Six members of the society sit in a row, each singing a different song. All are ugly and elderly except one lady who turns to her neighbour singing, "In sweetest harmony we live." The latter, almost bald, sits on the extreme left, singing, "Time has not thinn'd my flowing hair." A fat, ugly lady bawls towards her left hand neighbour: "Encompass'd in [an] angels frame." He sings to her: "Together let us ran[ge] the fields." A man with closed eyes from which tears fall, sings: "Said a smile to a tear what cause have you hear." A gouty, old naval officer on the extreme right sings: "Oh exquisite harmony!! Music has charms to soften rocks and bend the knotted oak." A dishevelled footman with a bottle in his coat-pocket walks from the right, tilting his salver of glasses so that they fall on a squalling cat. He sings tipsily: "From night till morn I take my glass I hopes to forget my Chloe!!" A dog on the left howls
Alternative Title:
Catalanian picnic society at private rehearsal
Description:
Title etched below image. and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Pubd. by T. Tegg, 111 Cheapside
Subject (Topic):
Cats, Crying, Dogs, Organizations, Rehearsals, Servants, Singing, and Sleeping
"Under a canopy (left), sits the 'Noble Grand' or chairman on a raised platform, on each side of him on a lower level sits a 'Vice Grand'. All three wear hats and (like the other members) medallions hung on broad ribbons. In front of the dais is a draped table with emblems of the society, a beehive, a Holy Bible, with a punch-bowl, wine-bottle, and a writing-desk, beside which sits the secretary, holding a pen. On the extreme right is the doorkeeper, a small man wearing a lion's skin round his shoulders and holding up a large club, at the head of which is ficed the jaw-bone of an ass. A member, whom the text shows to be Sir Watkin Lewes, is introducing a small man as a candidate for membership, his thumbs being tied together. The other members are smoking and drinking. In the foreground (left) sits a man whose wooden leg, and a paper inscribed Pension 500 which issues from his pocket, show that he is Brook Watson. Others are seated in the background (right) behind a table with punch-bowl, glassses, and pipes. On the wall is a half-length picture of Samson, raising the ass's jawbone. There are also six framed coats of arms of those who have served the office of Noble Grand. The room is lit by a chandelier composed of two (Argand?) lamps with glass chimneys, hanging from the ceiling."--British Museum catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Plate from: Attic miscellany, v. i, page 161. An illustration to an account of the 'Samsonic Society, held every week at the Pied House, Chiswell Street.", and Mounted to 26 x 32 cm.
Publisher:
Publish'd as the act directs, by Bently & Co.
Subject (Name):
Lewes, Watkin, Sir, 1740?-1821 and Watson, Brook, 1735 -1807
Subject (Topic):
Chandeliers, Clubs, Dogs, Organizations, Peg legs, and Pipes (Smoking)
Title devised by cataloger., Frontispiece to: Hanway, J. Three letters on the subject of the Marine Society. London : Printed in the year 1758., "See Sheila O'Connell, 'London 1753', BM 2003, cat.3.26. The charitable Marine Society was founded in 1756 by Jonas Hanway, and this served as frontispiece to a pamphlet seeking support for it"--Curator's comments, British Museum online catalogue, registration no.: 1872,1012.5145., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Mounted to 27.1 x 20.4 cm., and Mounted after page 474 in volume 3 of an extra-illustrated copy of: Malcolm, J.P. Londinium redivivum, or, An antient history and modern description of London.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Name):
Marine Society (London, England)
Subject (Topic):
Organizations, Conference rooms, Beggars, and Sailors
Title supplied by curator., Place of pubication supplied by curator., Date derived from building's date of completion., and This electronic record is derived from historic data and may not reflect our current information. Review and updating of records is ongoing.
