Joseph Grimaldi dressed as a Red Indian points to a pantomime creature in a scene from the pantomime, Red Dwarf. Etching by W. Heath, ca. 1811.

Heath, William, 1795-1840.

Date:: [1811?]

Reference:: 589897i

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Description

Grimaldi wears an ornate clown costume with tassels on his shorts decorated with a criss-cross shape and socks with decorative embroidery. He wears a Red Indian headdress. The pantomime creature has the head of a donkey, wings of an eagle, coat of lion fur, a pronged fish tail as well as a horse's tail. The feet and cat-like clawed hands of the actor inside the costume protrude from beneath

Publication/Creation

[Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], [1811?]

Physical description

1 print : etching ; image 20.7 x 32.8 cm

Contributors

Biographical note

Grimaldi was a popular pantomime actor who specialised in playing clowns. His health suffered from the numerous accidents that occurred during his career on stage, particularly after 1822. His pastimes included collecting flies and breeding pigeons (DNB)

Lettering

Grimaldi & the nondescript in the Red Dwarf. The clown kills the pantaloon and afterwards dresses him in the skin of a lion the head of an ass eagles wings cats feet & a fishes tail. W. Heath del.

References note

Not found in British Museum, Catalogue of political and personal satires, London 1978

Reference

Wellcome Collection 589897i

Notes

One of a series of 3 prints, see Wellcome library catalogue no. 589895i and 589898i for others