"An emblematic scene with an oval portrait of Samuel Butler mounted on a pedestal on which is carved a relief showing a satyr whipping figures of Rebellion, Hypocrisy and Ignorance dressed as puritans, while he drives a chariot drawn by Hudibras and Ralpho; in the foreground, on the left, a satyr holds up a volume of Butler's poem as a guide for the carver (a boy dressed only in an apron), and on the right a young satyr holds up a mirror to a figure of Britannia."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Hudibras frontispiece
Description:
Title engraved below image., Additonal title, state, and date from Paulson., Verse below image: The basso releivo, on the pedestal, represents the general design, of Mr. Butler, in his incomparable poem, of Hudibras. Viz. Butlers genious in a car. Lashing around Mount Parnasus, in the persons of Hudibras, & Ralpho, Rebellion, Hypocrisy, and Ignorance, the reigning vices of his time., Lettered in image, the banner around the portrait of Butler: Mr. Samuel Butler, author of Hudibras, born 1612, died 1680., and Description based on imperfect impression; sheet trimmed within plate mark, some loss of text on the left lower edge.
Publisher:
Printed & sold by P. Overton near St. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet & I. Cooper in James Street Convent Garden
Subject (Geographic):
England., Great Britain, and Parnassus, Mount (Greece)
Subject (Name):
Butler, Samuel, 1612-1680 and Butler, Samuel, 1612-1680.
Subject (Topic):
Puritans, History, Britannia (Symbolic character), Religion, Satyrs (Greek mythology), Tombs & sepulchral monuments, and Vice
