The political and humourous works of Thomas Rowlandson, 1774-1825
Container / Volume:
Vol. 1 (Box 2 of 2) | Folder I-42
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
Prints & Photographs
Abstract:
"The interior of a witches' cave, three witches round a blazing cauldron; through the mouth of the cave, and in the upper right corner, appears Westminster Bridge, leading to the houses and towers of Lambeth, showing that the cave is in Westminster, evidently the House of Commons. From the flames ascending from the cauldron emerge the heads of Fox, North, and Burke. Other emblems also ascend: a rosary and cross (indicating the popery ascribed to Burke, cf. British Museum Satires No. 6026), a small pig, labels inscribed 'Deceit', 'Pride', 'Corrupt par ...' [liament] (in reverse), 'Loane Lottery'. The witches, whose three broomsticks (left) lean against the side of the cave, are bringing more ingredients to the pot which disseminates the plagues of England: a hag (right) stands about to drop a paper inscribed 'Rebellion' into the cauldron; she says, "Well sister, what hast thou got, for the ingredients of our Charmd Pot". Another witch (left), crouching over a bag from which emerge two men, one of whom is a serpent from the waist downwards, answers, "A Beast from Scotland, tis call'dan Er--skin, famous for Duplicity low Art & Cunning - the other a Monster who'd spurn even at Charters Rights'. Erskine, who is leaping from the sack, says, "I am like a Proteus can turn to any Shape from a Sailor to a Lawyer, and always lean to the Strongest Side". Erskine, first entering Parliament in 1783, see British Museum Satires No. 6369 (8), was one of Fox's martyrs. The serpent-man says: 'Over the Water and over the Lee, Thro Hell I woud follow my Charlee'."--British Museum online catalogue, description of a later state.
Alternative Title:
Birth of the plagues of England
Description:
Apparent signature "FN: 1784" in lower right corner perhaps stands for the coalition of Fox and North. See British Museum catalogue., Cf. Grego, J. Rowlandson the caricaturist, v. 1, pages 111-2., CtY-BR, For a later state with imprint burnished from plate and the title re-etched in a single line, see no. 6364 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 6., Printmaker from description of later state in the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
W. Humphry, no. 227 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain--Politics and government--1760-1789.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Burke, Edmund,--1729-1797--Caricatures and cartoons., Erskine, Thomas Erskine,--Baron,--1750-1823--Caricatures and cartoons., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, William, approximately 1740-approximately 1810, publisher., Lee, John,--1733-1793--Caricatures and cartoons., North, Frederick,--Lord,--1732-1792--Caricatures and cartoons., and Riviere & Son Binding.
"Hastings, in oriental dress, rides (right to left) a camel. He and the camel look down with dignified contempt at Burke (left), who fires a blunderbuss point-blank at the 'Shield of Honour' on Hastings's left arm. On the shield is a crown. Behind Hastings are Fox and North (right): Fox raises a dagger with burlesqued gestures and an expression of frenzied rage; North, very short and fat, clutches one of the bags behind Hastings inscribed 'Lacks Rupees added to the Revenue'; this is tied to another inscribed 'Rupees Do'. The three assailants are much caricatured and all wear armour; Burke, grotesquely thin and like some malignant insect, wears a Jesuit's biretta (cf. BMSat 6026). He somewhat resembles the Don Quixote of BMSat 7678, &c, cf. also BMSat 7158; a wallet of 'Charges' is slung across his shoulder, bare feet project from the greaves which cover his legs. North wears his Garter ribbon over his armour, with a feathered helmet and top-boots. The point of a large sabre with a damaged blade projects through the tattered scabbard which is inscribed 'American Subjugation'. Fox wears the cloak of a conspirator over his armour (cf. BMSat 6389, &c). Hastings (not caricatured) wears a jewelled turban, floating draperies, trousers, and slippers; his camel is heavily draped. On its back are bags, inscribed 'Saved to the Company' and 'Eastern Gems for the British Crown', with a rolled map, 'Territories acquired by W. Hastings'. The background is a mountainous landscape."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Reissue of plate originally published with the imprint: Pubd. May 11th, 1786, by Willm. Holland, No. 66 Drury Lane. See British Museum catalogue., and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
Willm. Holland, No. 66 Drury Lane
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Burke, Edmund,--1729-1797--Caricatures and cartoons., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Hastings, Warren,--1732-1818--Caricatures and cartoons., Holland, William, active 1782-1817, publisher., and North, Frederick,--Lord,--1732-1792--Caricatures and cartoons.
