"Burke (three quarter length) as a showman bends over his magic lantern in profile to the right. In the upper part of the design is a draped sheet on which are the objects thrown by the lantern. These are (left to right): [1] an oddly shaped elephant chained to a stake inscribed 'A Benares Flea'. [2] Three mountains piled one upon the other, inscribed respectively, 'Ossa', 'Pelion', 'Olympus'; the whole is 'A Begum Wart'. [3] Four large eyes dripping tears float half-submerged in the water they have produced, inscribed, 'Begums Tears'. [4] A whale spouting is 'An Ouzle'. From the right side of the magic lantern the end of a slide (or slider, cf. BMSat 6287) emerges; on it is an oriental seated cross-legged and smoking. Next the lantern (right) are the heads and shoulders of two spectators in back view who are applauding; one says "finely imagined"; the other, "poor Ladies they have cried their Eyes out". The 'profil perdu' of Lord Derby appears on the extreme right, saying, "very like an Ouzle [weasel]. "Polonius"" ['Hamlet', III. ii.]."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Alfred Bowditch Collection; December 1966; Acquisitions no.: 966-12-5-79., Printmaker identified as Sayers in the British Museum catalogue., and Title from text in bottom part of image.
Publisher:
Publd. 6th May 1788 by T. Cornell, Bruton Street
Subject (Name):
Cornell, Thos., active 1780-1792
Subject (Topic):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Derby, Edward Smith Stanley, Earl of, 1752-1834, Harvey, Francis, Hastings, Warren, 1732-1818, Oudh (Princely State), Projectors, and Riviere & Son