Richard Dighton’s City Characters of 1824
January 11, 2014
Fat cats in the City of London are nothing new as these elegant cartoons of Regency bankers by Richard Dighton that I discovered in the archive at the Bishopsgate Institute testify.
Images courtesy Bishopsgate Institute
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Fat Cats indeed. Splendid drawings. Thank you.
~ Wonderful etchings! ~ *Colorful characters, all.*
I love the way the artist uses his line and his hatching in the ebb and flow of the drapery folds.
Fashion celebrated fat stomachs back then!
I though “obesity” was modern fashionable disease!
Some very impressive fellows from the past!
ACHIM 😉
In today’s City, the stomachs may have shrunk but the faces (and egos) remain the same.
Great prints of past banker’s and city share dealer’s, money lender’s etc maybe some present day city trader’s will recognise their ancestor in this collection,very well dressed lot they are and very well healed nothing has changed much really.
It is good to know that some things dont change.
As for fatness, in the past it was a sign of being wealthy and being able to afford to eat well. Nowadays it is seen as a sign of poverty and eating badly. The rich and famous work to remain slim. Being obese is beginning to be seen as a weakness of character and lack of discipline and control.
The tailoring! What impresses me the most about these marvelous drawings, fat bellies or not, is the immaculate cut and construction of those jackets and breetches. Beau Brummell left a legacy.
Mercy! Before I lost 40 pounds this past year, I was starting to LOOK like some of these gentlemen! (grins) Regards!