Watercolor view looking west towards Gibraltar. The eastern side of the Rock rises in the center of the drawing, with the "Signal House" on top labeled in black ink; the gradual decline in elevation to the left ends at "Europa Pt.", also labeled in black ink. Numerous ships sail in the waters of the foreground and background
Description:
Title written below image, in brown ink in a contemporary hand., Signed by the artist in black ink below image, in lower left., Date of production based on the death date of Richard Bull, who owned and likely assembled the album in which this drawing was found., Formerly laid in at page 125 in an album containing 402 pages, bound in red morocco leather with single gilt ruled line; spine stamped in gold "Drawings." Now disassembled and matted separately: Bull, R. Scrapbook of drawings. [England], [not after 1806]., Matted to 49 x 37 cm., and Original case shelved separately.
At the top of a cliff overlooking the sea, Don Quixote (personifying Spain) and Sancho (a Dutchman) discuss plans for a seige while a monkey (representing France) stands on the neck of the Don's horse, pointing toward the moon in which is visible the fortress at Gibraltar. A reference to plans for the combined attack on Gibraltar by French and Spanish forces. The attack came in September of 1782 and was repulsed by the British
Description:
Title from item., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Pubd. Augt. 22d, 1782, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
On the right, John Bull, standing next to a broken anchor, raises his arms in despair saying, "'Tis lost! Irrecoverably lost!" Above his head, a demon flies away with a partially rolled up map of America while a Frenchman standing to his right offers him snuff as consolation. Behind the Frenchman, an angry Spaniard points to the rock of Gibraltar in the background and the exploding ships below it. On the far left, a Dutchman watches the scene in front of him
Description:
Title from item., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Mounted to 28 x 42 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. Aprl. 14th, 1783, by W. Humphrey, No. 227 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Gibraltar and Great Britain
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Dutch, French, Spanish, History, Foreign relations, Anchors, Demons, and Clothing & dress
