A skeleton gentleman at a ball asks a skeleton lady to dance; representing the effect of arsenical dyes and pigments in clothing and accessories. Wood engraving, 1862.
- Date:
- February 8, 1862
- Reference:
- 36772i
- Pictures
- Online
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Description
The previous week, the chemist A.W. Hoffman had published an article 'The dance of death' in The times, 1 February 1862, in which he disseminated the finding that green dresses, wreaths, and artificial flowers, made with copper arsenite or coppper acetoarsenite (Scheele's green, Paris green), were toxic
Publication/Creation
London : [publisher not identified], February 8, 1862.
Physical description
1 print : wood engraving ; image with border 14.3 x 17.9 cm
Lettering
The arsenic waltz. The new dance of death. (Dedicated to the green wreath and dress-mongers). Punch, or the London Charivari.
Writing and further image on the reverse
Bears number top left : 54
References note
Alison Matthews David, Fashion victims: the dangers of dress past and present, London 2015, pp. 94-95
Reference
Wellcome Collection 36772i
Creator/production credits
Possibly by John Leech (1817-1864)?
Type/Technique
Languages
Where to find it
Location Status Access Closed stores