The mystery of Masonry brought to light by [the] Gormagons [graphic]

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Lewis Walpole Library > The mystery of Masonry brought to light by [the] Gormagons [graphic]


16193997

Description

Title
The mystery of Masonry brought to light by [the] Gormagons [graphic]
Creator
Hogarth, William, 1697-1764, printmaker
Contributor
Hogarth, William, 1697-1764, artist.
Sayer, Robert, 1725-1794, publisher.
Published / Created
[1724] and [printed between 1766 and 1774?]
Publication Place
London
Publisher
Printed for Robt. Sayer, map & printseller, at No. 53 in Fleet Street
Abstract

Satire on the excesses of certain Freemasons: a procession of masons emerge from a public house headed by elaborately dressed men described as the emperor of China, Confucius and two mandarins; an old woman sits on a ladder balanced on the back of a donkey and a mason, identified as such by his apron and gloves, stretches between the rungs of the ladder to kiss her bare backside; Don Quixote, in full armour and wearing a masonic apron and gloves, holds up his shield behind the donkey; in the foreground, to left, a man playing the bladder and string, in the centre, a dancing monkey with apron and gloves, and, to right, a butcher laughing at the scene while Sancho Panza gasps in surprise

Description
Title engraved below image.
State from Paulson. Paulson and British Museum catalogue date the print as 1742, but Sayer did not move to 53 Fleet Street until 1760. See British Museum online catalogue.
Below the image, far left of the title, mock key identifying the leading figures, followed by twelve lines of verse beginning, "From Eastern climes, transplanted to our coasts ...".
Below the image, far right of the title, mock description: "Done from [the] original painted at Pekin by Matachauter, grav'd by Ho-ge and sold by [the] printsellers of London, Paris & Rome."
Sheet trimmed to plate mark.
On page 98 in volume 1. Plate mark 248 x 353 mm.
Provenance
George Steevens bequeathed this collection to William Windham (1750-1810). At Windham's death, the collection was put up for sale on 20 July 1810 and was bought in by Mrs. Windham at 292 guineas; by descent through the Windham family; Sotheby's, 17 February 1919 to Dyson Perrins for £400; Sotheby's sale including Property of the Late C.W. Dyson Perrins, Esq., 11 June 1959, lot 100 purchased by Maggs Bros. for W.S. Lewis for £1300.
Extent
1 print : plate mark 24.8 x 35.3 cm
Edition
[State 3].
Language
English

Collection Information

Repository
Lewis Walpole Library
Call Number
Folio 75 H67 800 v.1 (Oversize)

Subjects, Formats, And Genres

Genre
Caricatures and cartoons
Satires (Visual works) England 1760
Engravings England London 1760
Etchings England London 1760
Material
etching with engraving ; and laid paper.
Resource Type
still image
Subject (Geographic)
Great Britain
Subject (Name)
Freemasons
Subject (Topic)
Freemasonry
Butchers
Dance
Donkeys
Fraternal organizations
Monkeys
Muscians
Obscenity
Parades & processions
Signs (Notices)
Subjects
Freemasons > Caricatures and cartoons
Freemasonry > Great Britain > 18th century
Butchers
Dance
Donkeys
Fraternal organizations
Monkeys
Muscians
Obscenity
Parades & processions
Signs (Notices)
England > 1760
England > London > 1760
Kinnaird, Charles Kinnaird, Baron, 1780-1826 > Ownership
Steevens, George, 1736-1800 > Ownership
Perrins, Charles William Dyson, 1864-1958 > 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
11319522
Object ID (OID)
16193997

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