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The April Fool Consigned to Infamy and Ridicule, 1 April 1801

 Item — Box: LF104/6 Box 1
Reference code: LF104/6/78

Scope and Contents

By Charles Williams. A man stands between two women, an arm round each. He wears a high fool's cap outlined with bells, furred robe over Turkish trousers, and a large scimitar. Two pair of horns grow from his forehead, and he has the whiskers of a man of fashion. The women, who hold him by the shoulders are 'Ridicule' who laughs and points, and 'Infamy', melancholy and ragged, her dress covered by patches which, with her belt etc, are inscribed: 'Murder', 'Deciet', 'Treason', 'Adultery', 'Blasphemy', 'Seduction', 'Lying', 'Sedition'. A young woman stands on the right pointing to the group, addressing the spectator: "I have made him a fixed figure for the hand of scorn to point her slow unmoveing finger at". Behind is a corner of a building showing the base of a pillared portico. Description from the British Museum.

Dates

  • Creation: 1 April 1801

Conditions Governing Access

Available by appointment in our Reading Room

Extent

1 Item(s)

Language of Materials

English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository

Contact:
Western Bank Library
University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield South Yorkshire S10 2TN United Kingdom
+44 (0) 114 222 7299