• “A Lady in Limbo or Jew Bail Rejected” (etching, 1802)

Collections:
View in catalog:
Language:
  • No linguistic content; Not applicable
Creator:
  • Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827
Call number:
  • D North 52/GC112/Box 10/Normal/Prints/Titles I-La GA 2014.00322
Extent:
  • 1 item ; sheet 25.3 s 32.9 cm.
Format:
  • Visual material
Description:
  • Medium: Etchings, Hand coloring
  • Item description: Also issued without borders, unmounted (have both).
  • Depiction: A "fine lady", presumably an Anonyma of the period, finds herself in the fastness of a spunging house. She is made as welcome as circumstances will permit. A bottle of wine, the refreshment customary, is ordered, and the stern hearts of the sheriff's men are appealed to, while bail is sent for. It was a well-known practice at the beginning of the century, and earlier, to pay some obscure individual a trifling fee to become security on emergencies.
  • Depiction: In the present case a professional limb, of the Hebrew persuasion, is presented, decently made up for the occasion, to tender himself as bondsman for the lady's due appearance. It is evident, however, that a suspicious recognition is taking place. "Harry Holdfast, Officer to the Four Counties," or his deputy, does not, judging from his expression, seem to approve of the surety, and the Jew looks somewhat disconcerted under his inspection. The tears of the unfortunate captive and the plausible reassurances - as to the respectability of the bail offered - of her chaperone, or duenna, are powerless to move the stoic breast of the experienced catchpole.
  • Unsigned.
Publisher:
  • [London] : [s.n.], 1802/07/01.
Subject:
  • Jews—Great Britain—19th century—Caricatures and cartoons
  • Anonymous persons—Great Britain—19th century—Caricatures and cartoons
  • Bail bond agents—Great Britain—19th century—Caricatures and cartoons
  • City and town life—Great Britain—Caricatures and cartoons
  • Caricature
Source acquisition:
  • Gift of Dickson Q. Brown, Princeton University Class of 1895.
References:
  • Grego II, pp. 37-38 (reproduced)
Created:
  • 1802-01-01T00:00:00Z
Date:
  • 1802
Location:
  • Special Collections D North 52/GC112/Box 10/Normal/Prints/Titles I-La GA 2014.00322
Identifier:
  • ark:/88435/7w62fh30d
Edm rights:
  • No Known Copyright
Range label:
  • Logical
Exhibit Tags: