File:Peep-at-Christies-Gillray.jpeg

English: A peep at Christies' ;—or—Tally-ho, & his Nimeney-pimmeney taking the Morning Lounge / Js.Gy.ad vivam.fecit.

SUMMARY: Miss Elizabeth Farren and Lord Derby walk together inspecting pictures. She, very thin and tall, looks over his head through a glass at a picture in the second row of Zenocrates & Phryne. He looks at the picture immediately below, The Death, a huntsman holding up a fox to the hounds. Lord Derby, much caricatured, very short and obese, wears riding-dress with spurred boots and holds a whip. Miss Farren wears no hat, a dress hanging from the shoulders and trailing her, short sleeves and gloves. Both hold an open catalogue.

MEDIUM: 1 print : aquatint, hand-colored.

CREATED/PUBLISHED: [London] : Pubd. by H. Humphrey, 1796 Sept. 24th.

According to Wright & Evans, Historical and Descriptive Account of the Caricatures of James Gillray (1851, OCLC 59510372), p. 429, "Miss Farren acted with inimitable skill the characer of Nimeney-Pimeney in General Burgoyne's Heiress. For some reason or other, this lady, one of the most admired beauties of her day, was an object of determined hostility with Gillray. But a few months after the date of this caricature, she became the second wife of the Earl of Derby, who, for his political principles, was also a very frequent subject of Gillray's wit. Lord Derby was a great hunter, and here, viewing the pictures at Christie's, they are supposed to be shewing their several tastes. It may be remarked, in regard to the allusion apparently made here, that no slur was ever cast on Miss Farren's virtue. In evidence of which we think it right to record that when Miss Farren became Countess of Derby, she addressed a letter to Queen Charlotte, to inquire whether she would be admitted to her Drawing-room. The Queen replied, that she would be very happy to receive her there, as she always understood her conduct to be very exemplary."