"A counterblast to British Museum Satires No. 14110, and an imitation of its manner, in the guise of a companion plate. As in that plate, a zebra with a man's head stands in an oval bandbox, but in profile to the right. The head is (presumably) Lord Conyngham; the creature is grey, scraggy rather than plump as before, and with much longer (ass's) ears. On it sits Lord Francis Conyngham; in place of the Queen's bandbox is a larger box, torn to show that it contains fur, and inscribed 'Lady Eliza[beth's] Muff Box'; this covers the rider from chest to thigh. In his right hand is a rolled document: 'Bishop [of Londo]n's golden rule Kings can do no wrong' [see British Museum Satires No. 14133]. The zebra's neck is encircled by necklaces of jewels; in place of the sieve in British Museum Satires No. 14110, a hand (the King's) from the right margin holds out a plate of jewels close to its voracious mouth. The lid of the bandbox in which it stands is inscribed 'Hertford [lightly scored through] Cunningham' [see British Museum Satires No. 13847]. The box, which is patterned with roses, is full of papers: 'Essays by exalted writers bought by the Pall Mall Booksell[er]'; 'Croker Poetical Slanders'; 'Malicious Anecdotes for John Bull', and a newspaper headed 'John Bull Sunday Mag . . .' Behind (right) is the Cottage with a group of stag, doe, and fawn, and (left) Windsor Castle."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Companion to the Queens ass in a band-box
Description:
Title etched below image., Attribution to Charles Williams and date of publication from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Publisher's announcement at bottom of plate: NB. In a few days will be published a companion to the Black Ram by the same author., Mounted to 58 x 39 cm., Mounted on leaf 46 in volume 2 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair.", and Names of "George IV" and "Ld. Conyngham" written in pencil at bottom of sheet, the former an incorrect identification. Typed extract of eighteen lines from the British Museum catalogue description is pasted beneath print.
Publisher:
Pubd. by S.W. Fores, corner of Sackville St., Picadilly [sic]
Subject (Name):
Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821., Conyngham, Francis Nathaniel Conyngham, Marquess, 1797-1876, Conyngham, Henry Conyngham, Marquess, 1766-1832, George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830., Conyngham, Elizabeth Conyngham, Marchioness, -1861., Huntly, Elizabeth, Marchioness of, 1799-1839., Hertford, Isabella Anne Ingram-Seymour-Conway, Marchioness of, 1760-1834., Croker, John Wilson, 1780-1857., Howley, William, 1766-1848., and Windsor Castle,
Subject (Topic):
Adultery, Zebras, Boxes, Documents, Jewelry, Dwellings, and Castles & palaces
"George IV sits on Lady Conyngham's lap, kissing her amorously; he wears a dressing-gown with ungartered stockings. Lady Elizabeth (right) bends over him, supporting his elbow, while her sister, Lady Maria Harriet, stands behind the sofa, close to her mother. All three women are in evening dress. In the foreground (right) Lord Francis, tall and fashionable, stands directed to the right, looking furtively over his right shoulder. He holds a large purse, and is slipping coins from it into his trouser-pocket; he says: Well as this Purse must go to Knight-on [the K scored through] I'll make the most of it. At his feet is an open book: Lord C . . . Advice to his Son * Get money . . . it Honest if you can--. The words are partly hidden by a smaller book: Cunningham Poems. Behind, on the extreme left, and directed to the left, Lord Conyngham, with small horns and large ass's ears, sits on a chamber-pot inscribed Chamberl . . . [ain], holding a long wand of office. He scowls over his shoulder at his family, saying, It's a Blessing to be Happy and Contented. Behind him is a (pictorial) fire-screen mounted on a pole which terminates in a crown: Conyngham crawls on hands and knees, blindfolded and bound; his wife sits on his back, with the King on her lap, embracing her. Behind the closely grouped heads of the King and the three ladies are hanging bookshelves, two of the books being open: A Lecture upon Horns facing a stag's antlers, and Jerry Sneak [the hen-pecked husband in Foote's Mayor of Garratt]. On the floor in the foreground are an open book: A Mothers advice to her Daughters [cf. British Museum Satires 14401] and a paper: A List of Choice Plays She stoops to Conquer. All in the Wrong. Bold stroke for a Wife. Every Man in his Humour--Careless Husband. Way to keep Him, Tender Husband, School for Wives [scored through], Inconstant &c &c &c."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Imprint truncated; publisher's name possibly erased from plate., Date of publication from the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed to plate mark leaving thread margins., Mounted to 58 x 39 cm., Mounted (with one other print) on leaf 25 in volume 2 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair.", and Figures of "Ld. Conyngham," "Lady Conyngham," and "Geo. IV" identified in ink below image; date "Nov. 1820" written beneath lower right corner of image.
Publisher:
Pubd. by [...]
Subject (Geographic):
England
Subject (Name):
George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Conyngham, Elizabeth Conyngham, Marchioness, -1861, Huntly, Elizabeth, Marchioness of, 1799-1839, Athlumney, Harriet Maria Somerville, Lady, -1843, Conyngham, Francis Nathaniel Conyngham, Marquess, 1797-1876, Conyngham, Henry Conyngham, Marquess, 1766-1832, Conyngham, Elizabeth Conyngham, Marchioness, -1861., Conyngham, Francis Nathaniel Conyngham, Marquess, 1797-1876., and George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830.
