One of many satires on the morganatic marriage of George IV and Mrs. Fitzherbert. on the left Mrs. Fitzherbert as Dido sits on a funeral pyre made up of phallic-shaped logs and watches the Prince of Wales sail away in a small boat whose flag is inscribed with the word 'Windsor' [Castle]. The wind which fills the ragged sail of the boat appears to be produced by a blast from the mouths of Dundas and Pitt, whose profile heads are on the extreme left. It is directed at Dido's head, and has blown off a royal crown, an orb and sceptre, and a coronet decorated with the Prince of Wales's feathers. With a tragic gesture she holds out in her right hand a mutilated crucifix. Her breast is bare and her girdle of 'Chastity' is broken. At her feet lie emblems of Popery: a sharp-toothed harrow inscribed 'For the conversion of Heretics', shackles, a pair of birch-rods, an axe, a scourge, and a rosary and crucifix. The pyre seems to be made of money-bags. The boat is the 'Honor'; the Prince is seated between Fox, who holds the tiller, and Burke, who holds the sail; his arms are folded and he looks over his shoulder at Fox, saying, "I never saw her in my Life". Fox echoes "No, never in all his Life, Damme"; Burke, wearing a Jesuit's biretta, says "Never", and North, who sits beside him, apparently asleep, says "No, never". After the title is engraved: 'Sic transit gloria Reginae' (pardoy of "Sic transit gloria mundi"). See British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Attributed to Gillray in the British Museum catalogue., CtY-LW, Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
S. W. Fores, No. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Burke, Edmund,--1729-1797--Caricatures and cartoons., Fitzherbert, Maria Anne,--1756-1837--Caricatures and cartoons., Fores, S. W., publisher., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., George--IV,--King of Great Britain,--1762-1830--Caricatures and cartoons., George--IV,--King of Great Britain,--1762-1830--Finance, Personal., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Melville, Henry Dundas,--Viscount,--1742-1811--Caricatures and cartoons., North, Frederick,--Lord,--1732-1792--Caricatures and cartoons., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., and Virgil.--Aeneis.--Liber 4--Parodies, imitations, etc.
Subject (Topic):
Anti-Catholicism., Chastity belts., Emblems., Genitals., and Sailboats.
"The Prince of Wales (left) leads a goat with the head of Mrs. Fitzherbert (right) to the door of the forecourt of a large town-house, held partly open by the Duchess of York. She says, "O Dunder & Wonder! - what Cratur is dat which you are bringing here ? - relation of mine, indeed? - no, no! - me know no Nanny-goat-Princess! - so set off, with your bargain, you poor - Toasted - Cheese! you! - for she sha'nt come in here, to poison the house! - off! - off! - off." The Prince, who wears in his hat a leek, with his motto, 'ich dien', answers, "Not open the Toor ? - Cot-splutter-a-nails - when Nanny is come to see you, herself? - vhy isn't Nanny a Princess too ? - & a Velch Princess? - and hur is come to visit hur Brothers & hur Sisters! - & not to let hur in? why the Voman is mad, sure!" In place of a star he wears a medallion enclosing a pair of goat's horns. He holds his goat by a ribbon wreathed with roses. Mrs. Fitzherbert has goat's horns and wears a coronet with the Prince's feathers; she looks up at him with an expression of dignified surprise. ... The door of the Duke's house is surmounted by a pediment decorated with the Prussian eagle and pairs of doves (an emblem on the Duchess's state-bed, 'Lond. Chronicle', 21 Dec. 1792)"--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Prussian reception
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue. and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Fitzherbert, Maria Anne,--1756-1837--Caricatures and cartoons., Frederica Charlotte Ulrica Catherina,--Princess, Duchess of York,--1767-1820--Caricatures and cartoons., George--IV,--King of Great Britain,--1762-1830--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.
Subject (Topic):
Emblems., Goats., Lanterns., National emblems--Prussian., and National emblems--Welsh.
