"Pitt (caricatured), dressed as Rolla, addresses a group of chieftains (left); the ranks of the Peruvian army with erect spears watch from the background. Below the (printed) title is printed Rolla's patriotic speech from 'Pizarro', II. ii, beginning 'My brave Associates', 'and ... we serve a Monarch whom we love . . .' (see British Museum Satires No. 9436). He stands with both arms outstretched, head turned in profile to the left, pointing rhetorically across the sea to the Spaniards, whom Sheridan (in this speech) equates with French republicans, and who are here represented by the Foxites. The Peruvians wear feathered head-dresses and feather kilts in the manner of Red Indians, except Dundas, who wears tartan and feathered head-dress. Dundas (caricatured) sits on the ground holding bow and shield, and looking with cunning scepticism at Pitt; he is the only one of the ministerial group of five who can be identified, though others may be presumed to be Grenville, Portland, and Windham."--British Museum online catalogue and From the printed British Museum catalogue: "(Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VII, 1942) The Foxites, who 'fight for power, for plunder and extended rule', and follow 'an Adventurer whom they fear', all wear or carry bonnets-rouges and have tricolour flags, one inscribed 'Libertas'. They are small comic figures headed by Fox, who urges them towards the water. The others (left to right) are Lauderdale with a flag, Derby with a shield, Bedford wearing a jockey cap, Erskine in wig and gown, Norfolk holding his Earl Marshal's staff, Tierney holding pistols (see BMSat 9218, &c), Burdett, and two unidentified figures. For Pizarro see BMSat 9396, &c. The scene is burlesqued and altered from the play, where it takes place in the Temple of the Sun. The patriotic speech of Rolla (cf. BMSat 9436) made the fortune of the play and was reprinted as a broadside or placard in 1803, see BMSat 9397."
Description:
Title from letterpress text above image., Watermark: 1794., and Matted to 51 x 61 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. by W. Holland, No. 50 Oxford Street
Subject (Name):
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816., Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, Portland, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of, 1738-1809., Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834., Windham, William, 1750-1810., Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806., Bedford, Francis Russell, Duke of, 1765-1802, Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844, and Smith-Stanley, Edward, 1752-1834
Subject (Topic):
Public speaking, Armies, Peruvian, Headdresses, Shields, and Spears