The political and humourous works of Thomas Rowlandson, 1774-1825
Container / Volume:
Vol. 1 (Box 2 of 2) | Folder I-59
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
Prints & Photographs
Abstract:
"A see-saw representing the state of the poll between Fox and Wray, Mrs. Hobart (left) seated on one end, the Duchess of Devonshire (right) on the other, in front of the polling-booth in Covent Garden. Mrs. Hobart, enormously fat, quite out-weighs the Duchess, and is, moreover, held down by Lord Hood who kneels behind her (left), while Sir Cecil Wray stands beside him watching the contest with an enigmatical expression. Fox stands behind the Duchess trying to hold down her end of the plank, but in vain; his uplifted left arm and closed eyes express the despair which he actually felt in the early days of polling (Russell, 'Corr. of Fox', ii. 267). The ladies face each other astride the plank, their arms outstretched, their bosoms bare. The plank rests on an irregular stone post. An excited crowd, very freely sketched, watches from the hustings and from below them; they scream encouragement to the rivals, waving their hats. Over the head of Wray is a playbill, 'The Rival Candidates Farce'; behind the Duchess is another, 'Duke and no Duke Play'. The former was a comic opera by Henry Bate (afterwards Bate-Dudley), first played 1775, the latter a farce by Tate, 1605."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Date of publication based on earlier state with the imprint "Pub. April 27th, 1784, by E. Darchery, St. James's Street." Cf. New York Public Library, Caricatures collected by Horace Walpole (catalog ID: b16513354), Walpole 64., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Reissue by Humphrey of a plate originally published by Elizabeth Darchery; previous imprint statement has been burnished from plate and a new one etched in its place., Temporary local subject terms: Election favors -- Polls -- See-saws -- Playbills -- Hustings -- Literature: Sir Henry Bate Dudley, Bt, 1745-1824, The rival candidates -- Literature: Tate, fl. 1605, Duke and no duke., and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
W. Humphry, no. 227 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Westminster (London, England)--Politics and government.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Buckinghamshire, Albinia Hobart,--Countess of,--1738-1816--Caricatures and cartoons., Cavendish, Georgiana Spencer,--Duchess of Devonshire,--1757-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Great Britain.--Parliament--Elections, 1784., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Hood, Samuel Hood,--Viscount,--1724-1816--Caricatures and cartoons., Humphrey, William, approximately 1740-approximately 1810, publisher., Riviere & Son Binding., and Wray, Cecil,--Sir,--1734-1805--Caricatures and cartoons.
Charles Fox vomits into his turban as he sits cross-legged on a mangy-looking ass with Lord North's face. The ass is being led by a female figure symbolizing the City of London and followed by Burke, dressed as a Jesuit, barefoot and bald, reading the "Sinners Guide." On the right, the King is leaning out of an open window of the India House waving the cap of liberty on a stick. A paper with the words 'India Bill' crossed out, hangs from the window, below which the wall is inscribed, "Business done as usual." A large sun in a royal crown rises above the roof.
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue. and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
E. Hedges, No. 92 Cornhill
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Burke, Edmund,--1729-1797--Caricatures and cartoons., East India Company., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., George--III,--King of Great Britain,--1738-1820--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Hedges, Edward, active 1780-1794, publisher., and North, Frederick,--Lord,--1732-1792--Caricatures and cartoons.
Subject (Topic):
Clergy., Cobblestone streets., Donkeys., and Vomiting.
The political and humourous works of Thomas Rowlandson, 1774-1825
Container / Volume:
Vol. 1 (Box 2 of 2) | Folder I-57
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
Prints & Photographs
Abstract:
A short and obese Demosthenes (Charles Fox) with a worried expression on his face, appears to be delivering a pledge. He stands between tall and thin figures of Themistocles (Admiral Hood) on the left and Judas Iscariot (Sir Cecil Wray) on the right, who watch him with a condescending smile.
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Publisher's name and address at end of imprint statement are stipple engraved and fainter than the text at the beginning of imprint, which is etched., and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
W. Humphry, no. 227 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain--Politics and government--1760-1789.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Hood, Samuel Hood,--Viscount,--1724-1816--Caricatures and cartoons., Humphrey, William, approximately 1740-approximately 1810, publisher., Riviere & Son Binding., and Wray, Cecil,--Sir,--1734-1805--Caricatures and cartoons.
Subject (Topic):
Clothing & dress--England--1780-1790., Political elections--England--Westminster--1784., and Public speaking.
"A scene in Carlton House. The Prince of Wales, seated in a chair, holds a stout, good-looking lady (Mrs. Sawbridge) across his knees and chastises her with upraised hand; she holds out her arms imploringly. Alderman Sawbridge (right) faces her in profile to the left, playing a fiddle and dancing; from his pocket hangs a piece of music inscribed 'The Reform', a new Motion. On the extreme left Lady Archer stands in profile to the right, holding a driving-whip, and pointing angrily at the injured lady. A little girl (Sawbridge) stands full-face, clasping her hands in horror at the treatment of her mother. Behind are a number of onlookers: a very fat lady in profile to the left is Miss Vanneck. Mrs. Fitzherbert watches, not displeased; Fox, his arm round her shoulder, gazes amorously at her. George Hanger stands in profile to the left. The other figures are less characterized but a profile head (right) resembles Lord Derby. On the wall (right) is part of a three quarter length portrait, the head cut off by the upper edge of the design, inscribed 'Sir G° Van-Ne[ck]'. Beside it is a stag's head on which hangs a man's hat, just above Sawbridge. ... In the background (right) are persons dancing."--British Museum online catalogue, description of a variant state of the same composition.
