‘Monr. Le Medicin’, 1771

Description

Mounted hand coloured etching and engraving entitled ‘MONR. LE MEDICIN.’, designed by anon, etched and published by M. Darly in 1771.

This is a satirical portrait of a fashionable French doctor dressed as an absurdly supercilious Macaroni, burdened with every conceivable fashionable accessory. A macaroni was a disparaging term used for a follower of exaggerated continental fashion in the mid to late 1700s.

The doctor is represented in profile, facing left; with an exaggerated and contrived gesture he takes stuff with his left hand from a large snuffbox his right. His coat, waistcoat and cuffs are heavily trimmed with lace, his stockings are patterned, and he wears a high crowned bag-wig.

Under his left arm he carries a large parasol, which partly obscures a large fur muff, and he wears a gentleman’s sword. Only one detail reveals his true profession; a clyster syringe sticks out of his pocket with a label;”Unne Lavement pour Mademoiselle Mimi”, otherwise he is the embodiment of the “Maccaronies wh