The vanity of human glory a design for the monument of General Wolfe 1760. [graphic]

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Lewis Walpole Library > The vanity of human glory a design for the monument of General Wolfe 1760. [graphic]


16194147

Description

Title
The vanity of human glory a design for the monument of General Wolfe 1760. [graphic]
Contributor
Hogarth, William, 1697-1764, attributed name.
Published / Created
published according to act of Parliament, [1760]
Publication Place
London
Publisher
publisher not identified
Abstract

A pyramid-shaped monument with a caricatured portrait in profile of Wolfe; the plinth engraved with the text: 'Set honour in one eye and death in tother and I will look on both indifferent and let the gods so speed me as I love the name of honour more than I fear death.' At the foot of the monument lies a dead lion with the words 'Here lies honour' engraved on its hind leg. A dog with a collar labelled 'Minden' (an allusion Lord George Sackville's disgrace at the Battle of Minden) turns back and barks at the image: 'Honours a jest & all things show it. I thought so once but now I know it." He steps with his paws on a laurel wreath

Description
Title etched beneath image.
Formerly attributed to William Hogarth.
One line of text above image: A living dog is better than a dead lion. Cf. Ecclesiastes ix.4.
Reference to John Gay's quote on his tomb: Life is a jest; and all things show it, I thought so once; but now I know it.
Ms. note in pencil in Steevens's hand above print: See Mr. Nichols's book, 3d. edit, p. 454. Spurious.
On page 185 in volume 2. Sheet trimmed to: 34.7 x 23.1 cm.
Provenance
George Steevens bequeathed this collection to William Windham (1750-1810). At Windham's death, the collection was put up for sale on 20 July 1810 and was bought in by Mrs. Windham at 292 guineas; by descent through the Windham family; Sotheby's, 17 February 1919 to Dyson Perrins for £400; Sotheby's sale including Property of the Late C.W. Dyson Perrins, Esq., 11 June 1959, lot 100 purchased by Maggs Bros. for W.S. Lewis for £1300.
Extent
1 print : plate mark 35.2 x 24.8 cm, on sheet 36.0 x 26.0 cm
Language
English

Collection Information

Repository
Lewis Walpole Library
Call Number
Folio 75 H67 800 v.2 (Oversize)

Subjects, Formats, And Genres

Genre
Caricatures and cartoons
Satires (Visual works) England 1760
Etchings England London 1760
Annotations (Provenance) 18th century
Material
etching ; and laid paper.
Resource Type
still image
Subject (Name)
Sackville, George Germain, Viscount, 1716-1785
Wolfe, James, 1727-1759
Subject (Topic)
Monument
Dogs
Lions
Monuments & memorials
Subjects
Sackville, George Germain, Viscount, 1716-1785 > Caricatures and cartoons
Wolfe, James, 1727-1759 > Caricatures and cartoons
Wolfe, James, 1727-1759 > Monument
England > 1760
England > London > 1760
Dogs
Lions
Monuments & memorials
18th century
Steevens, George, 1736-1800 > Ownership
Perrins, Charles William Dyson, 1864-1958 > Ownership
Kinnaird, Charles Kinnaird, Baron, 1780-1826 > Ownership

Access And Usage Rights

Access
Public
Rights
The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement.

Identifiers

Orbis Record
8554017
Object ID (OID)
16194147

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