"A lady (left) sits at a piano, in back view, playing and singing. Beside her is a man playing the cello. Both sing: "Beviamo tutti tie" [sic]. Two men sit side by side, in profile to the left, one playing the violin, the other the flute. A little girl lying on the floor tilts dangerously the chair of the violinist, who watches intently the couple at the piano. A loutish youth in top-boots (right) plays with a dog whose collar is inscribed 'Anne Jon'."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Evenings entertainment in Sussex
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., and Temporary local subject terms: Musical instruments: piano -- Cello -- Violin -- Flute -- Furniture: ladderback chairs -- Lighting: candlesticks -- Songs: Beviamo tutti tie -- Children -- Pranks.
Publisher:
Pubd. Septr. 1st, 1798, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Augustus Frederick, Prince, Duke of Sussex, 1773-1843. and Billington, Elizabeth, 1765-1818
"The stage of Covent Garden Theatre is seen from the right with a small part of the pit in the left foreground; the boxes and galleries adjoining the stage form the background on the left. The pittites are standing and blow trumpets, spring rattles, ring bells, and shout. Those in the crowded boxes behave in the same way; with one exception all are men. Two men occupy each of the two boxes over the stage-door; they watch passively. The musicians' seats are empty, but candles burn beside their open music-books, and one of the orchestra stands facing the audience, threatening them with fist and baton. On the stage three men stand together addressing the audience. The man in the centre holds out a paper: 'Riot Act'; he says: "We shall Read the riot act". Behind them stands Kemble wearing a tail-coat and white trousers, appealing to the audience with his hands meekly together as if in prayer. Large notices and placards hang from the galleries and boxes: 'Old Prices' [five times]; 'Harris will but Kemble won,t'; 'No Kembles No more insults'; 'Kemble remember the Dublin Tin Man'; 'No Foreign Sofas'; 'Iohn Bull against Iohn Kemble'; 'No Catalani'; 'Old Prices' [three times]; 'No Italian Private Boxes'; '£6000 for Caterwauling'; 'Catalani', below a print of a cat dressed as a woman, and singing 'Me Yo' from a music-book; 'No Catalani!! Mountain-- Billington, and Dickons for ever'; 'Ol Price for ever No caterwauling'; 'Old Prices No Catalani'; a gigantic placard: 'Statement-- £ Subscribed -- £80-000 Fire Office -- 50-000 Old Materials -- 25-000 155-000 New Theatre ---- 150-000 Managers of it ---- 5-000' Held up by a 'John Bull' in the pit who blows a trumpet: 'No Catalani No Pigeon Holes Old Prices No Private Boxes'. A man shouts from a box: "Off Off Off Off"; he springs a rattle."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Isaac and George Cruikshank in the British Museum catalogue., Date of publication from British Museum catalogue., and Matted to 47 x 54 cm, with a token for a box seat, Prince's side (BPS), New Theatre Covent Garden 1809.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
England and London.
