Margaret's ghost

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James Gillray
1756-1815
Margaret's ghost
etching, hand colored
image: 189 x 265 mm; plate mark: 225 x 265 mm; sheet: 240 x 281 mm
Peel 2718
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Notes: 

Caption title from head of image.
In the upper and lower margins is the inscription: I was sitting by the Bedside of my smiling-injured-innocent-Lambkin, & holding one of the sweet tender hands of my amiable-gentle-dovelike-Cherub, when her Aunt came into the Room, with a face paler than Ashes, - "What is the matter, Auntee Peg" - says my dear-chaste-adorable-kind-benificent-enchanting-heart-feeling-benificent-paragon of Goodness What's the matter Auntee-Peg, what makes you put on such a long Face?" She broke upon us the dishonorable-infamous-false-accusations, & the cruel most cruel messages that accompanied them, at that moment a Vow issued from my torn, my rent, my wounded, my agonizing, my suffering Heart, & my dear-divine-glorious-Arch angelic-Angel, said &c &c.

Summary: 

Print shows the interior of a bedroom, with Miss Gunning in bed; her mother holds her arm and both look round in alarm at a much-caricatured creature, Miss Minifie, who rushes towards them from an open door, arms outstretched, gaping with staring eyeballs. Mrs. Gunning raises a leg in her surprise, breaking a bottle of 'Brandy' which with a glass had been concealed under her petticoats.

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