Print of Molyneux in a fighting stance, likely during his fight against English champion Tom Cribb of 1810 or 1811
Description:
Thomas "The Moor" Molineaux, although usually called Tom Molineaux (which is sometimes spelled Molyneaux) was an African-American bare-knuckle boxer and former slave. He spent much of his career in Great Britain and Ireland, where he had some notable successes. He arrived in England in 1809 and started his fighting career there in 1810. It was his two fights against Tom Cribb, widely viewed as the Champion of England that brought fame to Molineaux, although he lost both contests. His prizefighting career ended in 1815. After a tour that took him to Scotland and Ireland, he died in Galway, Ireland in 1818, aged 34., Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark on top and bottom., and Leaf 16 in an album with the spine title: Characatures by Dighton.
Publisher:
Pubd. by Dighton, Spring Gardens
Subject (Name):
Molyneux, Tom, 1784-1818, and Molyneux, Tom, 1784-1818.
Subject (Topic):
African American boxers, Prints, and Boxers (Sports)
"Napoleon (right) stands between two Russians; one (left) he strikes on the chin with his fist, saying, "There Sir take that, and tel your Master, I'll thras every one who dares to speak to me I'll thrash all the World D -me I'll, I'll I,'ll be King of the Universe." The injured Russian stares, saying, "Why this is club Law; this is the Argument of force indeed the little Gentleman is Dêrangé." Behind Napoleon (right) an officer in fur cloak and hussar's cap watches with indignation, saying, "The Monarch I represent, will return this insult with becoming dignity." On the left John Bull, jovial and grossly fat, and wearing top-boots, puts his arm across the shoulders of a pugilist, and points to Napoleon, saying, "There my Boy is an Ambassador who will treat with you in your own way, but I say be as gentle with him as you can." The good-looking brawny pugilist, who is stripped to the waist, clenches his fists, saying, "what! is it that little Whipper snapper I am to set too with why I think the first round will settle his hash." [An early use of this phrase which disproves Partridge, 'Slang Dict., tracing it in England to 1825, and in U.S.A. to 1807, suggesting that the English may have learnt it in the war of 1812. It was clearly current in England by 1803] Bonaparte is small and youthful, caricatured chiefly by the disproportionate size of cocked hat and sabre."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
John Bull introducing his new ambassador to the Grand Consul
Description:
Title etched below image. and Laid down on modern paper backing and matted to 36 x 46 cm.
Publisher:
Pub. by S.W. Fores, N. 50 Piccadilly, London
Subject (Geographic):
France, Russia., Russia, and France.
Subject (Name):
Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821, Alexander I, Emperor of Russia, 1777-1825, and Markov, Arkady Ivanovich, 1747-1827
Subject (Topic):
Foreign relations, John Bull (Symbolic character), Boxers (Sports), and Insults
Byron, Frederick George, 1764-1792, attributed name
Published / Created:
May 12, 1790.
Call Number:
790.05.12.01+
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"The King of Spain sits on a circular dais under a canopy, turning his head away from the English ambassador (left), a stout John Bull wearing top-boots behind whom stand four pugilists. Three Spaniards with pikes stand on the extreme right behind the throne, and three courtiers stand in the background. The King wears a short tunic and ruff with a feathered hat; all the Spaniards have long upturned moustaches, all look dismayed. Three of the pugilists are inscribed: 'Big Ben' [Benjamin Brain], 'Humphries', and 'Mendoza'; the fourth is Ward. Beneath the design is etched: 'Great Sir, I am arrived from Albion's Court, Who have taken in Dudgeon what you may think Sport; So it may for the present; but we'll soon make it appear, You'll have reason to laugh the wrong side of your ear! Our Traders in Nootka, by some of your Curs, Were all sent to Quod and robb'd of their Furs, Your right so to do which you claim from the Pope, We Britons dont value the end of a rope! It's a farce you may make your weak Subjects believe, But our right's equal to yours from Adam and Eve. Therefore if you don't make us immediate amends, No longer can we look upon you as Friends, Should you wish for a War we have got a new race, Of such brave fighting fellows, not the Devil dare face! A sample I've brought, only four of our men, Mendoza, Dick Humphries, Joe Ward, and Big Ben: So great is their power each Lad with one blow, Would knock down an Ox, or twelve Spaniards lay low, At home we can raise twelve hundred like these, That would crush all your Troops as easy as fleas. For Centuries past England's rul'd o'er the main, And if it please Heavn'n hope to do so again. Thus with Sailors and Bruisers we your power defy, Being determin'd to conquer or fight till we die!'"