Tag Archives: Adultery

The modern genius of history at her toilet

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The modern genius of history at her toilet

Caroline, wearing a chemise and high-strapped shoes, stands admiring herself in front of a full-length mirror. With her right hand she adjusts a feather in her elaborate headdress, which is adorned with the Prince of Wales’s feathers on the far side and several pointed feathers on the near side, two of which resemble horns; her left hand rests on her hip. Bergami stands behind her in astonished delight, his hands raised in the air; a garment hangs from his left arm, and several towels or pieces of clothing marked with the initials “B B” are strewn on the floor. A man and a woman peer in on the scene from an adjoining room, the man with a pleased look on his face and the woman with one of surprise. On the wall behind Bergami hangs an oval mirror, the decorative frame of which includes a figure of Cupid standing atop a goat while shooting an arrow. A book with “History” on its spine lies on its side in the left foregraound; a burning candle in its holder sits upon the book.

  • Printmaker: Lane, Theodore, 1800-1828, printmaker.
  • Title: The modern genius of history at her toilet [graphic].
  • Publication: London : Pubd. by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s St., May 20, 1821.

Catalog record 

821.05.20.02

Acquired March 2019

Travelling tète à tetè!!

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Caricature of Queen Caroline sleeping side by side with Bergami

Caricature of Queen Caroline sleeping side by side with Bergami as seen through the window of an elegant stage coach as they are observed by an astonished postillion. On the top of the carriage are two cases with the initials CB (Caroline of Brunswick) and on the carriage door, a coat of arms with a sleeping lion and unicorn.

  • Printmaker: Lane, Theodore, 1800-1828, printmaker
  • Title: Travelling tète à tetè!! [graphic].
  • Publication: London : Pubd. by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s St., June 25, 1821.

Catalog Record 

821.06.25.02

Acquired March 2019

The man of the woods & the cat-o’-mountain

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Man with a monkey body and cat with a man's head sitting in front of a fire

“A kitchen scene [with a satire based on the fable of the “catspaw”]. A monkey with Wood’s head squats beside a plump cat with the head in profile of Queen Caroline. She sits gazing at the fire with an eagerly expectant smile. He puts his left hand on her shoulder and takes her right paw which is supported on his knee, looking fixedly at her with greedy expectation. Between the bars of the grate are four chestnuts like large potatoes. These are inscribed respectively: ‘Privileges’, ‘Rights’, ‘Liturgy’, ‘St Catherines’. Beside the grate and attached to a chain is a ‘Kettle of Fish’. Behind the cat is a big trap with steel teeth inscribed ’50 000 per Annum’. Behind it is a dresser, neatly arranged above a cupboard inscribed ‘Lately from St Omers’ [see British Museum Satires no. 13730]. On the dresser are a teapot and butterdish, each with a bust portrait of Bergami, and two cups, inscribed ‘BB’. There are also pans inscribed ‘Hash’ and ‘Stew’, a ‘Tinder’ box and bottle of ‘Brim-Stone’. On the chimneypiece, with other utensils, is a box of ‘Matches’.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Lane, Theodore, 1800-1828, printmaker.
  • Title: The man of the woods & the cat-o’-mountain [graphic].
  • Publication: London : Pubd. by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s St., March 27, 1821.

Catalog Record

821.03.27.01 Impression 2

Acquired March 2019

Design for a new coat of arms

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Caricature of a coat of arms for Queen Caroline and Bergami

Caricature of a coat of arms for Queen Caroline and Bergami with the central figure with a satyr’s face, a hat “Caroline Bergami gratia — Half a crown”, and white robes richly decorated with scenes from their life on an escutcheon with Chastity and Innocence as supporters, all surrounded by rich red robes lined with ermine. The scenes include: Adam and Eve, two heads peeping from a tent, a scene with Bergami kneeling before the Queen leaning in to kiss, a plump Queen jumping up like a jack-in-the box, the two in costume dancing, the Queen riding an ass. Other suggestive decorative details include ostrich plumes, ribbons with medals engraved “Night of the Dunghill” (Bergami) and Knight of the Thistle with a shield “The Times … Lies … Bribery”. At the base, Knight of the Bath with a scene with Bergami reaching towards the Queen in her bath above a medallion “Knight of St. Columbine and Penance” surrounded by a banner “My fancy’s so free, I rove like a bee.”

  • Printmaker: Lane, Theodore, 1800-1828, printmaker.
  • Title: Design for a new coat of arms [graphic] : dedicated to Mothers Wood, Windsor & Co. & all the fancy queens.
  • Publication: [London] : Published by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s St., May 1st 1 [sic], 1821.

Catalog Record 

821.05.01.06

Acquired March 2019

A merry tale of the jealous weaver

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A merry tale of the jealous weaver. Detailed description below

A satirical broadside, with two vignettes of the “Weaver”. On the left the weaver is at his loom his back to his wife who is seated at the hearth warming her hands over the fire. On the right he is shown in the disguise of a Friar receiving his wife for confession as she kneels before him. Two columns of verse below: “A weaver jealous of his wife like many, Still dream’t of horns before the Knave had any … Twas you were the young man the old man & [the] Fryer. Finis.”

  • Title: A merry tale of the jealous weaver [graphic].
  • Publication: London : Printed and sold by Samuel Lyne, map and printseller at the Globe in Newgate Street, [between 1741? and 1748]

Catalog Record

741.00.00.19

Acquired November 2018

 

The matter reversed

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The Duchess of Devonshire sits astride a galloping fox

“The Duchess of Devonshire sits astride a galloping fox, her face to its tail. A signpost by the fox’s head points (left) ‘To Cuckolds Hall’; on the top of the post is a pair of horns. The Duchess wears a hat trimmed with ostrich feathers and with a ribbon inscribed ‘Fox'”– British Museum online catalogue.

