Darby and Joan (BM 1868,0808.6647)

Lord Derby (left) and his wife (right) sit facing each other, a small round table between them on which are a jug and glasses. Both are smoking long pipes, but no smoke issues from that of Lord Derby. He, short, obese, and very plainly dressed, sits on a plain solid chair. She, tall and elegantly dressed, in a low-cut, high-waisted dress, sits on a chair with spindle legs, its back decorated with a coronet. She touches his clumsy shoe with the toe of her slipper, saying, "You have no Fire in your Pipe, my dear Darby". He answers, "It has been out long ago, lovey, but I like to whiff with an agreeable companion, what the children call make believe!" See BMSat 9074. For the title cf. BMSat 8727, &c. June 1797
Hand-coloured etching