Britannia’s support of the conspirators defeated

“The Prince of Wales …, sword in hand, gallantly protects Britannia against the attack of three conspirators: Pitt raises a headsman’s axe in both hands; Grafton, holding a conspirator’s lantern, is about to strike her with a dagger; Richmond … fires a musket, resting one knee on a cannon. The Prince wears a coronet with three ostrich feathers, he holds out his shield behind Britannia, who cowers towards him in terror.”–British Museum online catalogue, description of the print for which this is the original drawing.

  • CreatorRowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827, artist.
  • TitleBritannia’s support of the conspirators defeated [art original].
  • Production[England], [1789]

Catalog Record

Drawings R79 no. 14 Framed

Acquired November 2017

The hopes of the nation

“A satirical emblematic design; at centre, ‘The Rock of the True Old English Constitution’, on which sits a small figure of John Bull on a chair, holding a tankard and a pipe, saying, ‘Wellhere I am I John Bull – thrown rather in the back ground this is the blessed effect of parties their pockets are full, and mine are empty. – however – Grievings a Folly so let us be be [sic] jolly – My Service to you.’ To left stands a large grinning figure, ‘Opposition Man’, his hands in his pockets, with papers lettered ‘Jobbing’, ‘Corruption’, and with sums of money; at right stands a similar figure, ‘Ministerial Man’, also grinning and with hands in his pockets, one of which is lettered ‘The Cash The Cash’. With feet on the shoulders of the latter and above Bull is a spreadeagled, large grinning figure, saying ‘No Party Man’, whose pocket is inscribed ‘a little more money if you please’; on his head is balanced a cushion-like object lettered ‘Promises’, which supports the banner, ‘Reform’; on top of this is a similing head wearing a ruff, fool’s cap and ass’s ears.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827, printmaker.
  • TitleThe hopes of the nation, or, New armorial bearings for John Bull [graphic].
  • Publication[London] : Pubd. May 25th, 1809, by Thos. Tegg, No. 111 Cheapside, [25 May 1809]

Catalog Record 

809.05.25.01+

Acquired November 2017

Fashionable ties, or, Modern neckcloths

Fashionable ties, or, Modern neckcloths

A macabre caricature divided into two compartments, The Dandy and The Dangle. On the left, a strutting dandy ties his neckcloth in front of a mirror saying: ‘I declare these large Neckcloths are monstrously handy, They [serve] for a shirt too and make one a Dandy.’ The right hand image is of a dandy, head covered in a cloth, dangling from a wooden beam with a tie around his neck. Behind him is a town square and in the foreground, a crowd looks on. The image is accompanied by the text: ‘When a man comes to this there’s little to hope, His neat Dandy Neckcloth is changed for a Rope’.

  • TitleFashionable ties, or, Modern neckcloths [graphic].
  • Publication[London?] : [publisher not identified], [ca. 1810]

Catalog Record 

810.00.00.83+

Acquired November 2017

The restive Pegasus…

“A man in ragged but quasi-fashionable dress rides (right to left) an ass through a river which flows past a steep mountain. The animal jibs, with ears set back; the rider raises a whip in each hand. He wears, and uses, three pairs of spurs, and attached to his shoulders and to the ass is a monstrous pile of bladders inscribed respectively ‘Repartee’, ‘Nonsensical Verses’, ‘Catastrophe’, ‘Sentiment’, ‘Blasphemies’, ‘Puns’, ‘Duels’, ‘Double Entendres’, ‘Metaphors’, ‘Ghosts’, ‘Melting Speeches’, ‘Squibs’, ‘Dialogue’, ‘Daggers Poisons’.”–British Museum online catalogue, description of a later state.

  • Printmaker: Grinagain, Giles, printmaker, artist.
  • Title: The restive Pegasus, or, The dramatic author foiled in his attempt to ascend Parnassus [graphic] / Giles Grinagain in. et f.
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. July 25, 1802, by S. Howitt, Panton Street, [25 July 1802]

Catalog Record 

802.07.25.01

Acquired November 2017

A toad in a hole

“A fat, ugly woman, seated full face on a commode, in the form of a chair.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Grinagain, Giles
  • Title: A toad in a hole [graphic] / Giles Grinagain invt. et fect.
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. by S.W. Fores, No. 50 Piccadilly, Jany. 2d, 1804.

Catalog Record

804.01.02.15

Acquired November 2017

Lady Elizabeth Laura, Lady Charlotte Maria & Lady Anne Horatia

“Triple three-quarter length portrait of the three Waldegrave sisters, seated beside one another at a small work-table; Lady Anna Horatia at right embroidering, with Lady Charlotte Maria at left, her head turned towards front, winding silk from skein which Lady Elizabeth Laura, centre, is holding; a curtain, pillars and trees behind them; after Reynolds (Mannings 1810); proof before letters, but with scratched production and publication detail.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • PrintmakerGreen, Valentine, 1739-1813, printmaker, publisher.
  • Title[Lady Elizabeth Laura, Lady Charlotte Maria & Lady Anne Horatia, daughters to James late Earl of Waldegrave Knight of the Garter] [graphic] / painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds ; engraved by V. Green, mezzotinto engraver to His Majesty, and to the Elector Palatine.
  • Edition[State 1].
  • Publication[London] : Published Decr. 1st, 1781, by V. Green, No. 29, Newman Street, Oxford Street, London, [1 December 1781]

Catalog Record 

Folio 49 3636 no. 8++ (Oversize)

Acquired November 2017

How to obtain a request

A social satire: a beggar wearing ragged clothes and leaning on a crutch hold his hat out towards a old, well-dressed woman as he says, “My angelic young lady! Heaven preserve your ladyship’s beautiful shape and countenance these thousand years! Give a halfpenny to a poor old man.” Her face is caricatured, with a large pig-like nose from which long hairs protrude and with growths on her face, but she carries a parasol and is fashionably dressed and wears a feather and flower in her hair and earrings and large beaded necklace.

  • Printmaker: Grinagain, Giles, printmaker, artist.
  • Title: How to obtain a request [graphic] / Giles Grinagain invt. et fect.
  • Publication: [London] : Published Febry. 1st, 1802, by S. Howitt, Panton Str., Haymarket, [1 February 1802]

Catalog Record 

802.02.01.07

Acquired November 2017

A select collection of the most interesting letters on the government, liberty…

  • TitleA select collection of the most interesting letters on the government, liberty, and constitution of England : which have appeared in the different news-papers from the elevation of Lord Bute, to the death of the Earl of Egremont. With several remarks and explanatory notes.
  • EditionThe second edition.
  • PublicationLondon : Printed for J. Almon, opposite Burlington House, Piccadilly, MDCCLXIII-MDCCLXIV [1763-1764]

Catalog record 

63 763 Se4

Acquired November 2017

Stinking lobsters

A social satire: a woman in a apron and with a kerchief on her head is seated at a low table with a basket of lobsters; she holds out one lobster that is pulling a man’s nose, as she says “There d-n your Eyes, who stinks now?” He winces in pain and pushes back against her arm as he replies, “Begar he bite! Oh!!!”

  • Printmaker: Grinagain, Giles, printmaker, artist.
  • Title: Stinking lobsters [graphic] / Giles Grinagain in. et fect.
  • Publication: [London] : Published Decbr. 1, 1801, by S. Howitt, Panton Street, [1 December 1801]

Catalog Record 

801.12.01.10

Acquired November 2017

The procession of the Lord Mayor of London

“Stylised representation of the Lord Mayor’s procession, framing a blank space in the centre of the sheet; two rows of figures at the top, 7 groups one above the other to either side, and the City Counsel on foot, the Aldermen and Lord Mayor on horseback forming the bottom of the frame.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • PrintmakerCole, James, 1715-1774, printmaker.
  • TitleThe procession of the Lord Mayor of London, 29th of October [graphic].
  • Publication[London] : Published according to act of Parliament Novemr. the 4th, 1742, and sold by James Cole engraver in Great Kirby Street, Hatton Garden, [4 November 1742]

Catalog Record 

File 66 742 C689++

Acquired November 2017