Subject (Name):
Kemble, John Philip, 1757-1823., Nares, John, 1754-1816., Billington, Elizabeth, 1765-1818., Catalani, Angelica, 1780-1849., Dickons, Maria, approximately 1774-1833., Harris, Thomas, -1820., Reed, James, active 1808., Mountain, Rosoman, approximately 1768-1841., and Covent Garden Theatre,
Subject (Topic):
Interiors, Stages (Platforms), Actors, Orchestras, Theater audiences, Theaters, and 1809
A reduced copy probably from a book and resembling the folding plates to the 'Hibernian Magazine'. The groups are arranged from left to right as in British Museum satire no. 7301, but each figure is reversed and the groups are in two rows, one above the other
Alternative Title:
Picture of the times
Description:
Title etched below image., Place of publication based earlier state. See British Museum catalogue., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark at top.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Charlotte, consort of George III, King of Great Britain, 1744-1818, William IV, King of Great Britain, 1765-1837, Fitzherbert, Maria Anne, 1756-1837, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Thurlow, Edward Thurlow, Baron, 1731-1806, Hastings, Warren, 1732-1818, Frederick Augustus, Prince, Duke of York and Albany, 1763-1827, Pigot, Hugh, 1721?-1792, Farren, Elizabeth, 1762-1829, Smith Stanley, Edward, 1752-1834, Greville, Charles, 1762-1832, Billington, Elizabeth, 1765-1818, and Archer, Sarah West, Lady, 1741-1801
"Illustration to 'The Empire of the Nairs', pp. 175-9, referring to verses published in the 'Scourge', iii. 313-18, 456-61, 'The H- [Hertford] Dynasty, or the Empire of the Nairs', suggested by the romance of J.H. Lawrence, 'The Empire of the Nairs', 1811 (published in German in 1811, and afterwards in French), with an introduction seriously advocating the introduction of these customs into England. The Nairs (or Nayars) were a military caste of Malabar who practised polyandry. The plate is not elucidated. Lady Hertford reclines in an ornate bath, into which water gushes from the jaws of a monster which decorates the pedestal of a Venus. The bath is raised on a triple dais and backed by the pillars and canopy which frame the Venus forming the centre of the design. The Regent, in royal robes, ascends the steps of the dais, poised on his toes like a ballet-dancer, and places a crownlike marquis's coronet on the head of Lady Hertford who leans towards him, her enormous breasts appearing over the edge of the bath. She says: "I proclaim the Freedom of the Sex & the Supremacy of Love." Lord Hertford, who bestrides the pedestal, looks down delightedly from behind the statue of Venus. He has horns, and holds his Chamberlain's staff. The water pours from the bath through the nostrils of a bull's head with which it is ornamented, and falls in a triple cascade into a circular basin in the centre foreground. On each side of the statue of Venus and flanking the dais is a statue in a niche: 'Aspasia' (left) and 'Messalina' (right); both are disrobing. Near the fountain (right) a hideous hag, naked to the waist, crouches before a tall brazier in which she burns a 'Mantle of Modesty'. The building appears to be circular, an arc of the wall forming a background on each side of the centre-piece. On this are tablets inscribed respectively 'Hic Jacet Perdita' [Mary Robinson, the Prince's first mistress, see No. 5767, &c.]; 'Hic Jacet Armstead' [Mrs. Fox, who had been the Prince's mistress, cf. No. 10589]; 'Hic J[acet] Vauxhall Bess' [Elizabeth Billington, see British Museum Satires No. 9970; her mother sang at Vauxhall, see British Museum Satires No. 6853]. In the foreground on the extreme right a buxom young woman puts her arms round the Duke of Cumberland, saying, "I'll go to Cumberland"; he walks off with her, to the fury of an admiral just behind the lady who clutches his sword and is seemingly her husband. Cumberland wears hussar uniform with a shako and fur-bordered dolman, with a star and a large sabre. A meretricious-looking young woman (? Mrs. Carey) puts her arms round the Duke of York, saying, "And I to York." The Duke, who wears uniform with a cocked hat and no sword, looks down quizzically at her. Behind him a tall thin officer in hussar uniform bends towards Princess Charlotte, taking her hand; he says: "Sure & I'll go to Wales." She runs eagerly towards him. As a pendant to these figures, Grenadiers stand at attention on the left, holding bayoneted muskets; they have huge noses, and smile at a buxom lady wearing spurred boots who addresses them with outstretched arm, saying, "And you for Buckinghamshire." At her feet is an open book: 'Slawkenberges Chapr on Noses' [from Sterne's Slawkenbergius, imaginary author of a Rabelaisian fantasy in 'Tristram Shandy']. They have a standard with the word 'Buckin ...' on it. Behind the Prince (left) stands Tom Moore, looking up at the coronation; he holds an open book: 'Little Poems / Ballad . . .' He says: "I'll give you one Little Song More [see British Museum Satires No. 12082]." Behind him stands Mrs. Jordan, placing a chamber-pot on the head of the Duke of Clarence, who wears admiral's uniform with trousers."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Plate from: The Scourge, or, Monthly expositor of imposture and folly. London: W. Jones, v. 4 (September 1812), page 173., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Pubd. September 1st, 1812, by W.N. Jones, No. 5 Newgate St.
