Satire against corruption with an image of a huge automaton representing the new London University (later University College, London) tramples over greedy clerics, doctors, lawyers and the crown. Five lines of text below image: "I saw a vision, a giant form appeard, it's eys where [sic] burning lights even of Gas, and on its learned head it bore A Crown of many towers, It's Body was an Engine yea of steam it's arms where [corn?] and the legs with which it stode like unto presses that men called printers use, from whence felt ever and anon small Books that fed the little people of the Earth, It rose and in it's hand it tool a Broom to sweep the rubish [sic] from the face of the land, the Special pleaders & thier [sic] wigs also & the Quack Doctors also and the ghosts & those tha twhear Horns & the Crowns of those kigns that set themselv's above the laws & the Delays in Chancery it utterly destroy'd, likewiase it sweept from the Clergy every Plurality, Nevertheless the Lawyers & the Parsons & divers others kick't up a great dust!!!"
Description:
Title from text above image., Shortshanks is the pseudonym of Robert Seymour., Date from online British Museum catalogue., and Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires.
"Brougham, in wig and gown, stands in Old Square, Lincolns Inn, the roof of the Hall, which forms a background, being so inscribed; houses are on the right. He carries on his head, which is in profile to the right, a tray, inscribed London College; this supports a neo-Gothic building with pinnacles and a clock-tower; tiny trees and figures in academic dress round the building show the scale. From its four corners rise labels inscribed in large letters, Etymology, Orthography, Prosody, Syntax. He says Who'I buy? very cheap, very free. From one shoulder hangs a brief-bag inscribed Subscriptions; from the other a ribbon supporting a handsomely bound book: List of Share Holders. Round his waist is a hoop which also encircles the waists of five little puppets: a man in archaic court-dress, holding a feathered hat, next a stout lady holding a fan and a large purse (? the Duke of St. Albans (as Falconer) and Mrs. Coutts, cf. British Museum Satires No. 14875), a fashionably dressed man in top-hat and furred and frogged coat, and Lord Eldon holding the mace and the Purse of the Great Seal. On the ground is a toy horse on wheels ridden by a yokel in a smock."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image. and Mounted to: 43 x 30 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. July 1825. by G. Humphrey, 24 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Brougham and Vaux, Henry Brougham, Baron, 1778-1868, Eldon, John Scott, Earl of, 1751-1838, St. Albans, Harriot Mellon, Duchess of, 1777?-1837, St. Albans, William Beauclerk, Duke of, 1801-1849, Lincoln's Inn (London, England),, and University College, London.
Subject (Topic):
Plazas, Head-carrying, Building models, Toys, Puppets, Books, Bags, and Ceremonial maces