--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched above image., Printmaker identified by Andrew Edmunds as Frederick George Byron., Text etched below image: 'Great Sir, I am arrived from Albion's Court, Who have taken in Dudgeon what you may think Sport; So it may for the present; but we'll soon make it appear, You'll have reason to laugh the wrong side of your ear! Our Traders in Nootka, by some of your Curs, Were all sent to Quod and robb'd of their Furs, Your right so to do which you claim from the Pope, We Britons dont value the end of a rope! It's a farce you may make your weak Subjects believe, But our right's equal to yours from Adam and Eve. Therefore if you don't make us immediate amends, No longer can we look upon you as Friends, Should you wish for a War we have got a new race, Of such brave fighting fellows, not the Devil dare face! A sample I've brought, only four of our men, Mendoza, Dick Humphries, Joe Ward, and Big Ben: So great is their power each Lad with one blow, Would knock down an Ox, or twelve Spaniards lay low, At home we can raise twelve hundred like these, That would crush all your Troops as easy as fleas. For Centuries past England's rul'd o'er the main, And if it please Heavn'n hope to do so again. Thus with Sailors and Bruisers we your power defy, Being determin'd to conquer or fight till we die!', Publisher's advertisement in lower left corner of image: In Hollands Exhibition Rooms may be seen the largest collection in Europe of humorous prints., Sheet trimmed to plate mark., and Formerly mounted on blue paper, with residue on verso.
Publisher:
Pubd. by Wm. Holland, No. 50 Oxford St.
Subject (Geographic):
Spain.
Subject (Name):
Charles IV, King of Spain, 1748-1819, Humphries, Richard, -1827., Bryan, Benjamin, 1753-1794., and Ward, Joseph, active 1790.
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Ambassadors, British, Audiences, Boxers (Sports), Ethnic stereotypes, Kings, and Reception rooms
Grant, C. J. (Charles Jameson), active 1830-1852, artist
Published / Created:
[between 1830 and 1852]
Call Number:
Drawings G761 no. 1 Box D123
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
An artist (left) with a caricatured face looks on with horror as a bust falls on the head of the Lord, the sitter, who jumps and shreaks with pain, his foot breaking the window (right). In the background the Lord's round, well-dressed wife looks on in horror and Sketch on verso in pencil shows a boxer with gloves in a fighting stance. The figures in ink on recto, the artist and his lordship, bleed-through the image on verso
Description:
Title from caption written above image on recto; image on verso untitled., Verses below image begin: " A poor sculptor with his work elated, on a fickle lord one evening waited ; with his Lordship's bust ... Now her Ladyship with great acknowledg'd the sculptor's work to be a striking likeness.", Place and date of creation based on Grant's known place of residence and years of activity., and For further information, consult library staff.
Subject (Topic):
Artists, Boxers (Sports), Boxing, Couples, Distress, Pain, Sculptors, and Sculptures
Grant, C. J. (Charles Jameson), active 1830-1852, artist
Published / Created:
[between 1830 and 1852]
Call Number:
Drawings G761 no. 1 Box D123
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
An artist (left) with a caricatured face looks on with horror as a bust falls on the head of the Lord, the sitter, who jumps and shreaks with pain, his foot breaking the window (right). In the background the Lord's round, well-dressed wife looks on in horror and Sketch on verso in pencil shows a boxer with gloves in a fighting stance. The figures in ink on recto, the artist and his lordship, bleed-through the image on verso
Description:
Title from caption written above image on recto; image on verso untitled., Verses below image begin: " A poor sculptor with his work elated, on a fickle lord one evening waited ; with his Lordship's bust ... Now her Ladyship with great acknowledg'd the sculptor's work to be a striking likeness.", Place and date of creation based on Grant's known place of residence and years of activity., and For further information, consult library staff.
Subject (Topic):
Artists, Boxers (Sports), Boxing, Couples, Distress, Pain, Sculptors, and Sculptures
A man (a pugilist?) carrying his hat in his right hand runs along the street of Covent Garden Pizza, a switch in his left hand with a bundle of switches in under his left arm
Description:
Title devised by cataloger., Eight lines of verse in two columns below image: [The] roaring blades who nightly rove, [the] fam'd Broughtonian sons ..., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., Temporary local subject terms: John Smith, fl. 1732-1746., Watermark: countermark W., and Manuscript note in later hand above image: Jack Smith better known by the name of Buck Horse -- The celebrated old pugilist -- Scene Covent Garden Piazza.
Publisher:
Publish'd & sold by Thos. Bowen, Printseller at [the] Golden Pallet in Shug Lane, near the Haymarket, St. James's