  • Title: The matter reversed, or, One good turn deserves another [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. May 24, 1787, by J. Notice, Oxford Road, [24 May 1787]

Catalog Record 

787.05.24.02+

Acquired October 2018

The unexpected visit

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“The King, in Chinese costume and seated on a cushion, among the chinoiseries of the Pavilion (cf. British Museum Satires No. 12749), throws up his arms in terror at the entry (right) of the Queen, closely followed by Alderman Wood. Her demure dress contrasts with that of a woman, who, much alarmed, runs off to the left from beside the King. Sidmouth (left) and Castlereagh (right), both in Chinese dress, are equally terrified, and Lord Eldon peeps anxiously from behind a little pagoda. Both visitors extend an arm towards the King in an authoritative gesture. Words float from them towards the King: ‘Nothing extenuate nor set down aught in Malice [Othello, v. ii] men sleeping with her at Black Heath 1808 v. call Hoods [sic].'”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  • Title: The unexpected visit, or, More free than welcome [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. June 17th, 1820, by S.W. Fores, 50 Picadilli [sic], [17 June 1820]

Catalog Record 

820.06.17.01+

Acquired October 2018

The whole truth, or, John Bull with his eyes opened

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Caricature with Queen Caroline (left) as Lady Macbeth in the mad scene, standing in the street before two shops; she holds a candlestick raised in her right hand as she holds out her dress with her left hand, looking down horror at her skirt which is decorated with three panels with images of men and labeled “Man B”, “Austi”, “Sapio”, “Mat …”, and “Bat”. The initials “C.B” are embroidered on the trim of her knickers. Standing to her right is an astonished John Bull who holds his hat in front of his face, arm extended in horror. The shop on the left is identified by a sign below second story windows with broken glass: Wholesale Dealer in Brass Forges, Ranges, &c N.B. Odd jobs in general. The street level is shuttered, its doors covered in graffiti: Gone away, Gone abroad, Empty, M.T. The one door has a knocker in the shape of a ram’s head. John Bull stands before the second door which stands open as if he has just emerged. The windows are curtained and the building well maintained. The large sign above reads “Time & Common-Sense Occulists. N.B. Films expeditiously removed &c. Below this sign (left) is a pair of large spectacles with the two eyeballs turned towards the shop on the left and a smaller sign (right) that reads “No connexion with the next shop.”

  • Printmaker: Lane, Theodore, 1800-1828, printmaker.
  • Title: The whole truth, or, John Bull with his eyes opened [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s St., Feb. 1st, 1821.

Catalog Record

821.02.01.04

Acquired March 2017

The man of the woods & the cat-o’-mountain

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A kitchen scene [with a satire based on the fable of the “catspaw”]. A monkey with Wood’s head squats beside a plump cat with the head in profile of Queen Caroline. She sits gazing at the fire with an eagerly expectant smile. He puts his left hand on her shoulder and takes her right paw which is supported on his knee, looking fixedly at her with greedy expectation. Between the bars of the grate are four chestnuts like large potatoes. These are inscribed respectively: ‘Privileges’, ‘Rights’, ‘Liturgy’, ‘St Catherines’. Beside the grate and attached to a chain is a ‘Kettle of Fish’. Behind the cat is a big trap with steel teeth inscribed ’50 000 per Annum’. Behind it is a dresser, neatly arranged above a cupboard inscribed ‘Lately from St Omers’ [see British Museum Satires no. 13730]. On the dresser are a teapot and butterdish, each with a bust portrait of Bergami, and two cups, inscribed ‘BB’. There are also pans inscribed ‘Hash’ and ‘Stew’, a ‘Tinder’ box and bottle of ‘Brim-Stone’. On the chimneypiece, with other utensils, is a box of ‘Matches’.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Lane, Theodore, 1800-1828, printmaker.
  • Title: The man of the woods & the cat-o’-mountain [graphic].
  • Publication: London : Pubd. by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s St., March 27, 1821.

Catalog Record

821.03.27.01

Acquired March 2017

Moments of pleasure

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“Companion plate to British Museum Satires no. 13988. Seated on a sofa, the Queen, wearing a large feathered hat, receives the news of the dropping of the Bill; beside her is a paper: ‘Bill of Pains Thrown out’. Alderman Wood, in a furred gown more elegant than civic, capers before her, holding up his arms, snapping his fingers, and grinning with delight. The Queen looks up at him, with a gesture of surprised satisfaction; she is caricatured, but better characterized than in other prints, resembling the description given by Creevey of her appearance at the trial on 17 Aug. She sits facing a long scroll on which names of places presenting Addresses are inscribed (see British Museum Satires no. 13934, &c.): ‘London’ (in large letters), ‘Westminster’, ‘So[uthwark]’. On the wall behind her is a (flattering) bust portrait of Bergami, wearing his decorations (see British Museum Satires no. 13810). In the doorway (left) are the leading members of a body of proletarian addressers; the foremost, with the curved shin-bones known as ‘cheesecutters’ which resulted from rickets, holds a paper: ‘Address to the Queen’; they are received by a thin, sour-looking lady, evidently Lady Anne Hamilton. They have two banners: ‘Queer Fellows’ and ‘St Gi[les]’, but among them is the profile of Hobhouse, the radical M.P. for Westminster. Over the wide doorway is a picture or relief of two little puppets on a string: the King and Queen performing antics while the string is pulled by a fiddler and another man, watched by two bystanders. The room (in Brandenburgh House) is ornately furnished; a heavy curtain is draped round a pillar.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Lane, Theodore, 1800-1828, printmaker.
  • Title: Moments of pleasure [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s St., 1820 [ca. November]

Catalog Record 

820.11.00.02

Acquired March 2017