"In a large room lit by candles in sconces, a round game is in progress. The guests are ladies, undergraduates, and elderly parsons, some sit in a circle, while others look over their heads. An elderly parson grovels on his hands and knees, putting his head under the petticoats of a lady who sits (left) with her hands raised in surprise. He acts at the direction of a boy (Prince William of Gloucester) wearing the gown of (?) a fellow commoner over a coat with a star, who stands (right) in profile to the left, stretching his right arm with an autocratic gesture; a spaniel licks his feet. A stout parson seated behind him on the extreme left scowls and clenches his fist at the scene. The lady (the Duchess of Gloucester) sits between a fashionably dressed undergraduate wearing the gown of (?) a fellow commoner, and a stout parson who holds up his hands in astonishment. The undergraduates and some of the parsons appear amused, others frown disapprovingly. On the extreme left is a small round table on which are two candles and playing-cards."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Mistaken road to Hereford, Mistaken road to He-r-f-rd, and Questions and commands
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue. and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Beadon, Richard,--1737-1824--Caricatures and cartoons., Butler, John,--1717-1802--Caricatures and cartoons., Gloucester, Maria Walpole,--Duchess of,--1735-1807--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., and William Frederick,--Duke of Gloucester,--1776-1834--Caricatures and cartoons.
Subject (Topic):
Candles., Candlesticks. , Clergy., Dogs., Gambling., Playing cards. , Rugs., and Sconces.
"A procession of bishops and clergy march from left to right. headed by a prelate, evidently Archbishop Markham, on a prancing horse, holding a drawn sword. After him walk two boy choristers chanting from an open music book held between them. One sings "O Lord our God, Arise", the other, "Scatter our Enemies". Next come three bishops: a lean ascetic who carries their standard, between two who are stout and gross. On the standard, which is attached to a crozier, is "To Arms O Israel", and a mitre between two crossed croziers. The prelate on the standard-bearer's left sings, "Give us good Beef in Store", the other, who carries a musket on his shoulder, sings "When that's gone, send us more". Behind them a fat bishop sings "And the Key of the Cellar Door", while the cleric next him, who wears an academic gown and cap, sings "That we may drink". Behind, the mitres of more bishops are visible, and a man in academic cap and gown, who sings, "From Labour & Industry - Good Lord deliver us"."--British Museum online catalogue, description of an earlier state of similar composition.
Description:
Later state, with traces of aquatint and without original imprint. Cf. No. 5553 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 5., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Publication date based on publisher's street address. See British Museum online catalogue., and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
W. Humphrey, No. 227 Strand
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Humphrey, William, approximately 1740-approximately 1810, publisher.