"John Bull, a fat "cit", is beset by descending water covered with the word 'Tax', many times repeated, in which dogs, cats, and pitchforks fall with violence. His eyes and spectacles are transfixed by a pitchfork inscribed 'Window Tax'; the shaft of another inscribed 'Malt & Hops Tax' sticks in his bleeding mouth, dislodging teeth. His paunch is pierced with a third fork; the handle, inscribed 'Tax ...' [&c. &c], supports an angry cat, spitting 'Tax ...' Another falling cat knocks off his wig, which emits a cloud of powder inscribed 'Powder Tax'. His gouty feet, in slashed shoes, are stabbed by three pitchforks: 'Corn Laws' [the biggest, cf. British Museum Satires No. 15510]; 'Leather Tax'; 'Land Tax'. A 'Dog Tax' strikes down J. B.'s dog, its collar inscribed 'Poor Tray'. Another dog worries a cat (left). J. B. holds up a derelict umbrella, inscribed 'Trade', pierced by many prongs and useless."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Raining cats dogs and pitchforks with the prongs downward
Description:
Title etched above image., Caption title below image., and Text below caption title: It must be the fault of the weather - for when it rains - it rains taxes - & when it shines - it shines taxes.
Publisher:
Pub. March 20, 1830, by T. McLean, 26 Haymarket, London
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Topic):
Taxation, John Bull (Symbolic character), Animal attachs, Cats, Dogs, Pitchforks, and Umbrellas
