A gentleman, knock-kneed and bespectacled, stands near a table in a print shop or auction gallery. He wears a sword and holds an auction catalog of prints. Possibly a caricature of James Christie, auctioneer
Description:
Title etched below image., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., and With offsetting from another print.
Publisher:
Published as the act directs, May 14, 1777, by J. Lockington, Shug Lane, Golden Square
"A ship-load of English courtesans has just arrived in Calcutta and is being sold by a thin and foppish auctioneer who stands on the extreme left on an improvised rostrum. The women are being inspected by Englishmen and orientals whose appearance is more Turkish than Indian. The central figure is a woman who gives her right hand to an Indian, at whom she looks languishingly, her left to a stout Englishman, over whose head a little black boy holds a tall umbrella. Papers projecting from his pocket are inscribed 'Instructions for the Governor General'. A stout oriental smoking a long pipe holds up the petticoats of a woman in back view who puts her hand on the shoulder of an elderly man wearing a jewelled turban, turning aside from a young military officer. The middle distance is crowded with figures; an enormously fat woman (right) is being weighed in a scale opposite a barrel inscribed 'Lack of Rupees' which she slightly outweighs. On the right is the side of a high warehouse into the door of which a number of weeping women are crowding. Over the door is inscribed, 'Warehouse for unsaleable Goods from Europe NB: To be return'd by the next Ship'. Behind are the masts of a ship with furled sails. In the foreground is a row of seven casks all inscribed 'Leake's Pills'; on them is a box inscribed 'Surgeons Instruments'. The auctioneer stands on a case inscribed 'British-Manufacture' and decorated with crossed birch-rods. Beside it is a smaller case supposed to contain books and inscribed 'For the Amusement of Military Gentlemen. Crazy Tales'; 'Pucelle'; 'Birchini's Dance'; 'Elements of Nature'; 'Female Flagellants Fanny Hill'; 'Sopha'; 'Moral Tales'. The auctioneer's desk is a bale placed on end and inscribed 'Mrs. Phillips (the original inventor) Leicester Field London. For the use of the Supreme Council.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from item., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: Surgeon's instruments -- Leake's pills -- Turbans -- East India Company -- Auctioneer.
Publisher:
Pub'd May 16th 1786, by W. Holland, No. 50 Oxford Strt
"A portrait of James Christie the elder (1730-1803) standing in his auctioneer's rostrum. His head is turned in profile to the left. He smiles insinuatingly, his hands held out, his hammer in his right hand. The word 'eloquence' in the title is engraved at the bottom of the rostrum, and beneath the title is inscribed, "Let me entreat - Ladies - Gentlemen - permit me to put this inestimable piece of elegance under your protection, - only observe;-----------The inexhaustible Munificence of your superlitively [sic] candid Generosity must Harmonise with the refulgent Brilliancy of this little Jewel.! - ! - ". 1 January 1782"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
King of epithets
Description:
Title from item., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Five lines of text below title: Let me entreat, ladies, gentlemen, permit me ..., and Mounted to 29 x 17 cm, matted to 44 x 31 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. Jany. 1st 1782 by H. Humphrey, No. 18 New Bond Street
Title etched below image., Plate from: The Oxford magazine, or, Universal museum ... London : Printed for the authors, v. 7 (1771)., and Matted to 49 x 27 cm.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Name):
Christie, Mr. 1730-1803 (James),, Holland, Henry Fox, Baron, 1705-1774, Mansfield, William Murray, Earl of, 1705-1793, and Bute, John Stuart, Earl of, 1713-1792
"A half length portrait of Christie standing in his auctioneer's rostrum, the upper part of which forms the base of the design. He leans insinuatingly to the left, his head in profile, spectacles on his forehead, his hammer delicately raised."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Three lines of text below title: Will your ladyship do me the honor to say £50-000 - a mere trifle - a brilliant of the first water, an unheard of price for such a lot, surely., Temporary local subject terms: Auctioneers' hammers., Leaf 10 in an album with the spine title: Characatures by Dighton., 1 print : etching with stipple on laid paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 19.8 x 14.9 cm, on sheet 31.1 x 25.5 cm., and Figure identified as "Mr. Christie" in pencil in lower left corner of sheet.
"A half length portrait of Christie standing in his auctioneer's rostrum, the upper part of which forms the base of the design. He leans insinuatingly to the left, his head in profile, spectacles on his forehead, his hammer delicately raised."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Three lines of text below title: Will your ladyship do me the honor to say £50-000 - a mere trifle - a brilliant of the first water, an unheard of price for such a lot, surely., and Temporary local subject terms: Auctioneers' hammers.
