"Mrs. Billington, enormously fat, sits in an arm-chair, her arms flung over its arms, opening her mouth for a spoonful of guineas, administered by W. T. Lewis (right), who bends over her. On her other side stands Sheridan, round-shouldered, stooping, and agitated. He holds out a money-bag, saying, "O Dear O Dear - if the dear Creature has lost her Notes - what will become of us - my dear friend spare no Cost to make up the deficiency, give her another spoonfull, I have plenty more in the bag - all the true Pizarro-coinage." Lewis, smiling, answers: "Dont be alarmed she takes the Boluses very kindly - and I have every reason to hope a speedy recovery." Mrs. Billington is dressed as Clara, in quasi-Spanish costume, almost as in British Museum Satires No. 9914; a checked scarf lies across her lap. On the right are two amoretti; one stands looking up at the other, who flies above his head holding out a scroll; both hold handkerchiefs to their eyes; the one below has butterfly wings and a wreath of roses, the other has feathered wings. The scroll: 'Mourn Cherubims and Seraphims Clara's Notes are Stopp'd - Copy of a Letter - Dear Sir, It grieves me to the heart that I am not able to play this evening - my Throat being so closed as not to leave me a single Note in my Voice" [see British Museum Satires No. 9970]."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched at bottom of image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Printseller's announcement in lower right: Folios of caracatures [sic] lent out for the evening., Temporary local subject terms: Furniture: Armchair -- Money: Guineas -- Medical Procedures: administering medicine -- Literature Allusion: Richard Brinsley Sheridan, 1756-1816, 'The Duenna'., 1 print : etching on wove paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 23.9 x 35.6 cm, on sheet 25.6 x 38.3 cm., Window mounted to 36 x 51 cm., and Mounted opposite page 436 (leaf numbered '50' in pencil) in volume 3 of an extra-illustrated copy of: Moore, T. Memoirs of the life of the Right Honourable Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
Publisher:
Pubd. Jany. 16th, 1802, by S.W. Fores, 50 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Billington, Elizabeth, 1765-1818, Lewis, William Thomas, 1746?-1812, and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
Subject (Topic):
Obesity, Opera singers, Chairs, Coins, Physicians, and Putti
Title from item., From the Laurie & Whittle series of Drolls., Other prints in the Laurie & Whittle Drolls series were executed by either Isaac Cruikshank or Richard Newton., Three lines of caption below design: Pat- An't please your Ladyships honor--I understand you're a very humane good Lady and Govenor to the hospital--and I am very bad indeed Ma'am ..., Plate numbered '281' in lower left corner., and Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires.
Publisher:
Published Decr. 15, 1802 by Laurie & Whittle, 53 Fleet Street, London
Title on item., Sheet trimmed within plate mark with loss of imprint., Publication date from British Museum catalogue., Apparently meaningless words in design become decipherable when reader shifts spaces between letters: 'Bene athth isst onel' becomes 'Beneath this first one'., Similar prints contain intact imprint line: Published July 26th, 1802 by Laurie & Whittle, 53 Fleet Street, London., Temporary local subject terms: Allusion to Katharine Gray -- Reference to Earthenware Shops -- Reference to Medical Issue -- Reference to Country Church-Yard -- Epitaphs -- Puzzle -- Chippendale Frame with Cartouche -- Tombstones., and Watermark: Strasburg Lily.
Title from item., Number 240 in the Laurie & Whittle series of Drolls., Other prints in the Laurie & Whittle Drolls series were executed by either Isaac Cruikshank or Richard Newton., Plate numbered '271' in lower left corner., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., and Watermark: Strasburg lily.
Publisher:
Publisher 12 April, 1802 by Laurie & Whittle, No. 53 Fleet Street, London
Title devised by cataloger., Two lines of verse below main design: O'er her paps his wings he spread, and nestled in his little head ... Vide Love disarmed, Vol. II Page 2d., and Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires.
"The Prince stands in back view, his head turned to the left. His heels are together. His powdered hair or wig has a cockatoo-like crest, worn with a very small queue, round which his coat is thickly frosted with powder, cf. BMSat 8190. His neck, as indicated by his coat-collar, is grotesquely thick, his coat has the bulky sleeves associated with Jean de Bry, see BMSat 9425, with pointed coat-tails. Under his left arm is a cocked hat. The word 'Honi . . .' appears on his garter."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Prince of Wales from behind
Description:
Title and printmaker from British Museum catalogue. and Mounted to 37 x 28 cm.
Publisher:
Publish'd March 10th, 1802, by H. Humphrey, St. James's Street
"The Prince stands in back view, his head turned to the left. His heels are together. His powdered hair or wig has a cockatoo-like crest, worn with a very small queue, round which his coat is thickly frosted with powder, cf. BMSat 8190. His neck, as indicated by his coat-collar, is grotesquely thick, his coat has the bulky sleeves associated with Jean de Bry, see BMSat 9425, with pointed coat-tails. Under his left arm is a cocked hat. The word 'Honi . . .' appears on his garter."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Prince of Wales from behind
Description:
Title and printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Later state, with the shoes altered to look more modern. Cf. Lewis Walpole Library call no.: 802.03.10.01., and Mounted on leaf 70 of volume 10 of 12.
Publisher:
Publish'd March 10th, 1802, by H. Humphrey, St. James's Street
Title from lettered state., Artist and printmaker from statements of responsibility on lettered state: J.B.W. Esqr. delin. ; T. Rowlandson etchd., Publication information based on lettered state with the imprint "Pubd. May 10th, 1802, by T. Rowlandson, No. 1 James Street, Adelphi." Cf. Impression of the lettered state in the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Legion of Honor, Achenbach Foundation., Proof state of a plate from: McCringer, J. A Compendious Treatise of Modern Education. London : Smeeton, 1802., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., Annotated in pencil below image with the title, statements of responsibility, and border design as found on the finished plate; these annotations are perhaps in Rowlandson's hand., and Mounted on leaf 30 of volume 14 of 14 volumes.
