"A close parody of West's picture, 'The Death of Wolfe' (1771). The three officers supporting the mortally wounded Pitt are (left to right) Burke, Pepper Arden (Master of the Rolls), and Dundas. From Burke's pocket projects a paper 'Reflections upon £3700 Pr Ann.' (The policy indicated by his famous book, see BMSat 7675, &c, had been rewarded by two pensions, see BMSat 8654.) Dundas, wearing a kilt, offers Pitt a glass of wine (in place of stanching his wound); a bottle of 'Port' projects from his coat-pocket. The officer behind holding the British flag is identified by Lord Holland as Chatham and the man who supports him as Powys, noted for his propensity to tears (see BMSat 6642). The White Horse of Hanover (cf. BMSat 8691, &c.) on the flag is more conspicuous than in West's picture, and a scroll inscribed 'Magna Chart[a]' has been added. In the group facing Pitt the place of the Mohawk Indian seated on the ground is taken by Loughborough, half-naked, the purse of the Great Seal replacing the Indian's beaded bag, the mace that of his musket, a bloodstained headsman's axe that of his tomahawk. In place of the beaded headdress is the Chancellor's wig surmounted by a monster with the head of a cock, whose limbs are snakes. The two men who lean forward to Wolfe, pointing back to the messenger with the news of victory, are dressed as running-footmen in livery and hold the long sticks with the head enclosing an egg carried by these men. Ink-pots are slung across their shoulders by bands inscribed 'Ist Treasury Runner' and '2d Tre . . .', showing that they are the two Secretaries to the Treasury, George Rose and Charles Long. Grenville, in peer's robes, stands between Lord Mansfield and Windham, who supports him. In place of West's handsome young officer who runs up with the French flag is a man with the face of a demon holding a tattered tricolour flag inscribed 'Libertas', its shaft broken. A large bonnet-rouge lies on the ground. The couple who stand on the extreme right watching Pitt with clasped hands are Richmond and a man with a wooden leg. Richmond, in general's uniform, his bald head contrasting with the luxuriant hair of West's corresponding figure, has a cannon slung to his back to indicate his Mastership of the Ordnance (cf. BMSat 6921, &c.) in which, however, he had been succeeded by Cornwallis (Feb. 1795), see BMSat 8341. His weeping companion has been identified as Wilberforce, though his wooden leg might indicate Brook Watson, Commissary-General (see vol. vi). The background differs from West's picture. In place of the confused fighting and the smoke which surrounds the Heights of Abraham, the Ministerial cavalry advance in even line, rank upon rank, and put to flight a small body of sansculottes with bonnets-rouges (left). They have a standard on which is a crown. ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Text below title: "We have overcome all opposition!, exclaimed the messengers. "I'm satisfied," said the dying hero, & expired in the moment of victory., Text at botton of plate: To Benjn. West Esqr., President of the Royal Academy, this attempt to emulate the beauties of his unequal'd picture ..., Sheet trimmed within plate mark on upper and lower edges., and Temporary local subject terms: Emblems: White Horse of Hanover -- Purse of the Seal -- Allusion to French Revolution -- Treasury -- Bills: Sedition Bill.
Publisher:
Pubd. Decr. 17th, 1795, by H. Humphrey, 37 New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Dundas, Henry, 1742-1811, Mansfield, David Murray, Earl of, 1727-1796, Rosslyn, Alexander Wedderburn, Earl of, 1733-1805, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Rose, George, 1744-1818, Wilberforce, William, 1759-1833, Long, Charles, 1760-1838, Lilford, Thomas Powys, Baron, 1743-1800, Richmond, Charles Lennox, 3d Duke of, 1735-1806, Chatham, John Pitt, Earl of, 1756-1835, Alvanley, Richard Pepper Arden, Baron, 1745-1804, Watson, Brook, 1735-1807, Wolfe, James, 1727-1759., and West, Benjamin, 1738-1820.
Title from item., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Attribution to Dent in British Museum catalogue., Temporary local subject terms: Kitchen utensils -- Saveall -- Door of the Treasury -- Pensions -- Debts of George IV -- Quebec Act -- Livery of London., and Mounted to 28 x 36 cm.
Publisher:
Pub'd as the act directs, for the proprietor, by J. Carter, Oxford Street
Subject (Geographic):
England
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, Earl of Chatham, 1708-1778, Dorchester, Guy Carleton, Baron, 1724-1808, and Watson, Brook, 1735-1807
"Alderman Watson stands in profile to the right, bending forward, his wooden leg concealed behind a bench (left); he holds out a document with a pendent seal inscribed 'Pension for Services'. From the bench, on which is his hat, hangs a paper inscribed: 'Memda of Importce To say a few short Words about myself Trade Independent &c. one word more I will not receive one Farthing of my Pension till . . . the next Genl Election is over'. The last six words have been scored through."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from British Museum catalogue., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., 1 print : soft-ground etching on wove paper ; plate mark 17.8 x 11.2 cm, on sheet 19.7 x 13.2 cm., Mounted with three other prints on leaf 6 of James Sayers's Folio album of 144 caricatures., and The figure in the print is identified by a small strip of paper (approximately 5 x 35 mm) pasted in lower left corner of sheet with their name in letterpress: Mr. Brooke Watson.
"Alderman Watson stands in profile to the right, bending forward, his wooden leg concealed behind a bench (left); he holds out a document with a pendent seal inscribed 'Pension for Services'. From the bench, on which is his hat, hangs a paper inscribed: 'Memda of Importce To say a few short Words about myself Trade Independent &c. one word more I will not receive one Farthing of my Pension till . . . the next Genl Election is over'. The last six words have been scored through."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from British Museum catalogue., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., and Mounted on page 9 with three other prints.
"Alderman Watson stands in profile to the right, bending forward, his wooden leg concealed behind a bench (left); he holds out a document with a pendent seal inscribed 'Pension for Services'. From the bench, on which is his hat, hangs a paper inscribed: 'Memda of Importce To say a few short Words about myself Trade Independent &c. one word more I will not receive one Farthing of my Pension till . . . the next Genl Election is over'. The last six words have been scored through."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from British Museum catalogue. and Signed with the monogram of James Sayers.
"Brook Watson (1735-1807) walks in profile to the right, using a sturdy tasselled cane; his right hand is in his coat-pocket. He is well preserved; a slight stoop suggests hurried walking (on his (right) wooden leg) rather than age. He wears a round hat, double-breasted coat, frilled shirt, and breeches; a small pigtail and a spatterdash suggest a quasi-military career."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Elderly man with peg leg and cane
Description:
Title and printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Text in lower left portion of design, possibly an additional publication line "Pubd. by Dighton", has been obscured with etched lines., Leaf 7 in an album with the spine title: Characatures by Dighton., 1 print : etching on laid paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 25.5 x 15.1 cm, on sheet 31.1 x 25.5 cm., and Pencil annotation in lower left corner of sheet is mostly trimmed away.
"Brook Watson (1735-1807) walks in profile to the right, using a sturdy tasselled cane; his right hand is in his coat-pocket. He is well preserved; a slight stoop suggests hurried walking (on his (right) wooden leg) rather than age. He wears a round hat, double-breasted coat, frilled shirt, and breeches; a small pigtail and a spatterdash suggest a quasi-military career."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Elderly man with peg leg and cane
Description:
Title and printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Text in lower left portion of design, possibly an additional publication line "Pubd. by Dighton", has been obscured with etched lines., and Ms. note in contemporary hand below design.
