Modern Oddities, by P. Pry Esq., Plate 1st

Thomas McLean|William Heath ('Paul Pry')|William Shakespeare

June 30, 1829 · Hand-colored etching · Drawings and Prints

A young lady wears a pink dress with huge ballooning sleeves, a tight-waisted bodice and a large hat adorned with bows as she faces the viewer. A quote from "Taming of the Shrew" in the lower margin is used by the artist as an ironic commentary. Other impressions of the print (such as MMA 69.524.42), show the lady's gown as blue. Like many of Heath's prints from this period, the work is signed with a small top-hatted dandy holding an umbrella–Paul Pry, a nosy character from a play.

Artist

Thomas McLean|William Heath ('Paul Pry')|William Shakespeare

Date

June 30, 1829

Medium

Hand-colored etching

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Gift of Jill Spalding, 2022