The effects of youthful extravagance & idleness

description below

“Poverty-stricken family in bare, attic interior; man seated at left beside table, skinny dog beside him, looking away from woman, standing in centre mending garment, watched by boy lying on floor and resting on stool at right, looking up from his reading; young woman sitting dejectedly with bellows beside fireplace, at right.”–British Museum online catalogue, description of another print engraved after the same painting.

  • Printmaker: Darcis, Louis, -1801, printmaker.
  • Title: The effects of youthful extravagance & idleness [graphic] / G. Morland pinxt. ; Darcis sculpt.
  • Publication: London : [publisher not identified], publishd. March 25, 1800.

Catalog Record

Drawer 800.03.25.08

Acquired April 2023

The march of intellect

description below

An aspirational dustman in ragged clothes, a monocle hanging from his hat, and smoking a cigar, sits in a chair before the hearth reading a book, “An introduction to the pleasures of … schince by Barnart Botherum […] dedicated to the majesty of the people”. On the table are bowl, a goblet and a bottle of Port. On the wall hangs a landscape and on the mantel a bust of Shakespeare. The dog at his feet stares at the fire, the bones of fish dinner on a plate beside him. A large bell sits on the floor beside the dustman.

 

  • Printmaker: Heath, Henry, active 1824-1850, printmaker.
  • Title: The march of intellect [graphic] / H. Heath del.
  • Publication: London : Published April 1828 by S. Maunder, 10 Newgate Street, [April 1828]

Catalog Record

828.04.00.03

Acquired June 2022

Lady P aragraph championizing

description below

“Lady Perceval sits at an ornate writing-table, pen in hand. A serpent issues from her breast, coils round her arm, and darts its fang at the tip of her pen. She frowns meditatively, saying, “Now then for something strong but not libellous, I hate half measures we must rush upon the enemy–suprise [sic], astound him–and unhorse him by Terror–John Bull have at you! I’ll open your eyes–.” The table is littered with papers and books; some are docketed: ‘For the Star’, ‘To the Editor of the Star’, ‘For the News’, ‘Extracts from the Book’, one is ‘Copy’, a book is ‘Politicks’, and a large paper is displayed: ‘Select Scraps from Shakespeare–with my own comments “Some achieve greatness “some have greatness thrust upon them …. Querie was this not the case with Nunky [Spencer Perceval], why not happen …. Son–.’ Other papers and books lie on the floor: newspapers are ‘The News’ and ‘The Star’, a paper is headed ‘Memorandums Billy Austin [see British Museum Satires No. 12027]–the Will–‘ Books are ‘Life of Lord Nelson’, ‘A very Woman by Massinger’, ‘Machiavael’, ‘Johnson’, ‘Indiscretion a Novel’, ‘Don Quixote’. On the left John Mitford, identified by a letter in his coat-pocket ‘To John Mit–‘, stands facing the wall, and hanging one picture over another: he places a view of a country inn, ‘The Tigers Head’ above one of ‘[War]burton’s Mad House’, saying, “Come this is a prettier picture than the other [left] shall catch some fish in this neighbourhood.” He is fashionably dressed, wearing Hessian boots. This picture is on the left of a row: a large picture of ‘Alecto’ (cf. British Museum Satires No. 7721), naked, wreathed in serpents, and brandishing scourge and fire-brand, with a background of flames hangs between three-quarter length portraits of ‘Lady Douglas’ and ‘Lady A Hamilton’. The former covers her face with a tragic gesture; a dagger lies on a table beside her, she seems to contemplate suicide. The latter clasps her hands. Over the chimneypiece (right) is a three-quarter length portrait of ‘Lord P . . . . val’ concealing his face with his hat; below, and partly hiding the frame, is a statuette of a knight killing a dragon. On the chimney-piece there is also a bottle labelled ‘Cephalic’ (for diseases of the head). Papers are burning in the grate, one inscribed ‘To[o] Libellous’.”–British Museum online catalogue.

 

  • Printmaker: Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, printmaker.
  • Title: Lady P aragraph championizing [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. March 4th, 1814, by S.W. Fores, No. 50 Piccadilly, [4 March 1814]

Catalog Record

814.03.04.02

Acquired November 2022

The rival queans, or, A scene in The beggars opera

description below

“Mrs. Clarke (left) and Mrs. Carey (right) (see British Museum Satires No. 11050) berate each other; both wear evening dress, with feathers in their hair, those of Mrs. Carey being the taller. The Duke, wearing regimentals, watches the quarrel, equally distant from both. Mrs. Clarke, arms akimbo, says: “Why how now Madam Carey, although you are so Warey In saveing of your cash, John Bull and I we both will try, And settle all your hash.” [see 1803 Isaac Cruikshank print for an earlier use of this phrase, BM impression 1868,0808.7141/ PPA108823] Mrs. Carey retorts: “Why how now Madam Clarke—— Why since you thus can chatter—— And thus betray your spark—— I wonder whats the matter with, you, Madam Clarke!!” The Duke looks at Mrs. Clarke, stopping his ears, a leg raised in angry protest; he says: “Zounds! the thunder of Valencienes was Music to this”. Behind Mrs. Clarke is a cockatoo on a high perch, screaming: “go it! go it”; a chair has been overturned, and a mastiff, its collar inscribed ‘John Bull’, barks at the Duke. A small dog behind Mrs. Carey also barks. She stands with her back to the fire. On the chimney-piece a china Cupid aims his arrow at a heart on the trunk of a tree.”–British Museum online catalogue.

 

  • Printmaker: Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, printmaker.
  • Title: The rival queans, or, A scene in The beggars opera [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. March 1809 by Walker, Cornhill, [March 1809]

Catalog Record

809.03.00.08+

Acquired November 2022

The cat’s-paw!

description below

A satire of William IV’s involvement in the debate leading up to the Reform Act of 1832: A cat with the face of William IV is being persuaded to pull a hot chestnut from a blazing fire by a bewigged monkey (Lord Chancellor Henry Brougham). The fire is labelled with words such as ‘rights’, ‘reform’, and ‘popularity’. A portrait of Whig Prime Minister Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, hangs above the fireplace.

 

  • Title: The cat’s-paw! [graphic] / E. Brookes delt.
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. by Marianne Humphreys, St. James’s Stt., [approximately 1832]

Catalog Record

832.00.00.52

Acquired November 2022

The cradle hymn

description below

“Heading to a broadside printed in two columns. The King, a bloated and whiskered infant, sleeps in a cradle, rocked by Sidmouth (right), a lean old woman wearing a cap and bag-wig, who sits in a rocking-chair, his clyster-pipe (cf. British Museum Satires No. 9849) on the ground. The cradle is surmounted by a pagoda with bells, and ornamented by two large crocodiles, representing the Chinese dragons of the Pavilion, cf. British Museum Satires No. 12749. On it are also a sun, with a fool’s cap in its disk, between crescent moons. Round the cradle lie toys: soldiers, mounted lancers, &c., on wheels, a cannon, a sceptre, a crown with a toy windmill stuck in it. With these are papers: ‘Divorce’; ‘Protocal’ [sic]; ‘Send her to Hell’. The infant holds a coral and bells and a corkscrew. Castlereagh sits over the fire warming a napkin. Canning (see British Museum Satires No. 13737) walks off to the left, disgustedly carrying the pan of a commode decorated with a crown and ‘G.R.’ On the chimneypiece are pap-boat, bottle of ‘Dolby’s Carminative, &c’. (Dolby was a radical bookseller, ‘Dalby’s carminative’ a well-known remedy for infants). A large ‘Green Bag’ hangs on the wall. In a doorway behind Sidmouth, inscribed ‘French Dolls’, stand two young women, in evening dress, stiff and impassive.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Cruikshank, Robert, 1789-1856, printmaker.
  • Title: The cradle hymn [graphic] : new version / I.R. Cruikshank fecit.
  • Publication: [London] : Published by T. Dolby, 299, Strand, and 34, Wardour Street, Soho, [ca. July 1820]

