A labourer in the good cause

description below

“Eldon stands with his shirt-sleeves rolled up, carrying a great stack of petitions under each arm. On his head is a porter’s knot made of a pair of green bags (emblem of ‘Old Bags’, see British Museum Satires No. 12883); on this rests a third pile of bulky parchments. Round his right leg is an unfastened garter inscribed ‘. . . d Expects Every Man will do’ [his duty]. He puffs; sweat streams down his forehead; he says: ‘Hard work this–got plenty more to bring down yet–.’ The petitions are inscribed ‘Petition’ [five times]; ‘against Concession’ [twice]; ‘Petition against’; ‘30.000 Inhabitants’; ‘Humbly Sheweth’; ‘Petition against Concession–‘ [twice] ‘3.00 Inhabitants’; ‘4000 of the . . .’; ‘signed by 130.000 Men Women & Children ; 60,000 Respectable Inhabitants’.”–British Museum online catalogue

  • Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  • Title: labourer in the good cause [graphic] / [man with umbrella] Esqr.
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. by T. McLean, 26 Haymarket, [approximately March 1828]

Catalog Record

828.03.00.01+

Acquired June 2024

Farmington and the valley of the Tunxis

description below

“A town surrounded by fields and open countryside occupies a broad river valley between a high rocky slope in the foreground and distant hills in the background. Buildings, including a large church with a tall steeple, a smaller church or chapel with a square tower, a building with a classical portico, and a factory with a smokestack, line a few main streets. Many buildings appear to be houses, some with barns and sheds. Rail fences divide the fields. Trees are clustered around the buildings or arranged in rows. Some trees, including a large tree in the left foreground, appear to be evergreens. A river winds through the background, lined in places by trees. An arched stone bridge crosses a small stream in the center foreground. Two cows are in a field nearby. There appears to be a tower on the highest hill in the background. Clusters of buildings and a railroad train are barely visible in the distance.”–Connecticut Museum of Culture and History collection.

  • Creator: E.B. & E.C. Kellogg (Firm), printmaker, publisher.
  • Title: Farmington and the valley of the Tunxis [graphic] : from the south east / T.H. Darrow, del. / Lith. of E.B. & E.C. Kellogg, Hartford, Conn.
  • Publication: [Hartford, Conn.] : [E.B. & E.C. Kellogg], [between 1840 and 1848]

Catalog Record

840.00.00.84++

Acquired April 2024

March of intellect

description below

description below

Mounted on old album paper with a collage of prints and a drawing on the back of one page and newspaper clippings mounted on the back of the other page.

  • Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  • Title: March of intellect [graphic] / [man with an umbrella] Esqr. del.
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. by T. McLean, 26 Haymarket, London, [approximately May 1829]

Catalog Record

829.05.00.05+ Impression 2

Acquired May 2024

See-Dan

description below

“Burdett (right) and Brougham (left) as chairmen, carry (left to right) a bottomless sedan-chair enclosing O’Connell, who is forced to walk rapidly, looking from the window towards Brougham to say ‘Mighty like a walk this after all’. He wears barrister’s wig and gown. The chair is surmounted by shamrock and is inscribed ‘M.P.’ The chairmen wear livery coats; Burdett is bareheaded, and wears his usual top-boots and breeches; Brougham wears barrister’s wig and bands with a battered hat.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  • Title: See-Dan [graphic] / [man with umbrella] Esqr.
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. May 1829 by T. McLean, 26 Haymarket …, May 1829.

Catalog Record

829.05.00.12+

Acquired June 2024

Ben Holbrook, a walking stationer

description below

Benjamin Holbrook, shown full-length in profile, walking to the left, holding with a long white staff in his right hand, clutching two memorandum books in his left hand, heading towards Fleet Market, with the west front of St. Paul’s Cathedral visible in the background. His eyes being closed and the presence of the staff indicate his blindness, and the patched elbow of his three-quarter-length coat his poverty.

  • Artist: Nixon, John, -1818, artist.
  • Title: Ben Holbrook, a walking stationer [art original] / JN [monogram] fect. 1783.
  • Production: [England], [1783]

Catalog Record

Drawings N736 no. 11 Box D141

Acquired May 2024

La galanterie Francaise, ou, L’aimable Anglaise

description below

A young, pretty English woman in fashionable attire takes the arm of a handsome, well-dressed Frenchman.

  • Title: La galanterie Francaise, ou, L’aimable Anglaise [graphic].
  • Publication: [A Paris] : Chez Genty, rue St. Jacques, No. 14, [1816?]

Catalog Record

816.00.00.84

Acquired April 2024

Civic combatants

description below

“Henry Hunt (right) hurls a jar of his ‘Hunts Matchless Blacki[ng]’ at the Lord Mayor (William Thompson). The Mayor, who wears his gown, raises the City mace defensively in both hands. Hunt registers frenzied rage; he holds a second jar in his left hand; at his feet is a paper: ‘Petition against increased Duty on Coals’. Just behind him is a pugnacious coal-heaver clutching a blacking-jar; he says: ‘Go it, my covey another black un–d–n me, if Blackey and Coaley can’t do it the devil’s in ’em.’ The Mayor smiles, despite a cascade of blacking. Behind him and on the extreme left is a barrister in wig and gown, probably the Recorder (Newman Knowlys). He says: ‘Mind what your at my hearty–keep up your favorite guard or he’ll beat you as black as his own factory.'”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Phillips, John, active 1825-1831, printmaker.
  • Title: Civic combatants [graphic] / A. Sharpshooter fec.
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. by S. Gans, 15 Southampton St., Strand, June 1, 1829.

Catalog Record

829.06.01.08

Acquired June 2024

The harmony of courtship

description below

A couple holding hands lean toward each other as they gaze into one another’s eyes with affection.

  • Artist: Dighton, Robert, 1752-1814, artist.
  • Title: The harmony of courtship [art original] / Dighton del.
  • Production: [England], [approximately 1796]

Catalog Record

Drawings D574 no. 9 Box D117

Acquired May 2024

La graduation de la famille Ecossaise

description below

“A handsome young Highland officer walks arm-in-arm with a slightly taller young woman. Her hair under her flat feathered hat is in a small bag or net of tartan. Behind these walk in single file the family descending in height. First, a youth in Highland uniform, next three girls, the second without a hat, her hair curling on her shoulders. Last a small boy, in Highland uniform, carrying a stick across his shoulder, musket-wise, and holding a dog on a lead. The dress of all the girls is plainer, skimpier, and shorter than that of Frenchwomen; all, except the youngest, have bodices or spencers of different colours from their skirts.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Title: La graduation de la famille Ecossaise [graphic].
  • Publication: A Paris : Chez Genty, rue St. Jacques, No. 14, [February 1816]

Catalog Record

816.02.00.01

Acquired April 2024