Mrs. Gwyn & Mrs. Bunbury in the Characters of The Merry Wives of Windsor

1780 · Mezzotint; first state · Drawings and Prints

Mrs. Gwyn & Mrs. Bunbury in the Characters of The Merry Wives of Windsor — William Dickinson|Catherine Bunbury|Daniel Gardner|William Shakespeare|Thomas Watson|Mary Gwyn|William Dickinson

The double portrait represents the sisters Mary and Catherine Horneck, who moved to London from Devon after their father's death, and were welcomed into the social circle of Sir Joshua Reynolds. In 1771, the younger sister Catherine married Henry William Bunbury, the gentleman artist-caricaturist. In 1779, Mary married Colonel Francis Edward Gwyn, who have distinguished himself in the American Revolutionary War. The sisters appear here in character as Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Page from Shakespeare's "Merry Wives of Windsor." Since neither was a professional actress, the image either echoes a private theatrical, or simply conveys late eighteenth century delight in "fancy" (imaginative) dress.

Artist: William Dickinson|Catherine Bunbury|Daniel Gardner|William Shakespeare|Thomas Watson|Mary Gwyn|William Dickinson
Date: 1780
Medium: Mezzotint; first state
Department: Drawings and Prints
Credit line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1953