Alternative Title:
Sawbridge's delight
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Title etched below image., and Variant state, with different title, or a print entitled: The royal joke, or, Black Jacks delight. Cf. No. 7306 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 6
Publisher:
S. W. Fores, No. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Archer, Sarah West,--Lady,--1741-1801--Caricatures and cartoons., Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Derby, Edward Smith Stanley,--Earl of,--1752-1834--Caricatures and cartoons., Fitzherbert, Maria Anne,--1756-1837--Caricatures and cartoons., Fores, S. W., publisher., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., George--IV,--King of Great Britain,--1762-1830--Caricatures and cartoons., Hanger, George,--1751?-1824--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Sawbridge, John,--1732?-1795--Caricatures and cartoons.
"The Prince lies in bed, 'in extremis'; Thurlow, Pitt, and Richmond stand behind a curtain (right), the first with a dagger raised to strike, Pitt clutching a dagger. On the other side of the bed Liberty with her cap and staff clasps her hands in supplication for the preservation of the Prince; behind her stand Fox, Burke, North, and (?) Sheridan in similar attitudes. In the foreground (left) Time advances with his scythe towards the Prince; he has mown down a man who falls backwards holding on his shoulder a naked African with a broken spear (? Death). The African, about to fall, clutches the head of an apothecary seated on the ground. Rays of light fall diagonally on the Prince; clouds extend over him and his would-be assassins. Resting on the clouds is a scroll inscribed: '1800 \ Glory, \ Conquest, \ Submission of \ America - Perfidy of France \ respecting the Treaty'. Above the Prince's head are his feathers and 'Ich Dien'."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue. and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
S. W. Fores, No. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Burke, Edmund,--1729-1797--Caricatures and cartoons., Fores, S. W., publisher., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., George--IV,--King of Great Britain,--1762-1830--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., North, Frederick,--Lord,--1732-1792--Caricatures and cartoons., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Richmond and Lennox, Charles Lennox,--Duke of,--1735-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., and Thurlow, Edward Thurlow,--Baron,--1731-1806--Caricatures and cartoons.
"Design in an oval. Fox with a very melancholy expression, standing with folded arms facing three quarter to left outside a closed and padlocked gate repeating Wolsey's soliloquy from Henry the Eighth. The gate fills an archway, its top being of iron spikes, the padlock is inscribed Fast. The stone arch over the gate is inscribed Treasury. On the stone wall of the Treasury building (left) are torn placards. One is a broadside, 'Last Dying Speech' headed by a print of a man hanging from a gibbet; another is headed "Gamester". Beneath the title is inscribed: "Farewell, a long Farewell to all my Greatness! this is the state of Man, to Day he puts forth the tender leaves of hopes, tomorrow Blossoms & bears all his blushing Honours thick upon him: the Third Day comes a Frost a killing Froast [sic], & when he thinks good easy Man full surely his Greatness is a Ripening, nips his Root & then befalls as I do!"--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue.
Publisher:
H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.
Subject (Topic):
Clothing & dress--England--1780-1790., Gates., and Locks (Hardware)
The political and humourous works of Thomas Rowlandson, 1774-1825
Container / Volume:
Vol. 1 (Box 2 of 2) | Folder I-51
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
Prints & Photographs
Abstract:
William Pitt, acting as an auctioneer in the dissoluted Parliament, sells from the rostrum decorated with Royal Arms "useless valuables," such as "Magna Charta." Cornwall, the Speaker sitting below the rostrum, records bids in the "Sundry acts." In front of him stands Thurlow in Chancellor's robes making dismissive comment on "nonsensical bidings of those common fellows," i.e. members of the House of Commons who leave through the door on the left. Last of them, Fox, turns back vowing to bid "with spirit" for lot 1, "rights of the people in 558 vol." held on display by Henry Dundas. A reference to the dissolution of the Parliament by the King on March 25.
Description:
CtY-LW, Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
W. Humphry, no. 227 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain--Politics and government--1760-1789.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Cornwall, Charles Wolfran,--1735-1789--Caricatures and cartoons., Dundas, Henry,--1742-1811--Caricatures and cartoons., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, William, approximately 1740-approximately 1810, publisher., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Riviere & Son Binding., and Thurlow, Edward Thurlow,--Baron,--1731-1806--Caricatures and cartoons.
Subject (Topic):
Auctions., Clothing & dress--England--1780-1790., Great Britain.--Parliament, 1783-1784., and Political elections--England--Westminster--1784.