibly protruding waistcoat, and a large club of hair, poking fun of extreme male Macaroni styles of the 1770s. Lady Molyneux follows him, carrying a bottle labeled "Hartshorn" and a long cane. Her profile is witch-like with hooked nose and protruding bearded chin. She is wearing a cross pendant or necklance, and wrapped in a long cloak with large hood that conceals her hair. In the foreground, a dog barks at the two central figures. In the background are other people, some looking directly at the main characters. One is labelled "The Rabbit Doctor, St. A------", under his arm is a large rabbit, a reference to St. Andre. . At the bottom of the print: "Pubd. as the Act Directs May 1st 1773" Handwritten in pencil on the proper right margin is "272 x 398" and "No, 57" is handwritten in cursive ink on the proper left margin. From a set of twelve prints by William Austin (1721/33-1820), drawing-master and engraver. Austin taught caricature to amateurs and this series, which mocked several well-known personages (as did its dedicatee, the actor Samuel Foote) contains some of the most lively English caricatures of the period between Hogarth and the late Georgian satire of Gillray and Rowlandson.
Tags:
satire; medicine Subjects:
satire (artistic device); Etching Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2021.30.3 |
