"The Mandarins Robing Venus" by Daniel Maclise

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The Mandarins Robing Venus

Daniel Maclise

wood-engraving

4 1/16 x 3 ⅛ inches on a 7 3/16 x 4 ½ inch page

The Reliques of Father Prout, facing p. 533

This lush nude differs dramatically from the other illustrations in this volume.

[Click on image to enlarge it.]

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The image illustrates the following lines from a poem entitled “Jerome Vida’s Silkworm:”

The good inhabitants of PEKIN, when
     They saw the dame in downright dishabille.
Were shock'd. Such sight was far beyond the ken
      Of their CONFUCIAN notions. Full of zeal
      To guard the morals of the commonweal,
They straight deputed SYLK, a mandarin,
      Humbly before the visitant to kneel
With downcast eye, and offer Beauty’s queen
A rich resplendent robe of gorgeous bombazin.

Venus received the vesture nothing loath,
      And much its gloss, its softness much admired,
And praised that specimen of foreign growth,
      So splendid, and so cheaply too acquired!
      Quick in the robe her graceful limbs attired,
She seeks a mirror—there delighted dallies;
      So rich a dress was all could be desired.
How she rejoiced to disappoiut the malice
Of her unfeeling foe, the vile, vindictivo Pallas!

Bibliography

Yorke, Oliver [Francis Mahoney]. The Reliques of Father Prout, Late P.P. of Watergrasshill, in the county of Cork, Ireland. “With Illustrations by Alfred Croquis, Esq. ([)Daniel Maclise, R.A.)” London, George Bell & Sons, 1886.

Created 7 July 2021