<i>A Country Fair</i>

ca.1800

A man and a jester entertain an audience from a simple trestle stage with an adjoining hut. The man wears fanciful dress of doublet and breeches, a plumed hat with an exaggerated peak, a cloak, striped stockings and a curved sword. He shows the audience a snake which has apparently emerged from the box in his left hand. The jester wears pseudo-Elizabethan costume and a hat with ass's ears. Her stands on one leg, supporting his raised leg with his left hand. Above the crowd is a signboard inscribed in ink which is partly readable as follows: 'The Fortune Teller / Lost Spoons/ Maidenhead, missing / Lovers [?] strayed ./ &c all restored/ to the right [?]owners'. Unsigned and undated.