This cotton handkerchief is printed with scenes from 'The Gentle Shepherd', a pastoral comedy written by the Scottish poet Allan Ramsay (1684-1758). The scenes are taken from illustrations by the Scottish painter, David Allan (1744-96).
The handkerchief depicts six scenes from the comedy, with relevant text printed underneath each one.
'The Gentle Shepherd' was the most celebrated of Ramsay's works. It portrayed 18th century rustic life and manners and was subsequently transformed into a ballad opera, based along the lines of 'The Beggar's Opera' by John Gay.
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