A half-undressed Dr. Johnson in a dunce's cap and with a rope around his neck walks from left to right, driven by Apollo, who holds the other end of the rope, and the Muses with uplifted scourges and birch rods. On his cap are the names of the poets Johnson criticized. He carries a placard describing his guilt as an unjust critic. In the background, on the summit of Parnassus, can be seen a temple highlighted by the sun behind it, with Pegasus flying nearby
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Text following title: * Vide, the last sermon at St. Dunstans., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Pubd. July 29th, 1783, by Holland, No. 66 Drury Lane
Subject (Name):
Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784 and Apollo (Deity)
Subject (Topic):
Muses (Greek deities), Poetry, History and criticism, and Whips
Leaf 7. Caricatures drawn & etched by those celebrated artists Gillray, Rowlandson, Cruikshanks, &c.
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"George III, wearing a crown and ermine-trimmed robe is seated in an arm-chair asleep. The tassels of his girdle are thistles, indicative of Scottish influence. Round his neck is a chain from which hangs a cross, indicating the Romanizing tendencies of which he was accused at this time, see British Museum Satires No. 5534, &c. His crown is being taken from his head by a judge in wig and ermine-trimmed robes, evidently Mansfield. Over the king's shoulder looks a Scot in Highland dress, evidently Bute, holding the sceptre which he has taken from the king's hand. He leans towards Mansfield saying "What shall be done with it?" Mansfield answers, "Wear it Your sel my Leard." On the king's left a man stands who holds in both hands the other side of the crown, he says, "No troth I'se carry it to Charly & hel not part with it again Mon!" He is dressed an an English gentleman, though his language indicates that he is a Scottish Jacobite; he is perhaps intended for some unpopular Scot, perhaps Wedderburn, then attorney-general. Behind the king's chair America, wearing a feathered head-dress, watches the scene; he says "We in America have no Crown to Fight for or Loose." In the foreground (right) sits Britannia asleep, her head resting on her hand; by her side lies the British lion, also asleep and chained to the ground. At her feet are two maps, one of "Great Britain" (torn) lies on one of "America". On the left stands a man in rags with bare legs and dishevelled hair, clasping his hands together and saying "I have let them quietly strip me of every Thing"; he appears to represent the British commercial community. An Irishman next him, a harp under his arm, walks away saying "I'le take Care of Myself & Family". The background to these figures is a hedge; behind it on the right is a Dutchman (the United Provinces) helping himself to the contents of two hives."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Restrike, with "J. Gillray fecit" added in lower right corner. For original issue of the plate, see no. 5667 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 5., Plate from: Caricatures drawn & etched by those celebrated artists Gillray, Rowlandson, Cruikshanks, &c. [London] : [Field & Tuer], [ca. 1868?], Cf. Wright, T. Works of James Gillray, the caricaturist with the history of his life and times, page 30., and On leaf 7 of: Caricatures drawn & etched by those celebrated artists Gillray, Rowlandson, Cruikshanks, &c.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 15th, 1780, by W. Renegal [i.e. Field & Tuer]
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Mansfield, William Murray, Earl of, 1705-1793, Bute, John Stuart, Earl of, 1713-1792, and Rosslyn, Alexander Wedderburn, Earl of, 1733-1805
Subject (Topic):
Britannia (Symbolic character), Commerce, Sleeping, Beehives, Harps, and Lions
"The fat Mrs. Hobart (three-quarter length) sits directed to the left, fast asleep, her mouth open, her hands folded at her waist. Her face is blotched with drink; she wears a small hat from the back of which hangs a veil."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched at bottom of image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Companion print to: "At the opera.", Sheet partially trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: Sleeping -- Obesity.
Publisher:
Pubd. Octr. 4th, 1791, by H. Humphrey, N. 18 Old Bond Str
"Lady Cecilia Johnston, a thin and elderly lady (three-quarter length) much caricatured, in profile to the right, sits very alert and erect, her arms folded. Her hair is decorated with feathers and ribbons."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Companion print to: "At church.", and Temporary local subject terms: Theater audience.
Publisher:
Pubd. Octr. 4th, 1791, by H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
Twenty-six members of the old and new ministries sit around a card table; North and Fox (the latter with a fox's head) appearing most prominently, together with Thurlow, Grey Cooper, the Duke of Richmond, John Dunning, Wilkes, Barré, and John Cavendish
Description:
Title from item., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., and Extensively annotated on verso in an unknown hand with descriptions of persons potrayed in the image.
