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Man falling off a broken chair at a dinner party
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Man falling off a broken chair at a dinner party
Man falling off a broken chair at a dinner party causing a servant to spill a soup tureen over him. Other guests shocked, servants amused. More Miseries. Handcoloured copperplate engraving designed and etched by Thomas Rowlandson to accompany Reverend James Beresfords Miseries of Human Life, Ackermann, 1808
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Media ID 23389872
© Florilegius
Ackermann Beresford Broken Bunbury Dandy Dinner Doorway Embarrassment Etching Falling Gentleman Georgian Human Inflexible Miseries Pleading Porter Refusal Regency Reverend Rowlandson Satire Servant Visitor
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In this intriguing hand-colored copperplate engraving by Thomas Rowlandson, titled "Man falling off a broken chair at a dinner party," we witness an unexpected turn of events at a Regency-era social gathering. The scene is filled with a mix of amusement, embarrassment, and surprise as a dapper gentleman, dressed as a fashionable dandy or fop, finds himself in an awkward predicament. Seated at the edge of a crowded dining room, the man leans back in his chair, seemingly deep in conversation with a lady. However, the chair, worn out from use or perhaps deliberately sabotaged, gives way beneath him. The man's fall causes a servant to spill a large soup tureen over him, drenching him in the hot, savory broth. The other guests at the dinner party are taken aback by the unexpected turn of events, their expressions ranging from shock and concern to amusement. Servants, who are often depicted as more stoic and unflappable in Georgian-era art, can be seen smirking and covering their mouths in amusement. A porter or butler stands in the doorway, watching the scene unfold with a stern expression. It is unclear whether he refused the man entry or if he was simply late to the scene of the mishap. A dog, perhaps belonging to one of the guests, looks on with curiosity from the sidelines. This engraving is a delightful example of the satirical and caricatured illustrations that accompanied Reverend James Beresford's "Miseries of Human Life," published by Ackermann in 1808. The image pokes fun at the follies and foibles of Regency-era society, highlighting the unexpected twists and turns that can occur even in the most formal of settings.
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