An apothecary praying for a host of illnesses to descend on his customers so that he can make more money and "A lean and sour-looking apothecary kneels in profile to the left at a stuffed high-backed elbow-chair, his tricorne hat and gold-headed cane beside him. Behind him (right) are a huge pestle and mortar standing on a block. He prays to 'mighty Esculapius!' to send 'a few smart. Fevers and some obstinate Catarrhs', calls down curses on the 'new-invented waterproof (the earliest instance of the word in the 'O.E.D.' is an advertisement of Jan. 1799), asks for compassion to his book of bad debts, and pins his hopes on the squire's lady having an heir which he may 'bring handsomely into the world ...'."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title printed in letterpress below image., Nineteen lines of letterpress text below title: O mighty Esculapius! hear a poor little man overwhelm'd with misfortunes ..., and One of a series of broadsides. For information on the series, see page 51 in v. 8. of the the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires.
Publisher:
Pubd. 30 July 1801 by R. Ackermann, No. 101 Strand and Spragg, printer, 27, Bow-Street, Covent-Garden
A medicine vendor kneeling and praying. Doctor Rock (Richard Rock 1690-1777) was an itinerant medicine vendor who frequented the London areas of St. Pauls and Covent Garden. He was famous for his "anti-venereal, grand, specifick pill". He was satirised in several caricatures: W. Hogarth represented him in A harlot's progress pl. V; The march to Finchley; and The four times of the day, morning and "A fashionably-dressed man kneels in profile to the left at a large chest of 'Patent Medecines', on which is a duck with the inscription 'Quack. Quack. Quack' [cf. British Museum Satires No. 5766]. A hanging candelabra and a festooned curtain indicate wealth. He prays to the shade of Dr. Rock, describes the composition of his famous Vegetable Drops, and asks for the continuance of 'my Carriages and Equipage, my Town and Country Residence, and all other good things of this life ...'."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title printed in letterpress below image., Publisher from imprints present on other plates in the series. For information on the series, see page 51 in v. 8. of the the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., Date of publication from Grego., and Twenty-one lines of letterpress text below title: Illustrious shade of the renowned Dr. Rock, still continue, I beseech thee ...
Publisher:
R. Ackermann and Printed by E. Spragg, No. 27, Bow-Street, Covent-Garden
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Rock, Richard, 1690-1777 and Doctor Botherum.
Subject (Topic):
Quacks and quackery, Selling, Drugs, Medicine, Chests, Ducks, Costume, Candelabra, Draperies, Prayer, Quacks, and Patent medicines