"Mrs. Clarke's house is on the right. A military officer (Wardle) wrapped in a cloak slips a purse into the hand of a meretricious young woman at the door, with a belt inscribed Favorit. Mrs. Clarke, her breast much exposed, leans from a window to look down at him. Two other men look from other windows. Above the door is a lantern inscribed: Now Exhibiting Wonders upon Wonders or Mrs Clarkes Puppet Show Which has given satisn to Po[ ? pulace] and Prince. Below this is a board: All the World's a Stage and Men and Women merely Players-- some play the upper some the under part, but chief Play that--most foreign to their heart. On the door: Knock and you shall Enter. On the wall (by Mrs. Clarke) is a sign for "Globe Fire Insurance". On the right the Duke of York walks away from the house; he wears a mitre and carries a crosier; a bishop's robe, on which are the words "Men have their Entrances & their Exits". Next to him walks an elderly lawyer (Adam) and a fat parson (O'Meara) hurries after him. Facing Mrs. Clarke's house is a row of houses: Prospect Row; old women, Maiden Ladies, watch from upper windows, as does an old man with a telescope who puts a grotesque head out of an attic window inscribed Peeping Toms Observatory. He says: O the Devil choak her he's Waddling in as Im a prying Croaker. Two cats fight on the roof; words issue from one of them: "Come what come may the Cat will mew. The Dog will have his day"."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Croaking member surveying the inside, outside and backside of Mrs. Clarkes premises
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue. and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Adam, William,--1751-1839--Caricatures and cartoons., Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Clarke, Mary Anne Thompson,--1776-1852--Caricatures and cartoons., Croker, John Wilson,--1780-1857--Caricatures and cartoons., Frederick Augustus,--Prince, Duke of York and Albany,--1763-1827--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Tegg, Thomas, 1776-1845, publisher., and Wardle, Gwyllym Lloyd,--1762?-1833--Caricatures and cartoons.
"Mrs. Clarke stands in a massive archway, inscribed 'CLARKES PASSAGE', addressing a crowd hurrying towards her. She wears a military coat over a white dress, cocked hat, and sword, and stands above the street level. She says: "Gentlemen it is no use to rush on in this manner -the principal places have been disposed of these three weeks and I assure you there is not even standing room". The crowd consists of military officers, elderly and often disabled, two fat parsons, a few civilians, some foppish, some the reverse, one of whom holds up a money-bag inscribed '500'. They completely fill the wide space before Mrs. Clarke, whose 'Passage' is indicated as her house by the opposite house on the extreme left. This is in 'Croakers Row', and from an attic window a little figure (Croker) peers through a telescope, as in British Museum Satires No. 11238."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue. and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Clarke, Mary Anne Thompson,--1776-1852--Caricatures and cartoons., Croker, John Wilson,--1780-1857--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Tegg, Thomas, 1776-1845, publisher.