"An imitation of Patriotick Meteors, British Museum Satires No. 4887 (1771). Three heads, with rays or fire streaming from them, dart downwards and to the right into the gaping jaws of a monster from which issue the flames of Hell (cf., e.g., British Museum Satires No. 10011), inscribed Gulf of Oblivion. Alderman Wood is foremost, from his neck hangs a rolled document: Queen's Will. His trail of fire expands behind him from the end of his tiny pigtail, and is inscribed Wisdom [see British Museum Satires No. 13899, &c.]. Next is the profile head of Sheriff Waithman; the fiery trail expands from the end of his black bag, and is inscribed Inquest. Last is the head of a horse, with a black bag and tail like that of Waithman, inscribed Queen's Mayor [Thorpe]. Double civic chains hang from the necks of the last two."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Exitus acta probat
Description:
Title etched below image., Mounted to 58 x 39 cm., Mounted (with one other print) on leaf 105 in volume 2 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair.", and Figures of "Waithman" and "Wood" identified in ink below image; date "14 Sept. 1821" written in lower right corner. Typed extract of sixteen lines from the British Museum catalogue description is pasted opposite (on verso of preceding leaf).
Publisher:
Pubd. by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James's St.
Subject (Geographic):
England and London.
Subject (Name):
Wood, Matthew, Sir, 1768-1843, Waithman, Robert, 1764-1833, Thorp, John Thomas., and Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821
Subject (Topic):
Death and burial, Meteors, Monsters, Wills, Sheriffs, Municipal officials, and Horses
"Waithman stands in his shop, in profile to the right, holding a yard-stick of 2 yards, like a wand of office. He wears black court dress, with black bag attached to his short hair or coat-collar, ruffles, knee-breeches, and sword, his alderman's chain round his shoulders. From his coat-tails project a barbed tail and a roll of fringed Shawls. The right leg terminates in a cloven hoof. At his feet are rolls of Shawls and H. Ell Wide Stuff [cf. British Museum Satires No. 14194]. A long counter extends across the shop behind him, with a fashionably dressed young shopman rolling material. On the wall behind is a row of neat drawers below a shelf on which are rolls of textiles. The head seems to be copied from Dighton's earlier portrait, British Museum Satires No. 13024."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Mounted to 58 x 39 cm., Mounted (with one other print) on leaf 105 in volume 2 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair.", and Figure of "Waithman" identified in ink at bottom of sheet; date "1 Sept. 1821" written in lower right corner. Typed extract of six lines from the British Museum catalogue description is pasted opposite (on verso of preceding leaf).
Publisher:
Pubd. by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James's St.
Subject (Geographic):
England and London.
Subject (Name):
Waithman, Robert, 1764-1833 and Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821
Subject (Topic):
Death and burial, Interiors, Fabric shops, Counters, Sheriffs, Rulers (Instruments), Shawls, and Textiles
"Three men shear four rams with human faces and long spiral horns. The first (left), still unshorn, has the bottle-nose and drink-blotched face of Curtis; a large bell hangs from his neck; he bleats B A A A A A A. His shearer says: Come along you Blubber--alias Bell Weather S'Blood what a Cur 'tis; in his pocket is a paper: Quintus Curtius. He is Quin, who took an active part against Flower. The second, Councillor Waithman (a draper), holds Flower, the Mayor, labelled The Flower of the Flock, who is almost shaved; he says: Egad I have Cut them preelly [sic] close; his shears, like those of Quin, are inscribed Vox Popula [sic]. The third, Alderman Harvey Combe, uses a comb. He holds Alderman Price and says to Waithman: Ne'er Wait man I have Combed them well--. Price says: N'o Blubber Sperm fetches the best Price. Beside him is another ram (Shaw), completely shorn and dejected; it says: Pshaw I can never Stand upright in the presence of a great Mon but always Keep Booing, booing [cf. British Museum Satires No. 11306]."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Isaac Cruikshank in the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Watermark: Ruse & Turners 180[5?].
