In a room reminiscent of a magician's study, the King, dressed in a cloak as Friar Bacon (a necromancer of popular fable), evokes visions of the royal power while the brazen head speaks. Each vision is represented by a large medallion inscribed, "Constitution," and shows a different balance of power between the king and both houses of Parliament. On the left, Fox, Burke, and North, peek in through an open door, appearing alarmed. On the right, a number of men walk down the "back stairs." The first of them, carrying a conspirator's lantern and led by the devil, is Lord Temple
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Mounted to 28 x 41 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. March 3d, 1784, by W. Humphrey, No. 227 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792, Buckingham, George Nugent Temple Grenville, Marquess of, 1753-1813, Bacon, Roger, 1214?-1294., and Pitt, William, 1759-1806.
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, Wizards, Magic, and Devil
A belligerent William Pitt and a dejected Charles Fox, each with a cock's body, stand in a cockpit surrounded by their supporters. In the foreground on the left, the King leans against the pit watching his favorite, Pitt. Next to him stands Wilkes, with his hand on the King's back, and Pitt's supporters Lords Nugent, Thurlow, and the Duke of Richmond. Behind them is an enthusiastic crowd of other supporters. Fox is backed by the devil who proposes another round. Among his supporters are Burke in a Jesuit's biretta and a group of Jews, his creditors. In the foreground, Lord North is negotiating with another Jew, upset by Fox's defeat
Alternative Title:
Cockpit royal
Description:
Title from caption below image. and Mounted to 28 x 36 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. 24 March 1784, & sold by F. Reilly, High Holborn
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820., Pitt, William, 1759-1806., Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806., North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792., Wilkes, John, 1725-1797, Thurlow, Edward Thurlow, Baron, 1731-1806., Richmond and Lennox, Charles Lennox, Duke of, 1735-1806., and Buckingham, George Nugent Temple Grenville, Marquess of, 1753-1813.
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, Cockfighting, Devil, and Clothing & dress
The new ministry of Keppel, Conway, Burke, Fox and Richmond (together with Pitt the Younger) is depicted on the left riding small posts like hobby-horses, their identities indicated by numbers with a corresponding key beneath the design. On the right the members of the old ministry (Sandwich, Amherst, North and Mansfield) are shown entering the jaws of Hell, prodded by the Devil with a pitchfork. In the center is a dome on 5 pillars, the temple of the Constitution
Description:
Title from item.
Publisher:
Pubd. by W Richardson, No. 68 High Holborn London
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806. and Conway, Henry Seymour, 1721-1795.
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, Gallows, Pillories, Hell, Devil, and Cannons