Highest life in London...

Cruikshank, George (1792-1878)

Item type:

print

Date of creation:

1821

Description

Illustration showing a rather large group of aristocratic individuals in formal attire gathered for an evening of dancing and socializing. Music is provided by an ensemble playing from a balcony above the lavish ballroom, which is candlelit from elaborate chandeliers. The characters Tom and Jerry are described as "sporting the toe" while dancing a quadrille. Specific musical instruments are hard to discern, but appear to include end-blown wind instruments, violins, and cymbals.

Iconclass

32A5
caricatures (human types)
46A11
division into classes ( ~ society)
46A16
the rich
43A23
ball, formal dance
41D
fashion, clothing
43C9
dancing
41B311
chandelier, candelabrum
41A38
balcony
48C7532
small group of musicians, chamber orchestra, jazz band
48C735
wind instruments
48C731
string instruments (bowed)
48C734
percussion instruments

Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)

Wind instruments [3730] (indistinctly sketched)
Violin [3573]
Cymbals [2451]

RIdIM images

Image URLs

image link 1

Notes

INSCRIPTION BELOW IMAGE:
[right side small script]:
Drawn & Engraved by I.R & G. Cruikshank
[centered]:
HIGHEST LIFE IN LONDON. Tom & Jerry "sporting a toe", among the Corinthians, at Almacks / in the West.
INSCRIPTION BELOW TITLE [centered, small script]:
Pub[lishe]d by Sherwood, Neeley, & Jones. May 1, 1821.

RIdIM record id

6339