A touch on the times [graphic].
Found In:
Lewis Walpole Library > A touch on the times [graphic].
Description
- Title
- A touch on the times [graphic].
- Creator
- Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827, artist
- Contributor
- Fores, S. W., publisher.
- Published / Created
- [29 December 1788]
- Publication Place
- London
- Publisher
- Pub. Decr. 29, 1788, by S. Fores No. 3 Piccadilly
- Abstract
-
"The Prince and Britannia stand on each side of the Coronation Chair as in BMSat 7386. Its Gothic carvings are altered to satyrs' heads. On the back of the Chair is a small money-bag inscribed Virtue. The Prince and Britannia stand as before, but the foot which she places on the step inscribed 'The Voice of the People' is a cloven hoof. The next step, 'Publick Safety', is badly cracked; the other steps are blank. No words come from Britannia's mouth; the Prince says, "I woud do the best to please my People". Liberty and Justice are transformed into Sheridan and Fox. Sheridan, wearing ragged clothes, holds the cap of 'Liberty' on a broom; he puts one hand on the Prince's shoulder while he steals a handkerchief from his coat-pocket. Fox, in place of Justice's sword, holds a bludgeon in the head of which is an eye which drips blood (in the coloured version); he holds up an evenly-balanced pair of scales, formed of two dice-boxes. His eye-bandage is pushed up on his forehead and he says, "I have the Voice of the People in my Eye". 'Commerce' is transformed from a comely young woman into a drunken hag who holds up a glass of gin. The Mayor says, "We have not been taxed this twelvemonth". Pitt, instead of being the colleague of the Furies, attacks them: in his left hand he holds up a large conical extinguisher with which he is about to put out the torch of 'Rebellion'. He says, "I could soon extinguish these Puppet Shew Vapours if properly supported". The Fury holds up two torches, one of 'Rebellion', the other 'Puppet Shew'. He puts his left foot on the prostrate head of 'Envy', who is holding up a fire-brand. The third fury (Falsehood) has disappeared. The British Lion looks from behind Britannia's shield snarling ferociously in defence of Pitt."--British Museum online catalogue
- Description
-
Title etched below image.
Attributed to Rowlandson by Grego.
Temporary local subject terms: Lord William Gill, 1720-1798: Mayor of London -- Lord Mayors -- Chairs: Satyrs' heads on coronation chair -- Broom as staff of liberty -- Emblems: drunken hag / commerce -- Scales: dice boxes -- Huge candle snuffers -- British lion -- Furies -- Regency crisis.
Mounted to 31 x 47 cm. - Provenance
- Alfred Bowditch Collection; Dec. 1966;
- Extent
- 1 print : plate mark 27.1 x 37.1 cm, on sheet 28 x 39 cm
- Language
-
English
Collection Information
- Repository
- Lewis Walpole Library
- Call Number
- 788.12.29.01+ Impression 1
Subjects, Formats, And Genres
- Genre
-
Caricatures and cartoons
Satires (Visual works) England 1788
Etchings England London 1788 - Material
- etching ; and laid paper hand-colored.
- Resource Type
- still image
- Subject (Name)
-
George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
Pitt, William, 1759-1806 - Subject (Topic)
- Britannia (Symbolic character)
- Subjects
-
George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830 > Caricatures and cartoons
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806 > Caricatures and cartoons
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816 > Caricatures and cartoons
Pitt, William, 1759-1806 > Caricatures and cartoons
Britannia (Symbolic character)
England > 1788
England > London > 1788
Riviere & Son > Binding
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley > Ownership
Harvey, Francis > Ownership
Access And Usage Rights
- Access
- Public
- Rights
- The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement.
Identifiers
- Orbis Record
- 8112113
- Object ID (OID)
- 10731050