Pitt as a peepshow man stands in front of his box while John Bull, drawn here as a simpleton, looks inside. Pitt pulls a string on the box with his right hand and with his left hand pulls a bag from John Bull's pocket. Slung over John Bull's shoulder is a trumpet with a fringed a banner decorated with the royal arms. The flag above Pitt's pagoda-like box reads: "Licensed by authority the Grand Exhibition by moving mecanism or deception of the senses."
Alternative Title:
Billy's raree-show or John Bull enlighten'd, John Bull enlightened, and Billy's rare-show
Description:
Title from item., Attributed to Ansell. Cf. Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum, v. 7, no. 9030., A preliminary drawing for print entitled Billy's raree-show or John Bull enlighten'd? Date of production inferred from the publication date of the etching., and Paper that has been oiled possibly to be translucent for the transfer process. Edges are tattered with old folds in the corners.
Subject (Geographic):
England.
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806
Subject (Topic):
Anglo-French War, 1793-1802, John Bull (Symbolic character), and Peepshows