Watercolor view looking west towards Gibraltar. The eastern side of the Rock rises in the center of the drawing, with the "Signal House" on top labeled in black ink; the gradual decline in elevation to the left ends at "Europa Pt.", also labeled in black ink. Numerous ships sail in the waters of the foreground and background
Description:
Title written below image, in brown ink in a contemporary hand., Signed by the artist in black ink below image, in lower left., Date of production based on the death date of Richard Bull, who owned and likely assembled the album in which this drawing was found., Formerly laid in at page 125 in an album containing 402 pages, bound in red morocco leather with single gilt ruled line; spine stamped in gold "Drawings." Now disassembled and matted separately: Bull, R. Scrapbook of drawings. [England], [not after 1806]., Matted to 49 x 37 cm., and Original case shelved separately.
A medley print with images showing, from top left: an illuminated manuscript in gothic script with decorated capital letters with florishes in red and blue ink; a print showing a naval battle with burning ships, possibly depicting the defeat of Baron de Pointis' fleet in the Bay of Gibraltar, 20 March 1705; a bust portrait, possibly of Simón Susarte, the goatherder, wearing a turban and facing left, in profile, who helped the Bourbon Spanish in a sneak attack on Gibraltar during the Twelfth Siege of Gibraltar in 1704. Below, a second row, beginning with a print referencing the Battle of Ramillies, showing a man on horseback with his sword drawn looking down at an opponent whose head has been blasted off by a cannon ball, with the caption "May 23 NS 1706. 6000 prisoners. 8000 kill'd. Standards a great number"; covering a portion of the naval battle print above and forming the background of most of the medley, an image of a newspaper The Post Boy from Thu[...] 1706 with two woodcuts in the header, mostly obscured by another print, hand-colored, with an the image of an English grenadier, shown full-length standing, holding a musket. A third level, from the left, a playing card showing the ten(?) of hearts shown behind an image of a newspaper; on top of the newspaper a half-length portrait of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (after Kneller) in armor; on the far right on the same level as the playing card behind the newspaper, a numbered playing card (possibly the seven of spades), covered by an image of a military insignia(?). On the bottom level lower left, a print, after the painting Battle of Blenheim by John Wootton, showing the Battle of Blenheim identified as "Hostetten" (left) and Blenheim (right) with calvary charging into the Danube and a commander on a horse rearing, hoofs raised, in the left foreground. In the lower right, a sheet with the title of the medley, artist statement, and imprint
Description:
Title from item., Date of publication from dealer's description., Sheet trimmed within plate mark with slight loss in lower left corner., and Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires.
Publisher:
Sutton Nicholls
Subject (Geographic):
Gibraltar.
Subject (Name):
Marlborough, John Churchill, Duke of, 1650-1722, and Susarte, Simón,
Subject (Topic):
Spanish Succession, War of, 1701-1714, Ramillies, Battle of, Belgium, 1706, Campaigns & battles, Generals, British, Naval warfare, and Soldiers
At the top of a cliff overlooking the sea, Don Quixote (personifying Spain) and Sancho (a Dutchman) discuss plans for a seige while a monkey (representing France) stands on the neck of the Don's horse, pointing toward the moon in which is visible the fortress at Gibraltar. A reference to plans for the combined attack on Gibraltar by French and Spanish forces. The attack came in September of 1782 and was repulsed by the British
Description:
Title from item., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Pubd. Augt. 22d, 1782, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
On the right, John Bull, standing next to a broken anchor, raises his arms in despair saying, "'Tis lost! Irrecoverably lost!" Above his head, a demon flies away with a partially rolled up map of America while a Frenchman standing to his right offers him snuff as consolation. Behind the Frenchman, an angry Spaniard points to the rock of Gibraltar in the background and the exploding ships below it. On the far left, a Dutchman watches the scene in front of him
Description:
Title from item., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Mounted to 28 x 42 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. Aprl. 14th, 1783, by W. Humphrey, No. 227 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Gibraltar and Great Britain
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Dutch, French, Spanish, History, Foreign relations, Anchors, Demons, and Clothing & dress
