The English sportsman sits in a chair with his feet supported on a stool, gun in hand. He wears a hat with an enormous brim. A negro servant stands behind him (right) holding up an umbrella and a branch to beat off flies. A negro boy approaches his master, who grins delightedly, with a huge goblet on a salver. Below the design: "Make haste with the Sangaree, Quashie, and tell Quaco to drive the Birds up to me, I'm ready". Under a palm-tree (left) is a table covered with food: a shoulder of mutton (?), fish, a sucking-pig, a round of bee(?). On the ground are many bottles, some on their sides, a basket of pineapples and limes (or lemons), and a row of large jars: 'Royal Punch 5 gal:', 'Sangaree 5 Gal:', 'Brandy', 'Rum' [on its side], 'Sangrorum 10 Gal' [extra-large and close to the sportsman]; also a much smaller jar of 'Water' [broken], and a number of empty bottles. In the middle distance a negro runs, driving birds towards the sportsman. Near him in the middle distance, a second sportsman reclines on a settee; a negress holds an umbrella over his head. The scene is a flat sunny plain, with distant hills. From British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from item., A satire on the decadence of Englishmen in West Indies, published shortly after the successful passage of Wilberforce's bill to abolish slavery., Description based on imperfect impression; sheet trimmed with loss of publisher's advertisement below title. From a more complete impression in the British Museum online catalogue, advertisement reads: London. Of Mr Holland may be had the following West India Prints, Johnny Newcome in the Island of Jamaica - A Grand Jamaica Ball - Martial Law in Jamaica - The Blessings of Jamaica - and a Segar Smoking Society in Jamaica 5s each - A large Portrait of Rachel Pringle of Barbadoes 7s 6 - Likewise Gillray's Sale of English Beauties in the East Indies 7s 6'., and For further information, consult library staff.
Publisher:
Published Novr. 1, 1807 by William Holland, No. 11 Cockspur Street, London
Subject (Geographic):
West Indies, British. and West Indies, British
Subject (Topic):
Slavery, Race relations, Alcoholic beverages, Game bird hunting, Leisure, Enslaved persons, and Umbrellas
Five men accompanied by two dogs leisurly sit around a small table in a tavern smoking long-stemmed tobacco pipes and drinking while one of their number squeezes juice and pulp from a fruit into a large punch bowl resting on the table
Description:
Title and artist's signature inscribed in the artist's hand below image. and Sheet trimmed to oval shape.
