Leaf 7. Caricatures drawn & etched by those celebrated artists Gillray, Rowlandson, Cruikshanks, &c.
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"George III, wearing a crown and ermine-trimmed robe is seated in an arm-chair asleep. The tassels of his girdle are thistles, indicative of Scottish influence. Round his neck is a chain from which hangs a cross, indicating the Romanizing tendencies of which he was accused at this time, see British Museum Satires No. 5534, &c. His crown is being taken from his head by a judge in wig and ermine-trimmed robes, evidently Mansfield. Over the king's shoulder looks a Scot in Highland dress, evidently Bute, holding the sceptre which he has taken from the king's hand. He leans towards Mansfield saying "What shall be done with it?" Mansfield answers, "Wear it Your sel my Leard." On the king's left a man stands who holds in both hands the other side of the crown, he says, "No troth I'se carry it to Charly & hel not part with it again Mon!" He is dressed an an English gentleman, though his language indicates that he is a Scottish Jacobite; he is perhaps intended for some unpopular Scot, perhaps Wedderburn, then attorney-general. Behind the king's chair America, wearing a feathered head-dress, watches the scene; he says "We in America have no Crown to Fight for or Loose." In the foreground (right) sits Britannia asleep, her head resting on her hand; by her side lies the British lion, also asleep and chained to the ground. At her feet are two maps, one of "Great Britain" (torn) lies on one of "America". On the left stands a man in rags with bare legs and dishevelled hair, clasping his hands together and saying "I have let them quietly strip me of every Thing"; he appears to represent the British commercial community. An Irishman next him, a harp under his arm, walks away saying "I'le take Care of Myself & Family". The background to these figures is a hedge; behind it on the right is a Dutchman (the United Provinces) helping himself to the contents of two hives."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Restrike, with "J. Gillray fecit" added in lower right corner. For original issue of the plate, see no. 5667 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 5., Plate from: Caricatures drawn & etched by those celebrated artists Gillray, Rowlandson, Cruikshanks, &c. [London] : [Field & Tuer], [ca. 1868?], Cf. Wright, T. Works of James Gillray, the caricaturist with the history of his life and times, page 30., and On leaf 7 of: Caricatures drawn & etched by those celebrated artists Gillray, Rowlandson, Cruikshanks, &c.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 15th, 1780, by W. Renegal [i.e. Field & Tuer]
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Mansfield, William Murray, Earl of, 1705-1793, Bute, John Stuart, Earl of, 1713-1792, and Rosslyn, Alexander Wedderburn, Earl of, 1733-1805
Subject (Topic):
Britannia (Symbolic character), Commerce, Sleeping, Beehives, Harps, and Lions
"George III, wearing a crown and ermine-trimmed robe is seated in an arm-chair asleep. The tassels of his girdle are thistles, indicative of Scottish influence. Round his neck is a chain from which hangs a cross, indicating the Romanizing tendencies of which he was accused at this time, see BMSat 5534, &c. His crown is being taken from his head by a judge in wig and ermine-trimmed robes, evidently Mansfield. Over the king's shoulder looks a Scot in Highland dress, evidently Bute, holding the sceptre which he has taken from the king's hand. He leans towards Mansfield saying "What shall be done with it?" Mansfield answers, "Wear it Your sel my Leard." On the king's left a man stands who holds in both hands the other side of the crown, he says, "No troth I'se carry it to Charly & hel not part with it again Mon!" He is dressed an an English gentleman, though his language indicates that he is a Scottish Jacobite; he is perhaps intended for some unpopular Scot, perhaps Wedderburn, then attorney-general. Behind the king's chair America, wearing a feathered head-dress, watches the scene; he says "We in America have no Crown to Fight for or Loose." In the foreground (right) sits Britannia asleep, her head resting on her hand; by her side lies the British lion, also asleep and chained to the ground. At her feet are two maps, one of "Great Britain" (torn) lies on one of "America". On the left stands a man in rags with bare legs and dishevelled hair, clasping his hands together and saying "I have let them quietly strip me of every Thing"; he appears to represent the British commercial community. An Irishman next him, a harp under his arm, walks away saying "I'le take Care of Myself & Family". The background to these figures is a hedge; behind it on the right is a Dutchman (the United Provinces) helping himself to the contents of two hives."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from item.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 15th, 1780, by W. Renegal
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Mansfield, William Murray, Earl of, 1705-1793, Bute, John Stuart, Earl of, 1713-1792, and Rosslyn, Alexander Wedderburn, Earl of, 1733-1805
Subject (Topic):
Britannia (Symbolic character)., Commerce, Sleeping, Beehives, Harps, and Lions
