An essay on the sublime & beautiful The maiden speech. [graphic]

"[Left image] One of two designs on the same plate, see BMSat 6864. A cobbler (left) preaches in a bare, raftered room with a casement window. He stands behind a reading-desk on which is a large, open book, leaning forward, pointing, gesticulating, and shouting. The heads of his congregation, old men and women, are below and on the right. The title is from Burke's book, 'A Philosophical Enquiry into the origin of our Ideas of the Sublime and the Beautiful' (1756). [Right image] A companion design to BMSat 6863 on the same plate. A scene in the House of Commons showing the corner of the clerks' table (left), the benches on the right crowded with members, and part of the gallery above, with two persons looking over. The new member stands, knees bent, hat in his left hand, right hand extended; his attitude and expression convey the impression of a halting and embarrassed speech. He is in full dress, with sword and bag-wig. The members listen with expressions of contemptuous amusement or boredom."--British Museum online catalogue, description of an earlier state of similar composition