The Lilly Macaroni

Matthew Darly|Mary Darly|William John Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian

November 13, 1771 · Etching · Drawings and Prints

This image comes from a set of twenty-four caricatures that Matthew and Mary Darly published in 1771. A husband-and-wife team, the Darlys developed a new British print genre--small etched caricatures of single figures against plain backgrounds, their identities indicated through dress, pose and a few props. Many of these works mocked the fashionable manners of contemporary London dandies called "macaronis," and the Darly's wares soon became known as macaroni prints no matter what their subjects. The implied Italian connection was in fact appropriate, since the basic form was inspired by Ghezzi's caricature drawings brought back from Rome by Grand Tourists. The form and subjects adapted by the Darlys tickled British tastes and broadened the scope of Ghezzi's works to include a range of social classes, known figures, and types. This example satirizes extreme macaroni fashion of the period, and caricaturizes WIlliam John Kerr, Earl of Acrum, afterward Marquess of Lothian. He is shown in military dress with a tassled saber and wig with long queue, a coat laced with gold and tight breeches, long "top" boots, and a small Nivernois hat.

Artist

Matthew Darly|Mary Darly|William John Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian

Date

November 13, 1771

Medium

Etching

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 2011