Low life above stairs, or, The humours of the great baby at B***ht*n [graphic].

Description

Title: Low life above stairs, or, The humours of the great baby at B***ht*n [graphic].
Alternative Title: Humours of the great baby at B***ht*n
Humours of the great baby at Brighton
Creator: Marks, John Lewis, printmaker
Contributor: Marks, John Lewis, publisher.
Published / Created: Jany. 24th, 1821.
Publication Place: London
Publisher: Pub. by J.L. Marks, No. 28 Fetter Lane, Fleet Street
Abstract: "Heading to an engraved broadside. A servants' ball in the Pavilion, the musicians in the gallery being Ministers (left to right): Sidmouth and Liverpool play a duet at a square piano, gaping at each other; Eldon blows bagpipes; Castlereagh plays a harp. George IV waltzes with a fat, plainly dressed cook; he says: "How poor a thing may do a noble office!" A black footman dances with a fat lady; another lady dances amorously with a fat footman. One courtier (Bloomfield) dances with and embraces a fat cook, another has a more elegant partner. In the foreground stands Lady Conyngham (left), distressed and alarmed, her husband's antlered profile is just behind her; both wear coronets. She says: "Ah! with his scullion! Titles & rank are my defence But what can save her insolence!" He says: "If he has turn'd up my Wife I indeed may say--[citing Wolsey] "Farewell a long farewel to all my greatness!"" The wall and gallery are patterned with Chinese figures. The verses begin: 'Releas'd from all the toils of State . . .' The 4th, 5th, 6th, and 10th of 12 verses: '"I've supp'd within my kitchen range, "But I'll descend no more;* "The scene this night I'll wholly change, "Upstairs--invite uproar. "No virtuous women visit me-- "They dread to lose their name-- "I'll condescend--with those make free "Who never blush'd with shame. "Twas wrong when C--e eat perchance, With Vassali and Bergami-- "I'll eat with Cooks, with Scullions dance-- "I can't do wrong [see British Museum Satires No. 14133], G--d d--n me." . . . And Cunning-one moved not a limb, But stood amazed with wonder! To see the K--g's disgraceful whim, And, Vow'd she'd pull 'm asunder. . . ."--British Museum online catalogue
Description: Title etched in center of plate, below image and above verses.
Printmaker attribution to Marks from the British Museum catalogue.
Twelve stanzas of verse in two columns below title, beginning: Releas'd from all the toils of state, From care and sorrow free ...
Text in lower margin, beneath verses: *See Marks's caricature of "He stoops to conquer, or, R-l George sunk" [British Museum Satires No. 13210].
Mounted to 58 x 39 cm.
Mounted on leaf 48 in volume 2 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair."
Figures of "Lady Conyngham," "Ld. Bloomfield," and "George IV" identified in pencil at bottom of image; figures of "Sidmouth," "Liverpool," "Eldon," and "Londonderry" idenfied in pencil above print on mounting sheet. Date "24 Jan. 1821" written in ink in lower right corner of sheet. Typed extract of ten lines from the British Museum catalogue description is pasted beneath print.
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: 1 print : plate mark 35 x 24.8 cm, on sheet 35.4 x 25.2 cm
Extent of Digitization: This object has been completely digitized.
Language: English