Knock and ye shall enter [graphic]

"An archaic iron-studded door, with posts and lintel of solid but ancient oak, represents the door of the 'COMMONS' [inscription on lintel]. Above: '"They of Rome are enter'd in our Counsels Sh.' ['Coriolanus', I. ii]. An old-clothes' man stands at the door in profile to the left gazing up at the inscription; he raises the knocker, a ring in the mouth of an angry lion's head. He is bearded, with an ultra-Jewish profile, and has three hats piled on his own, the topmost being a flaunting feminine erection. He wears a ragged and patched gaberdine, old-fashioned buckled shoes, and carries across his shoulder a large bag, from a hole in which projects a pig's foot (a pig in his poke). On his back is an open box of trinkets, containing watches. Close behind him stands a turbaned Turk, watching him with eager anxiety. The Jew: 'Come I sha--Open the door vill ye--I vants to come in--and heres a shentlemans a friend of mines--vants to come in too--dont be afeard--I dont vant a sheat for nothing--I can pay for it So help me Got.' Three men (safely inside) look down at the applicants from a small open window beside the door (right): a dissenter, holding his hat, and characterized by lank hair and plebeian features (resembling Liston as Maw-Worm, cf. British Museum Satires No. 16943); a Jesuit wearing a biretta, and putting a thumb to his nose, and a fat elderly monk; the last two frown. The left door-post (somewhat cracked) is inscribed: 'OAK Suppose to be sound Put up 1688 only latly discovered to be full of Skakes[?peare].'"--British Museum online catalogue

"Catholic Emancipation, following the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts (see British Museum satires no. 15530), raised hopes of Jewish emancipation, see British Museum satires no. 15770, &c. For the (baptized) Jew as seat-purchaser cf. Sir M. M. Lopes (to whom an allusion is probably intended, see British Museum satires no. 15683); for Jews and pigs cf. British Museum satires no. 12146, &c; for "1688" see British Museum satires no. 15707, &c. The design resembles and may be based on British Museum satires bo. 8981 (1797) by Gillray."--Curator's comments, British Museum online catalogue