Ready to jump up and see the progress · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Ready to jump up and see the progress
Period: 1850-1900;
Geographic: Europe; England; United Kingdom; Britain
Description: Here we see the Emma drawing Harriet’s portrait, while Mr. Elton looks over her shoulder. Mr. Elton flattered highly the portrait Emma was working on, and Emma took this as a sign that Mr. Elton was in love with Harriet. She was mistaken, however, because Mr. Elton was flattering the portrait because of Emma’s skill in producing it, as he was in love with her. This scene occurs in chapter 6. The characters are shown in the traditional regency style, with Emma wearing the regency style dress with an empire waist. Her hair is worn tied up, as was tradition for women after their coming out before the queen, signaling her entrance into society. Mr. Elton wears a waistcoat and tailcoat, with a cravat. The regency period dated to the early nineteenth century (1811-1820) when George, Prince of Wales, later George IV (r. 1820-1830), reigned as regent for his mentally ill father, King George III (r. 1760-1820). The regency period is associated with the rise of neoclassicism in art and fashion.
Image Creator: Hugh Thomson (Illustrator)
Type: StillImage; pen and ink illustrations
Identifier: mta:25769
Language: eng
Source Name: Emma
Parent Collection: "Emma," by Jane Austen. Illustrations by Hugh Thomson (1896); "Emma," by Jane Austen. Illustrations by Hugh Thomson (1896)
Image: mta_25769_OBJ.png
Collection: Emma