Subject (Name):
George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Hertford, Francis Ingram Seymour, Marquess of, 1743-1822, Hertford, Isabella Anne Ingram-Seymour-Conway, Marchioness of, 1760-1834, Frederick Augustus, Prince, Duke of York and Albany, 1763-1827, Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover, 1771-1851, Charlotte Augusta, Princess of Great Britain, 1796-1817, William IV, King of Great Britain, 1765-1837, Jordan, Dorothy, 1761-1816, Robinson, Mary, 1758-1800., Fox, Elizabeth Bridget, 1750-1842., Billington, Elizabeth, 1765-1818., and Venus (Roman deity),
"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
"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'., Figures identified by ms. note in contemporary hand at bottom of sheet: Sheridan ; Mrs. Billington ; Lewis., Printseller's identification stamp located in lower right corner of print: S·W·F., and Mounted to 30 x 47 cm.
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
785.06.28.01 Framed, shelved in Object Room Rack 1.
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"An evening scene in Vauxhall Gardens. On the extreme left is the orchestra with the organ behind and performers on the kettledrums, string and wind instruments. The vocalist, Mrs. Weichsel, sings, in profile to the right, from the adjacent (and slightly lower) balcony, just above the heads of the crowd. A violinist and another musician are seated behind her. In the supper box beneath the orchestra is Dr. Johnson seated full-face, between Boswell and Goldsmith (d. 1774), who face each other in profile, both caricatured; of two stout women one is reputed to be Mrs. Thrale. Many groups fill the foreground and middle distance. The two centre figures are the Duchess of Devonshire and Lady Duncannon arm in arm. A naval officer with a wooden leg and a patch over one eye is reputed to be Admiral Paisley (Admiral Pasley, 1734-1808?). Major Topham, an excellent portrait, stands (left) in profile to the right staring through an eyeglass. Between Topham and the supper-box are two men, one of whom is identified as Lord Camelford. [In the reproduction in Angelo's 'Reminiscences'; to whom the name refers is not clear.] An elderly parson, [he closely resembles the parson of BMSat 7059 who is probably William Jackson of the 'Morning Post'] reputed to be Bate Dudley but not resembling him, gazes at the Duchess from behind a tree. Next him a man dressed as an officer in a Highland regiment with kilt and broadsword is supposed to be James Perry, editor of the 'Morning Chronicle'. On the right the Prince of Wales, conspicuous by his star, whispers to Mrs. Robinson (Perdita), though their liaison was ended. Her right arm is linked with an ugly and elderly little man, probably Robinson. On the extreme left an elderly couple advance arm in arm in profile. Behind the Prince is a group standing on a small platform (or tables), showing half length above the crowd. In the foreground (right) is a supper-table under trees where two cits entertain two courtesans. Lamp-lit trees and the covered way form a background on the right."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Vauxhall
Description:
Title from item. and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Publish'd June 28th 1785, by J.R. Smith, No. 83 Oxford Street
Subject (Geographic):
Vauxhall Gardens (London, England), London (England), England, and London.
Subject (Name):
Billington, Elizabeth, 1765-1818., Boswell, James, 1740-1795, Cavendish, Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire, 1757-1806, Bessborough, Henrietta Frances Spencer Ponsonby, Countess of, 1761-1821, Pitt, Thomas, Baron Camelford, 1737-1793, George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Goldsmith, Oliver, 1730?-1774, Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784, Pasley, Thomas, Sir, 1734-1808, Perry, James, 1756-1821, Piozzi, Hester Lynch, 1741-1821, Robinson, Mary, 1758-1800, and Topham, Edward, 1751-1820
Subject (Topic):
Social life and customs, Parks, Audiences, Concerts, Couples, Crowds, Musicians, Orchestras, Peg legs, and Singers
