Samuel Hieronymus Grimm
What is this my Son Tom

Public Domain

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Images(3)

Artistpossibly after Samuel Hieronymus Grimm(Swiss, 1733–1794, active England)Swiss, 1733–1794, active England

Publisher R. Sayer and J. Bennett(London, 1774/77–1784)London, 1774/77–1784

CultureEnglish

Titles

What is this my Son Tom

Date1774

PlaceEngland

MediumMezzotint on laid paper

DimensionsPlate: 13 7/8 × 9 7/8 in. (35.2 × 25.1 cm)
Sheet: 14 3/16 × 10 in. (36 × 25.4 cm)

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by Jack S. Blanton, Jr. in honor of William J. Hill

Object numberB.2015.7

Non exposé

Explore Further

Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

PRINTS

DescriptionSatirizing the macaroni fad of the 1770s, this print depicts a father’s surprise at his son’s embrace of this fashion. Typical elements include the tight fitting clothes, large sword and walking stick, and the impossibly tall wig surmounted by a tiny hat.
Provenance[Joel R. Bergquist Fine Arts, Nashville, Tennessee]; purchased by MFAH, 2014.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below image, left: Our wise Forefathers would express / Ev'n Sensibility in Dress ; / The modern Race delight to Shew / What Folly in Excess can do :
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below image, center: What is this my Son Tom.
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below image, center bottom edge: London, Publishede by R. Sayer & J. Bennett No. 53 Fleet Street, As the Act directs 24 June 1774 .
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below image, right: The honest Farmer, come to Town, / Can scarce believe his Son his own / If thus the Taste continues Here, / What will it be another Year?

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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