Grimaldi and the Nondescript in the Red Dwarf
Artist
William Heath
(British, 1795 - 1840)
Date1838
CultureBritish
MediumInk on paper, handcolored engraving
ClassificationPrints
Credit LineTibbals Circus Collection
Object numberht8001065
Joseph Grimaldi pioneered the appearance of the modern white face clown in the early 19th century. Acting as the character Clown in numerous pantomime productions, Grimaldi also shaped the actions and cultural relevance of clowns for coming generations. The pantomime <i>The Red Dwarf</i>, staged around 1812, made light satire of such social fixtures as events like fox hunts and groups including the Hussars.
This print depicts the moment that the trickster Clown has made a fool of old Pantaloon by dressing him as a hybrid animal composed of the skin of a lion, the head of an ass, the wings of an eagle, the feet of a cat, and the tail of a fish.
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