3. Charmers of the Age.[1] "_A sketch. No name._" It was intended to ridicule Mons. _Desnoyer_[2] and Signora _Barberini_, the two best dancers that ever appeared in _London_. This plate exhibits the internal prospect of a theatre. The openings between the side scenes are crowded with applauding spectators. The two performers are capering very high. A sun over head (I suppose the emblem of public favour) is darting down its rays upon them. The representatives of Tragedy and Comedy are candle-holders on the occasion. Underneath is the following inscription: "The prick'd lines show the rising height." There are also a few letters of direction, so situated as to convey no very decent innuendo. The whole is but a hasty outline, executed, however, with spirit, and bitten uncommonly deep by the aqua fortis. I ascribe it to _Hogarth_ without hesitation. Of this print there is a copy by _Livesay_. All the three pieces of our artist that satirize the stage, &c. are peculiarly scarce. We may suppose them, therefore, to have been suppressed by the influence of the managers for the time being, who were not, like our present ones, become callous through the incessant attacks of diurnal criticks in the news-papers. [1] _Hogarth_ designed to have published this print, with some explanation at the bottom of it in 1741-2.--See the inscription almost effaced, a circumstance to which the copier did not attend. [2] I learn from _The Grub-street Journal_ for _October_ 17, 1734, that Monsieur _Desnoyer_ was just arrived from _Poland_, together with Mademoiselle _Roland_ from _Paris_ (this lady is still alive). Again, from the same paper, _August_ 19, 1756, that "Monsieur _Desnoyer_, the famous dancer at _Drury-lane_, is gone to _Paris_, by order of Mr. _Fleetwood_, to engage Mademoiselle _Sallee_ for the ensuing winter." In some future expedition, we may suppose, he prevailed on Signora _Barberini_ to come over for the same purpose. 4. Taste in High Life. A beau, a fashionable old lady, a young lady, a black boy, and a monkey. Painted by Mr. _Hogarth_. It was sold by Mr. _Jarvis_, in _Bedford-street, Covent-Garden. Published May 24th, [no year]._ The original picture is in the possession of Mr. _Birch_, surgeon, _Essex-street_, in _The Strand_. It displays (as we learn from an inscription on the pedestal under a _Venus_ dressed in a hoop-petticoat) the reigning modes of the year 1742. It was painted for the opulent Miss _Edwards_, who paid our artist sixty guineas for it. Her reason for choosing such a subject was rather whimsical. By her own singularities having incurred some ridicule, she was desirous, by the assistance of _Hogarth_, to recriminate on the publick. As he designed after her ideas, he had little kindness for his performance, and never would permit a print to be taken from it. The present one was from a drawing made by connivance of her servants. The original was purchased by the father of its present owner, at her sale at _Kensington_.