"A burlesque of Fuseli's well-known picture illustrating 'Macbeth', i. 3. The three witches are Dundas, Pitt, and Thurlow, in profile to the right instead of to the left. Fuseli's drapery is replaced by clouds, and the three gaze with reflective and apprehensive intensity at the moon (right): the Queen's smiling profile in a brightly lit crescent faces them, enclosing the old moon, the darkened head of the King (eclipsed), with closed eyes in profile to the right. Each witch presses the fingers of his left hand (drawn with much expressiveness) to his lips (- 'each at once her choppy finger laying upon her skinny lips'); the outstretched left arm of Fuseli's picture is absent: they appear to be seeking knowledge of the future from the moon, not foretelling it."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Weird sisters, ministers of darkness, minions of the moon and Wierd sisters, ministers of darkness, minions of the moon
Description:
Dedication etched above image: To H. Fuzelli Esqr. this attempt in the caricatura-sublime, is respectfully dedicated., One line quotation below title: "They should be women! and yet their beards forbid us to interpret, that they are so.", Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain--Politics and government--1789-1820--Humor.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Charlotte,--Queen, consort of George III, King of Great Britain,--1744-1818--Caricatures and cartoons., Dundas, Henry,--1742-1811--Caricatures and cartoons., Fuseli, Henry, 1741-1825, associated name. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79021856, Fuseli, Henry,--1741-1825--Parodies, imitations, etc., George--III,--King of Great Britain,--1738-1820--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n97861435, Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Shakespeare, William,--1564-1616.--Macbeth--Adaptations, parodies, etc., Thurlow, Edward Thurlow,--Baron,--1731-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Walpole, Horace,--1717-1797--Ms. annotations., and Walpole, Horace,--1717-1797--Ownership.
Subject (Topic):
Eclipses., Moon., Politicians--Great Britain., Regency--Great Britain.--http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2010110433, Sun., and Witches.
