"Dundas (right) turns the handle of a machine in which two cylinders revolve in contact. Pitt (left) drags out by the wrists the flattened and elongated body of John Bull from between the cylinders where his ankles are still confined. The upper cylinder is marked 'LOAN LOAN'; the lower, 'SUBSIDY TAX'. Pitt says: "He'll come out a great deal further yet turn the loan stone again he is not half flat enough!!" John Bull turns his eyes despairingly towards Pitt. Both his tormentors have discarded their coats; Dundas wears a plaid over his shirt."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched at base of image., Attributed to West in British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed to plate mark on sides., Printseller's announcement following publication statement: Folios of caracatures [sic] lent out for the evening., Temporary local subject terms: Loans -- Subsidies: allusion to the subsidy for Austria -- Mills: hopper., Watermark: Strasburg bend., Mounted to 27 x 46 cm., and Printseller's stamp in lower right of sheet, partially cut off: S.W.F.
Publisher:
Pub. May 25, 1796, by S.W. Fores, No. 50 Piccadilly, the corner of Sackville Street
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806 and Dundas, Henry, 1742-1811
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Taxation, and Finance, Public