The Peacock "At Home": PD.120-1973.f.9

Materials used in production

Watercolour
Bodycolour
White bodycolour
Graphite
Gum arabic

Components of the work

Support composed of wove paper
Leaf Height 526 mm Width 366 mm

Techniques used in production

Watercolour : Watercolour, gum Arabic, bodycolour including white, graphite and some scratching out, on wove paper

Inscription or legends present

• Text: The Quadrupeds listen'd with sullen displeasure, / But the tenants of air were enrag'd beyond measure. / The Peacock display'd his bright plumes to the Sun, / And addressing his mates, thus indignant begun: / "Shall we, like domestic, inelegant Fowls, / "As unpolish'd as Geese, as stupid as Owls, / "Sit tamely at home, hum drum, with our spouses, / While Crickets and Butterflies open their houses? / "Shall such mean little Insects pretend to the fashion? / "Cousin, Turkey-cock, well may you be in a passion! / "If I suffer such insolent airs to prevail, / "May Juno pluck out all the eyes in my tail;
• Location: Recto
• Method of creation: Brown ink

Identification numbers

Accession number: PD.120-1973.f.9
Primary reference Number: 80499
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 3 August 2020 Last processed: Friday 8 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints