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.
