"Burdett in armour stands with legs astride, sword raised, left fist clenched, making an onslaught on a book which is on the ground, its pages slashed and tattered. On these are fragments of inscriptions: 'Red Book for the . . .'; 'Treasury'; 'Pensions' [twice]; 'Pensions 4000, 3000, 2.400'; 'Teller o the Ex[chequer] . . . 6000 4.000'; 'Sinecu[res]'. He declaims: "I will not stop, - till I have cut out the accursed leaves of the Red Book!!!" His sword-blade is 'Took's Improved Steel'. On the right Tooke peers at him, holding aside a curtain; he says: "Come Come my pupil goes on better than I expected - very indeed for a beginning yes - yes - he'll do after a little practice" [see British Museum Satires No. 10731, &c.]. He holds a book: 'Diversions of Purley' [see (e.g.) British Museum Satires No. 9020]. On the left John Bull, dressed as Sancho Panza with a short tunic and ruff, gapes at his master, his hands on his knees. He says: "What the deuce is he at now! he will certainly get himself into some scrape or other." Mambrino's helmet (the barber's basin) lies at Burdett's feet; it has a tricolour cockade and three feathers."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
John Bull turned Sancho Panza
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Pubd. June 1807 by Walker, No. 7 Cornhill
Subject (Name):
Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844, Tooke, John Horne, 1736-1812, Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de, 1547-1616., Quixote, Don (Fictitious character), and Panza, Sancho (Fictitious character)
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Armor, Daggers & swords, Books, Draperies, Helmets, and Feathers