"General Gunning stands in profile to the right before the door of his house, a bludgeon in his hand, driving before him his wife and daughter both scantily clad, but the latter with feathers in her hair. On the left is a military officer (Bowen) sheathing a sword in a broken sheath; Mrs. Bowen stands behind him. From General Gunning's pocket protrude papers: 'aff. by Mr B' and 'Am by Mr B.' He says "Now I shall save a 1000 a year in Housekeeping & keep as many - [whores] as I like." Miss Gunning says "Oh thus to be persecuted & rob'd of - all for Lorn." Mrs. Gunning says "Oh! my Darling my Angel fear not the machinations of these Combind plotters while you have a Mothers arms to support you". She points towards a woman's face at a window (? or in a picture) over which is etched: 'Here my Inosent shall you find a parants Care to soothe your troubles & every honest means pursued to discover those base dark assas[sins]'. Bowen says "Oh how they did run we have done the Business". His wife says "Aye Aye Clear off did not I do my part well.""--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Specimen of martial prowess
Description:
Title from item., Printmaker from British Museum online catalogue., Publisher's annoucement following imprint: ... whare [sic] may be seen the compleatist [sic] collection of caricature prints & drawings in the Kingdom. Admite. 1 s & &., Temporary local subject terms: General's uniform -- Captain's uniform -- Bludgeons -- Weapons -- Expulsion -- Allusion to the Gunning scandal -- Capt. Bowen -- Mrs. Bowen., and Watermark: J Whatman.
Publisher:
Pub. March 27, 1791, by S.W. Fores, No. 3 Piccadilly ...
Subject (Name):
Gunning, John, -1797, Gunning, Miss 1769-1823 (Elizabeth),, and Gunning, Mrs. 1740?-1800 (Susannah),