"Queen Caroline, much burlesqued, stands (left) in the grounds of Brandenburgh House, looking up in angry distress at an irradiated sun in the upper right corner of the design containing a bust portrait of George IV and surmounted by a crown. She flinches to the left, holding up an ermine-bordered cloak to screen herself from the rays. In her right hand is a decanter of Brandy [cf. British Museum Satires No. 14175]. She has loose black ringlets, and wears a heavily-feathered black cap; frilled drawers are attached to a very high-waisted and décolletée bodice and display absurd ankle boots with the turned-up toes common in these prints. The rays from the King are inscribed: Westmorland, Camden, Eldon, Liverpool, Harrowby, Clarence, Gifford, Copley. In the background (right) is Alderman Wood, wearing his gown, running towards her, his arms extended, and followed by two braying asses. In the foreground are thistles, like the asses an emblem of Wood, see British Museum Satires No. 14146."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Address to the Sun
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Theodore Lane in the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Two lines of text beneath title: To thee I call but with no friendly voice, and add thy name O K--g. To tell thee how I hate thy beams, that bring to my remembrance from what state I fell., Watermark: J. Whatman 1821., Mounted to 58 x 39 cm., Mounted on leaf 84 in volume 2 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair.", and Figures of "Caroline," "Wood," and "George IV" identified in pencil below image; date "8 [sic] June 1821" written in ink in lower right corner of sheet. Typed extract of eight lines from the British Museum catalogue description is pasted beneath print.
Publisher:
Pubd. by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James's St.
Subject (Name):
Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821, George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Wood, Matthew, Sir, 1768-1843, Bergami, Bartolomeo Bergami, Baron, Westmorland, John Fane, Earl of, 1784-1859., Camden, John Jeffreys Pratt, Marquis of, 1759-1840., Eldon, John Scott, Earl of, 1751-1838., Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828., Harrowby, Dudley Ryder, Earl of, 1762-1847., William IV, King of Great Britain, 1765-1837., Gifford, Robert Gifford, Baron, 1779-1826., Lyndhurst, John Singleton Copley, Baron, 1772-1863., and Brandenburgh House (London, England),
Subject (Topic):
Adultery, Sun, Crowns, Miniatures (Paintings), Alcoholic beverages, Donkeys, and Feathers