Category Archives: Music

A comic dance

Posted on June 17, 2013 by mercedes-c

One of the highlights in the career of the actor and pantomimist Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837) was his performance in Harlequin and Mother Goose, or, The Golden Egg. The DNB notices how ‘fashionable and influential people, including Byron and Lord Eldon, … Continue reading →

Posted in Clowns, Colour, Entertainment, Fools, London, Music, Portraits, Prints, Theatre | Comments Off on A comic dance

Spanish rebus

Posted on August 7, 2012 by mercedes-c

Douce’s collection contains a remarkable amount of Spanish prints. Apart from works by well-known artists such as Goya and Ribera, it is possible to find many rare devotional images and popular prints produced in Spain between the sixteenth and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Popular prints, Prints, Rebus, Religion | Comments Off on Spanish rebus

Christmas gambols

Posted on December 20, 2011 by mercedes-c

On 23 December 1826, the author of an anonymous piece entitled ‘Christmas customs’ and published in The Mirror thus reflected: It is a season the most cheerles; the clouds and vapours increasing, and the chilliness of winter’s near approach, accelerating … Continue reading →

Posted in Carols, Everyday life, Music | Comments Off on Christmas gambols

Quadrilling

Posted on October 26, 2011 by mercedes-c

This music-sheet kept among Douce’s prints on dancing is not just an example of popular music in the age of bonnets, but also a clever and mildly amusing satire on contemporary mores: Under the title Quadrille; a favourite song, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Lithography, Music, Satirical prints | Comments Off on Quadrilling

Magic and music

Posted on September 14, 2011 by mercedes-c

Music is a subject often mentioned in Francis Douce’s correspondence. He was a keen amateur, interested in both contemporary music and the technical development of musical instruments throughout the centuries. A vast amount of images of different types of drums, … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Witchcraft | Comments Off on Magic and music