Publisher:
Pubd. April 12th, 1782 by H. Humphrey, No. 118 New Bond Street
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and England
Subject (Name):
North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Thurlow, Edward Thurlow, Baron, 1731-1806, Cooper, Grey, Sir, ca. 1726-1801, Rockingham, Charles Watson-Wentworth, Marquis of, 1730-1782, Richmond, Charles Lennox, 3d Duke of, 1735-1806, Dunning, John, Baron Ashburton, 1731-1783, Barré, Isaac, 1726-1802, Cavendish, John, Lord, 1732-1796, Wilkes, John, 1725-1797, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Surrey, Charles Howard, Earl of, 1746-1815, Lansdowne, William Petty, Marquis of, 1737-1805, and Sandwich, John Montagu, Earl of, 1718-1792
Subject (Topic):
Caricatures and cartoons, Politics and government, Card games, Gambling, and Clothing & dress
"The Prince of Wales reclines on a sofa, half-sitting, half-lying, and leaning against Mrs. Fitzherbert. He is intent on a circular box or 'bandelure' at the end of a string which he holds round the second finger of his raised right hand, playing with the toy revived in the twentieth century as Yo-yo. Sheridan leans over the back of the sofa, embracing Mrs. Fitzherbert and thrusting his hand inside her decolletage. She puts her left hand on Sheridan's cheek, her right arm is round the Prince. The expressions of all three excellently indicate their preoccupations. On the left a fire blazes in the grate; above it is a decorative panel of a horse-race. On the shelf above is a bust of 'Claudius Rom: Imp:', a dice-box and dice, and the figure of an infant Bacchus, astride a cask and holding up a glass. On the wall behind Sheridan's head is a picture of 'Joseph & Potiphers Wife'. Behind him and on the extreme right is an open door showing a staircase. The Prince is stouter than in earlier prints; he wears his star, but his wrinkled stockings and slippers, like his pose, suggest indolence and domesticity. Mrs. Fitzherbert wears a tiara inscribed 'Ich dien', with three ostrich feathers."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Four lines of quoted verse on each side of title: "Thus sits the dupe, content! "Pleases himself with toys, thinks Heav'n secure ..., Sheet trimmed to plate mark on top edge and sides., and Temporary local subject terms: Busts: Claudius, emperor of Rome, 10 B.C.-54 A.D. -- Images amplifying subject: Bacchus as an infant -- Images amplifying subject: depiction of horse race on mantelpiece -- Pictures amplifying subject: Joseph and Potiphar's wife -- Toys: bandalore (yo-yo) -- Gambling: dice and dice-box -- Interiors: sitting rooms -- Furniture: sofas -- Fireplaces -- Morganatic marriages: George IV to Mrs. Fitzherbert -- Allusion to Bible: Genesis, 39.7-12 -- Emblems: frivolity (bandalore) -- Prince of Wales's feathers -- Mottoes: Prince of Wales's motto -- Literature: quotation from Sir Richard Blackmore.
Publisher:
Pubd. Feby. 28th, 1791, by S.W. Fores, No. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Fitzherbert, Maria Anne, 1756-1837, and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
"Pitt (left) as a bank-clerk, very thin and much caricatured, a pen thrust through his wig, stands behind an L-shaped counter offering a handful of bank-notes to John Bull. In his right hand is a scoop with which he sweeps up notes from the counter. John is the yokel of BMSat 8141, but no longer bewildered; he stands stolidly, holding out his left hand for the notes, his right hand in his coat pocket. Fox (right), who wears a high cocked hat with tricolour cockade, bag-wig, and laced suit, says to him: "Dont take his damn'd Paper, John! insist upon having Gold, to make your Peace with the French, when they come". Sheridan bends towards John, saying, "Dont take his Notes! nobody takes Notes now! - they'll not even take Mine!" John answers: "I wool take it! - a' may as well let my Measter Billy hold the Gold to keep away you Frenchmen, as save it, to gee it you, when ye come over, with your domn'd invasion." Behind (right) hands of other Foxites are raised in warning, and on the extreme right is the profile of Stanhope. Behind (left), men hasten towards Pitt with large sacks of notes on their heads. The first two, in judge's robes, are Loughborough with a sack of '20 Shilling Notes', and Kenyon with one of 'Five Pound Notes'. Behind is Grenville with a sack of '10 Shilling Notes'. Other sacks whose bearers are hidden are inscribed '5 Shilling No[tes], 2 Shillin No[tes]', and 'One Shilling'. Under Pitt's counter is a row of large sacks of gold, padlocked and inscribed '£'. On the end of the counter, facing the spectator, is posted a bill headed: 'Order of Council to the Bank of England'."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image. and Temporary local subject terms: Sacks of money -- Bank notes.
