A reposo temptation in the wilderness. [graphic]

Description

Title: A reposo temptation in the wilderness. [graphic]
Creator: Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, printmaker
Contributor: Fores, R. A., active 1820-1822, publisher.
Published / Created: [February 1821]
Publication Place: London and England London
Publisher: Pubd. Feby. 1821 by R. Fores, 71 Leadenhall
Abstract: "A halt for refreshment in the Egyptian desert. The Princess sits on Bergami's knee, her arm round his shoulder, while he caresses her lasciviously. They sit with their back to an ass which brays: "Oh Tempora!!" She is very décolletée and wears trousers, and a feathered cap. A large miniature of Bergami, see British Museum Satires No. 13858, dangles from her neck. Beside them on the ground is a basket of bottles, and overturned spirit-bottle and glass. A small boy, Willy Austin, stands staring at the pair, and blowing soap-bubbles. On the left, but disregarded, is Mahomet (see British Museum Satires No. 14119) performing a dance with flexed knees; he holds up a crescent and a piece of drapery, looking towards the pair to say: "in his signis Vincetes!!," parodying the words of Constantine's vision of the Cross. In the middle distance, beside a second ass, also braying, Louise Demont sits on the knee of 'the Jewish harper', see British Museum Satires No. 13856, the harp beside them."--British Museum online catalogue
Description: Title etched below image.
Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue.
Two lines of text below title: Saint Caroline, with the young Saint Austin. Saint Bartholomew. Saint Colombiere, and suite, in their return from Egypt, are converted to Mahometanism! Sir Balaam (absolute Wisdom in Cog) and his ass deplore their recreancy.
Watermark: J. Whatman 1820.
Mounted to 58 x 39 cm.
Mounted (with one other print) on leaf 56 in volume 2 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair."
Figures of "Bergami" and "Caroline" identified in ink below image; date "Feb. 1821" written in lower right corner. Typed extract of twelve lines from the British Museum catalogue description is pasted opposite (on verso of preceding leaf).
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 of 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 24.6 x 33.6 cm, on sheet 24.9 x 34 cm
Extent of Digitization: This object has been completely digitized.
Language: English