An appeal to Britons [graphic]

Description

Contributor

Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, attributed name.
Heath, William, 1795-1840, attributed name.
Fores, S. W., publisher.

Published / Created

[23 August 1820]

Publication Place

London and England London

Publisher

Pub. Aug. 23, 1820, by S.W. Fores, 41 Picadilli [sic]

Abstract

"Caricature with Britannia and her lion, with the help of 'A Nation's Love', protecting Queen Caroline from the attacks of her accusers in Parliament."--British Museum online catalogue

Portrays Princess Charlotte defending her mother against attacks by George IV and his ministers

Description

Title etched below image.
With large manuscript lettering "Oh my mother, my mother" in ink above image; impression at the British Museum (registration no.: 1983,0305.31) has the same phrase written in the same place.
"Argus" was an early pseudonym of Charles Williams; however, three other prints signed "Argus" from 1820 have been attributed in the British Museum catalogue to William Heath (as have others from this time period with S.W. Fores's address spelled "Picadilli" in imprint). See page 799 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum, v. 10.
Possible artist's device follows the "Argus" signature in lower right: A cross above a circle divided into quarters.
Sheet trimmed to plate mark leaving thread margins.
Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum.
Watermark: Weatherley & Lane 1818.
Mounted to 58 x 39 cm.
Mounted (with one other print) on leaf 70 in volume 1 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair."
Figures of "Caroline," "Eldon," "Londondery [sic]," "Sidmouth," "Liverpool," and "Geo. IV" identified in ink below image; date "23 Aug. 1820" written in lower right corner.

Provenance

Sold by London's Dulau and Company to the New York City bookseller Ernest R. Gee in 1928. Earlier ownership by W.E. Gladstone is suggested by a manuscript note from Dulau formerly laid into the front the first volume (now in the object file), which states that "These came from the Gladstone Library at Court Hey, Broad Green. The manuscript notes written below the caricatures are in the handwriting of W.E. Gladstone." William Reese Company; February 2024.

Extent