Publisher:
Pub. March 1st, 1797, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Stanhope, Charles Stanhope, Earl, 1753-1816, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Rosslyn, Alexander Wedderburn, Earl of, 1733-1805, and Kenyon, Lloyd Kenyon, Baron, 1732-1802
"A barrister (three-quarter length) in wig and gown stands directed to the left, his right arm raised, his brief in his right hand, his left hand extended. He says: "Did your Lordships ever hear of such an infamous Scoundrel?" He has a certain resemblance to Erskine, cf. British Museum satire no. 8502."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched above image., By Gillray using pseudonym 'A.S.' See British Museum catalogue., One of a set of eight satirical portraits, each issued separately., Two lines of text below image: Did your lordship ever hear of such an infamous scoundrel?, and Mounted to 18 x 14 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. Jany. 6th, 1795, by H. Humphrey, N. 37 New Bond Street
"Addington and Hawkesbury, in the gateway of the Treasury (inscribed 'Granary'), snare three bats with the heads of Grey, Sheridan, and Tierney. Addington kneels on one knee holding out a dark lantern and a hat with a tricolour cockade filled with papers inscribed 'Sinecure', 'Place', 'Annuity', 'Pension', 'Post'. Hawkesbury, standing behind him, holds out a net supported on two sticks in which to catch the creatures which fly, like harpies, straight towards Addington, dazzled by the lantern's rays. Grey's eyes are fixed on the lantern, those of Tierney and Sheridan, the last with an expression of eager greed, on the papers in the hat. Beside Addington is a sack of 'Sterling British Corn', overflowing with guineas. After the title: '"Bat-catching, (says Buffon,) does not require much art, for, flying always in the Night, they are easily attracted by a Dark-Lanthorn & being always hungry, may be easily caught, by a few Cheese-Parings, or Candle Ends; - they are so rapacious, that if they once get into the Granary, they never cease devouring, while there is any thing left." - Vide. Buffon's Nat: His. Article Birds of Night.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image. and Mounted to 32 x 40 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. Jany. 19, 1803, by J. Gillray, 27 St. Jamess [sic] Street
Subject (Name):
Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Tierney, George, 1761-1830, and Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845
"John Bull (left), a stout countryman wearing jack-boots, rides (right to left) through a wood on a wretched hack, ready to fall under his weight. Pitt kneels on the ground (right) in profile to the left, aiming a blunderbuss (which is supported on crossed sticks) point-blank at John; it is inscribed 'Standing Army'. He masquerades as a beggar: his dress is tattered, on the ground is his hat, containing coins; he says: "Good Sir, for Charity's sake \ "have Pity upon a poor ruin'd Man; - \ "drop if you please, a few bits of \ "Money into the Hat, & you shall \ "be rewarded hereafter -" From his coat-pocket project a cocked pistol and a paper: 'Forced Loan in reserve'. He points to a document on the ground beside him: 'Humble Petition, for Voluntary - Contribution Subscriptions & new Taxes, to save the Distres'd from taking worse Courses.' John Bull has dropped his righteins and holds his hat, full of guineas; he looks with melancholy distrust at Pitt, but drops guineas into his hat. His horse, disfigured with sores, is evidently the white horse of Hanover, its head-band is red and blue, the Windsor uniform (cf. BMSat 8691, &c). From the bushes behind Pitt emerge the heads and shoulders of (right to left) Dundas, Grenville, and Burke, each with a pistol levelled at John Bull. Dundas wears Highland dress, Grenville peer's robes and a grenadier's cap with the letters 'Wm R' (cf. BMSats 7479, 7494, &c.): he looks down reflectively at Pitt instead of at his victim, implying that he is his cousin's henchman; Burke has a pen in his hat. On the left is a signpost pointing (right) 'From Constitution Hill' (cf. BMSat 8287) and (left) 'To Slavery Slough by Beggary Corner.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
John Bull escaping a forced loan
Description:
Title etched below image., Temporary local subject terms: Highwaymen -- Beggars -- Weapons: blunderbuss -- Pistols -- Petitions -- Reference to Loyaly Loan -- Symbols: White Horse of Hanover -- Coins: guineas -- Signposts., and Mounted to 32 x 48 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. Decr. 10th, 1796, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, and Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834