"Burke, as a lunatic, is seated on straw dressed only in breeches, but wearing a rosary and crucifix round his neck; Major Scott stands behind him, shaving his head. His right wrist and left ankle are chained to a staple in the floor, the chains being inscribed 'The Censure of the Commons' and 'The Contempt of the Lords'. He clenches his fists and turns his head in profile to the right, towards a vision of Hastings, saying, "Ha! Miscreant! Plunderer! Murderer of Nundocomar! where wilt thou hide thy head now ?" Hastings walks in profile to the right, carrying a sack over his shoulder inscribed '£4000000'; he is about to enter the gate of 'St James's' from which two hands emerge to receive him labelled (in reversed characters) 'Welcome'. Clouds surround Hastings and the Palace, showing that this is a vision. In the background (left) is a gibbet from which hangs a figure rudely drawn, as if chalked on awall, representing 'Nundocomar'. ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Little major shaving the shaver
Description:
Title etched below image, in lower left., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Three columns of verse below image, following title: Madness, thou chaos of the brain; what art, that pleasure, giv'st & pain? ..., Publisher's advertisement above image: Aitken's exhibition room in Castle Street, Leicester Fields, is now open'd for the inspection of the nobility, & the public in general, containing the only compleat assortment of satiric, humourous & caricature productions now extant. Admittance gratis., "Pr. 1 sh. plain, 1 s. / 6 cold.", Temporary local subject terms: Warren Hastings trial, 1789 -- Executions: hanging of Nuncomar, 1775 -- Burke's chains: Parliamentary rebuke -- Literature: quotation from John Hoadly, 1711-1776 -- Burke's politics during Regency crisis -- Military uniforms -- Major's uniform -- Bag of money -- Allusion to St. James's Palace -- Allusion to Queen Charlotte -- Crucifixes -- Spectacles -- Razors -- Oriental costume -- Lunatics -- Visions., and Watermark: countermark S Lay.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 8th, 1789, by J. Aitken, Castle Street, Leicester Square
Subject (Name):
Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Hastings, Warren, 1732-1818, Scott, Major 1747-1819 (John),, and Nandakumara, Mahārāja, d. 1775
