Josephine GIRARDELLI "THE FIREPROOF WOMAN"
Circa 1815 drawing (6 7⁄8 x 4 3⁄8”)ri. Finely executed watercolor on paper, being a full-length image of the incombustible Italian lady who mystified London with her ability to resist all types of fire and heat. Contemporary inked caption describes her as pouring "IN: 1814 Signora Josephine Girardelli Exhibited her art 23 New Bond St. putting boiling melted Lead into her mouth. walking over a Beir of Red Hot Iron, with her naked Feet.