"The nurse, a respectable-looking woman wearing a cap and apron, stands in profile to the right beside an open coffin placed on trestles; she rests her left hand on a shrouded protuberance. In her right is a glass filled from a bottle of 'Gin' on a table (left). The coffin lid rests against the wall: 'Gabl Paunch Citizen and Alderman of Gobble Ward Obeit [sic] Novr 10th 1810 Ætat 45 Years'. A plate on the ornate coffin is decorated with a bottle, bird, glass, &c. On a chest of drawers are many medicine-bottles all labelled: 'Opening draught Aldn Paunch'. An alderman's gown hangs on the wall. Torn papers lie beside a chair: 'List of City Feasts for the Year 1810' and 'Swan Hop'. [Upping]. A round bath or tub is on the floor (left). The nurse says: "Ah! all the good things of this world wont save us e'faith!! this belly I warrant you has held as many bottles of wine in it's time as ever a Getter in the City, well poor Mr Alderman Paunch! God rest his Soul! he was a good creature! He never grudged the poor what he didn't love himself. Oh those poor pale lips! where's all the Chickens, and all the Capons, and all the Ducks, and all the turkeys, and all the pullets, and all the fowls, and all the game, and all the hams, and all chines, and all the haunches of Venison, and all the turbot, and all the Salmon, and all the fish, and the beef and the turtle, and the marrow-pudding, and the pies, and the Custards, and all the dainties, it has cost the City so much money for, what will he do poor soul if there's no such good things where he is gone too.""--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Sic transit gloria city and Old nurse's meditation
Description:
Title from caption below image; "mundi" scored through and replaced by "city.", Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., and Sheet trimmed to plate mark on one side.