Catalog Record

820.07.00.01

Acquired November 2021

The peace soup shop

description below

“John Bull sits full face holding a bowl of soup, between Addington, the cook, and the protesting Windham on the extreme right. On the left Pitt sits in profile to the left before an enormous kitchen fire, over which hangs a giant cauldron; he blows the fire with bellows, saying, ‘I dont know how it is – but I manage this Soup business rather awkwardly – I suppose it is from being so much used to the stewing and Broiling line.’ Addington, who wears the Speaker’s wig with apron and over-sleeves, and holds a long ladle, says: ‘Though I say it that made it – you never tasted better soup in your life’. Windham (right) stands in profile to the left his knees flexed, saying, ‘O’ Mr Bull – Mr Bull – if you have any regard for your Constitution – dont touch it – the Cayen of Jacobinism flavours every spoonful – and the Fire that boil it I consider as a Funeral Pile for all your well wishes – do Johnny take some of my Cheese-parings – they are very wholesome, and easy of Digestion.’ John says, his eyes turned towards Addington, his spoon raised to his mouth: ‘I don’t mind what he says – my Hearty I say it’s very good Soup – and a d——d deal better [word erased] than your Gin. I should like a little more bread for all that, and it would be quite as well – if it did not taste so strong of the Ceylon pepper.'”British Museum online catalogue.

 

  • Printmaker: Roberts, Piercy, active 1791-1805, printmaker.
  • Title: The peace soup shop [graphic] / Woodward delin. ; etch’d by Roberts.
  • Publication: [London] : [publisher not identified], [ca. March 1802]

Catalog Record 

802.03.00.04+

Acquired September 2020

The Ram’s Head Inn

men in a tavern

A scene in a tavern with a pair of inebriated men sitting on a bench in front of fireplace, smoking pipes and drinking from tankards, a dog at their feet. Another man from the next booth leans over the wall to engage them in conversation which they seem not to enjoy. In the next booth (right) a group of four men play cards while a fifth looks on.

 

  • Artist: Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827, artist.
  • Title: [The Ram’s Head Inn] [art original].
  • Production: [England], [ca. 1785]

Catalog Record

Drawings R79 no.16 Box 2

Acquired August 2020

Game of chess

description below“Two elderly men, in old-fashioned dress, play chess, seated at a small table, lit by two guttering candles. One moves, the other watches with intense concern. Each has a deeply interested spectator leaning on the back of his chair. All four are caricatured. A small dog lies on the ground. A large fire burns in the grate (right). Over the chimney-piece is the lower part of a whole length portrait. On the wall behind the players are three pictures: one of a man playing ninepins outside a rustic inn, with a donkey looking over a paling, is flanked by a picture of a horse and by a landscape.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878, printmaker.
  • Title: Game of chess [graphic] / design’d by an amateur ; etch’d by G. Cruikshank.
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. by Thos. McLean 26 Haymarket, [not before 1 August 1835]

Catalog Record 

814.03.06.01+ Impression 2

Acquired November 2019

Effects of passion

A scene in a sitting room, a man in a fit of anger kicks over a chair and table set with tea; a pitcher, cups and saucers, tongs and other tableware are in flight or shattered on the floor. The man holds his wig in his left hand as a woman looks on with fear. Two cats fight in front of a fireplace above which hangs a seascape with rough waters and lightening. On the back wall another painting shows a man standing over a woman.

  • Title: Effects of passion [graphic].
  • Publication: [Alnwick] : Printed and published by W. Davison, Alnwick, [between 1812 and 1817]

Catalog record 

812.00.00.118

Acquired September 2019