"Heading to an engraved broadside. A servants' ball in the Pavilion, the musicians in the gallery being Ministers (left to right): Sidmouth and Liverpool play a duet at a square piano, gaping at each other; Eldon blows bagpipes; Castlereagh plays a harp. George IV waltzes with a fat, plainly dressed cook; he says: "How poor a thing may do a noble office!" A black footman dances with a fat lady; another lady dances amorously with a fat footman. One courtier (Bloomfield) dances with and embraces a fat cook, another has a more elegant partner. In the foreground stands Lady Conyngham (left), distressed and alarmed, her husband's antlered profile is just behind her; both wear coronets. She says: "Ah! with his scullion! Titles & rank are my defence But what can save her insolence!" He says: "If he has turn'd up my Wife I indeed may say--[citing Wolsey] "Farewell a long farewel to all my greatness!"" The wall and gallery are patterned with Chinese figures. The verses begin: 'Releas'd from all the toils of State . . .' The 4th, 5th, 6th, and 10th of 12 verses: '"I've supp'd within my kitchen range, "But I'll descend no more;* "The scene this night I'll wholly change, "Upstairs--invite uproar. "No virtuous women visit me-- "They dread to lose their name-- "I'll condescend--with those make free "Who never blush'd with shame. "Twas wrong when C--e eat perchance, With Vassali and Bergami-- "I'll eat with Cooks, with Scullions dance-- "I can't do wrong [see British Museum Satires No. 14133], G--d d--n me." . . . And Cunning-one moved not a limb, But stood amazed with wonder! To see the K--g's disgraceful whim, And, Vow'd she'd pull 'm asunder. . . ."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Humours of the great baby at B***ht*n and Humours of the great baby at Brighton
Description:
Title etched in center of plate, below image and above verses., Printmaker attribution to Marks from the British Museum catalogue., Twelve stanzas of verse in two columns below title, beginning: Releas'd from all the toils of state, From care and sorrow free ..., Text in lower margin, beneath verses: *See Marks's caricature of "He stoops to conquer, or, R-l George sunk" [British Museum Satires No. 13210]., Mounted to 58 x 39 cm., Mounted on leaf 48 in volume 2 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair.", and Figures of "Lady Conyngham," "Ld. Bloomfield," and "George IV" identified in pencil at bottom of image; figures of "Sidmouth," "Liverpool," "Eldon," and "Londonderry" idenfied in pencil above print on mounting sheet. Date "24 Jan. 1821" written in ink in lower right corner of sheet. Typed extract of ten lines from the British Museum catalogue description is pasted beneath print.
Publisher:
Pub. by J.L. Marks, No. 28 Fetter Lane, Fleet Street
Subject (Name):
Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821., George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Conyngham, Elizabeth Conyngham, Marchioness, -1861, Conyngham, Henry Conyngham, Marquess, 1766-1832, Eldon, John Scott, Earl of, 1751-1838, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Bloomfield, Benjamin Bloomfield, Baron, 1768-1846, and Royal Pavilion (Brighton, England),
Subject (Topic):
Interiors, Balls (Parties), Adultery, Musicians, Servants, Dance, and Antlers
