Philosophy run mad, or, A stupendous monument of human wisdom [graphic]
Found In:
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library > Philosophy run mad, or, A stupendous monument of human wisdom [graphic]
Description
- Title
- Philosophy run mad, or, A stupendous monument of human wisdom [graphic]
- Alternative Title
- Stupendous monument of human wisdom
- Creator
- Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827, printmaker
- Published / Created
- [ca. December 1792]
- Publication Place
- London
- Publisher
- publisher not identified
- Abstract
-
"A central monument [1] representing the French Republic is flanked by figures on pedestals inscribed [2] 'Liberty' and [3] 'Equality'. [1] A stout and frantic man rises from a tottering armchair which is poised on a pile of fragments of columns inscribed 'Humanity', 'Social Happiness', 'Tranquiliy' [sic], 'Security', 'Domestic Peace', 'Laws', 'Urbanity', 'Order', 'Religion'. On the back of his chair are the words 'Republic of Paris', the word 'France' having been scored through; beneath is a serpent. He shrieks "Ca ira", and holds a print inscribed 'Religious Indifference', on which a bishop and a monk burn at the stake. From behind him leans a nude and ugly man, with small wings, holding out to the left a cornucopia from which issue six papers inscribed 'Assignat' (cf. BMSat 8145). Above his head is the word 'Plenty'. Four famished and grotesque heads, in profile to the right, in the upper left corner of the design, lean avidly towards the assignats. [2] On the left an arrogant embodiment of Liberty stands in profile to the left, one foot resting on two volumes inscribed 'Law'. He is a ragged soldier with bare legs, left hand on hip; in his right hand he holds a dagger on which is spiked a bleeding head. He says, "Ah Ca! f-----u Convention". At his feet, and on the extreme left, five men kneel abjectly, raising their hands in supplication; the man in the foreground wears a legal wig. [3] On the right Equality is symbolized by a well-dressed man grovelling on his hands and knees, while a burly, ragged, and half-naked ruffian stands on his back threatening him with a club. Beside them (right) is a pictorial banner inscribed 'Humanity': a grinning virago kneels on the body of a naked and mutilated man, a dagger in her right hand; she holds up the bleeding heart of her victim. Above this group stands a soldier in profile to the right, blowing from a trumpet the words 'Peace of Europe Establish'd'. He holds a match to the touch-hole of a mortar, inscribed 'Abolition of Offensive War', which is emitting cannon-balls; behind is a fortification inscribed 'Geneva'. He is inscribed 'Peace', and is a pendant to 'Plenty'."--British Museum online catalogue
- Description
-
Title etched below image.
Printmaker and date from British Museum catalogue.
Imperfect; sheet trimmed within plate mark with partial loss of printmaker's initials from lower right corner. Missing text supplied from impression in the British Museum.
Mounted on leaf 46 of volume 4 of 14 volumes. - Provenance
- From a collection in fourteen volumes compiled by Francis Harvey and dispersed at auction, Sotheby, London, June 1900. Sold at Sotheby, London, 12 March 1919. Bequest of Hugh Dudley Auchincloss to Yale University Library, 1981. Bound by Riviere & Son in three-quarters red morocco with gold tooling and gold lettering on spine.
- Extent
- 1 print : sheet 24.7 x 35 cm
- Extent of Digitization
- This object has been completely digitized.
- Language
-
English
Collection Information
- Repository
- Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- Call Number
- Auchincloss Rowlandson v. 4
Subjects, Formats, And Genres
- Genre
-
Satires (Visual works) England 1792
Etchings England London 1792 - Material
- etching ; and laid paper hand-colored.
- Resource Type
- still image
- Subjects
-
England > 1792
England > London > 1792
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
- Catalog Record
- 12708617
- Object ID (OID)
- 11791645
Manifest Link