by James Gillray - published by Hannah Humphrey
in 1796 (hand-coloured etching)
Note the guy in the middle - snipping and peeping.
| Playing at cards and wearing a revealing gown made the same statement in the mid-1790s: the player was willing to take risks. Both were extremely fashionable. Here, at a card-party, James Gillray's cool-headed young woman seems intent on ignoring the lecher at her shoulder.
An exaggerated satire by Gillray on the extremes of classical-influenced styles which were very new and cutting edge in England at that time. The caricature is said to refer to Lady Georgiana Gordon; the title, as well as the servant lecherously peering down while trimming the candle, are allusions to the Lady Godiva legend. "Pope-Joan" is a cardgame. Lady "Godina" is holding the nine of diamonds which is called the "Pope" in the game. |
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