George IV and three of his ministers (Castlereagh, Liverpool, and Wellington) struggle to pull on a rope tied a mortar, which is shaped like a fantastical winged creature. Their targets are apparently the "Satirists" in the sky in the upper right, who wield pens and banners; an additional satirist, with the beaked face of a bird, is seen in the sky in the upper left, sitting on a wheeled hobby horse and ready to shoot an arrow inscribed 'Cradle Hymn" from a bow. Additional depicted figures included Gifford, wearing a wig and gown and holding a scourge; Sidmouth, using a clyster pipe to shoot at the satirists in the sky; and Canning, holding a cudgel above his head, ready to strike a fleeing Burdett. Following behind the mortar are several men, one wearing a liberty cap, two of them holding a banner inscribed "Life and amours of Madam Hunn[?]" between them. A monkey in military uniform rides a donkey towards the left edge of the design, exclaiming "Clear the way for his most gracious Majesty!" From the foreground on the left George III watches the scene; he wears a black shroud, and only his head and shoulders are visible
Alternative Title:
His Most Gracious Majesty Hum IVth and his ministers going to play the Devil with the satirists and His Most Gracious Majesty Hum the Fourth and his ministers going to play the Devil with the satirists
Description:
Title etched below image., Date of publication from the online catalogue of the National Portrait Gallery, London (NPG D48670)., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum., Watermark: J. Whatman., Mounted to 58 x 39 cm., Mounted (with one other print) on leaf 78 in volume 1 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair.", and Figures of "Geo. III," "Castlereagh," "Liverpool," "Wellington," "Geo. IV," "Gifford," "Sidmouth," "Canning," and "Burdett" identified in ink below image; date "Sep. 1820?" written in pencil in lower right.
Publisher:
Pubsed [sic] by T. Dolby, 299 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821., George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Gifford, Robert Gifford, Baron, 1779-1826, Canning, George, 1770-1827, and Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844
Subject (Topic):
Freedom of speech, Pens, Mortars (Ordnance), Pulling, Politicians, Hobby horses, Bows (Weapons)., Arrows, Donkeys, Monkeys, Whips, Medical equipment & supplies, Liberty cap, and Banners
Title engraved in image., Date derived from printmaker's date of death., Place of publication derived from location of printmaker's place of business., and This electronic record is derived from historic data and may not reflect our current information. Review and updating of records is ongoing.
