"An Irishman riding (left to right) on a horse. He is dressed as a military officer, with epaulettes. In his hat is a cross in a medallion. In his right hand, and resting on his shoulder, is a sword on which potatoes are spitted. In his left hand he holds out a wineglass. Two fish are slung on his right arm, under it is a sickle. Various objects are attached to his saddle or his person including a tankard, a small set of bagpipes, a candle-stick, a large fish; a small Irish harp decorates the hindquarters of his horse. The background, seen between the horse's feet, is the sea-shore with ships. A border decorates the two sides of the print, surmounted (left) by a frowning mask, with a dagger through one eye, and (right) by a smiling mask. To a vertical line of conventional fruit and foliage are attached a number of objects, including a horn and goblet, a flute, a flail and rake, a wine-bottle and glass, a sheaf of corn and a sickle. Beneath the design is engraved: "So sweet St Patrick comes, Dear Joy to Day, Smiles on his face with Merriment & Play. With good store of Tattoes, Sweet Buttermilk, & Whisky, Small Pipes, & Usquebaugh to make us Dance Frisky. Then banish all care, and meagre sorrow, We'll Celebrate this Day not trust to morrow. Let's Rant & Roar & make the House Ring, Drink to St Patrick's Day in the Morning.""--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from item., Sheet trimmed to plate mark., Earlier state, without Carington Bowles imprint, of no. 5945 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 5., Number 4 in series Seven prints of the Tutelar Saints., and Dated in pencil, 1768.
