Covetousness

description below

An illustrated manuscript leaf in an 18th-century hand. In the upper portion of the recto side is a large vignette of a man in traditional Jewish garb, seated at a table, weighing coins as they spill from two cornucopias, one to each side and held by a cherub whose faces are turned away; the table is covered with coins. The prose text below is captioned “Covetousness” and consists of seven lines beginning: “Every step that a man makes beyond a moderate & reasonable Provision, is taking so much from the worthiness of his own spirit. …” This quote is taken from an popular 18th-century British courtesy book that appeared in many editions but was first published in 1715.: The Gentleman’s Library, containing rules for conduct in all parts of life. The scribe writes using Gothic lettering in pen and brown ink and decorates the perimeter of the the text and image with billowing flourishes. Printed above in a ribbon banner is a saying from Horace, “certum voto pete finem”–“set a definite limit to your desire.” On the verso written in pencil by a contemporary hand : Mind the noblest, he the law of Kings The noble mind distinguishes perfection It aids & strengthens virtue where it meets her ‘Tis not to be sported with.

  • Artist: Castle, William, active 1785, artist.
  • Title: Covetousness : manuscript / Wm. Castle.
  • Production: England, 1785.

Catalog Record

LWL Mss File 152+

Acquired June 2020

Hospitality kicking avarice out of doors

Hospitality kicking avarice out of doors. Detailed description below.

A caricature of the new Lord Mayor of London: Harvey Combe stands centered in a hall, surrounded by a desperate looking group of people both rich and poor, who kneel and beg. A skeletal man (butcher?) holds a knife in one hand and a scroll in the other inscribed with a large order for meat: “12 haundres venison, 6 necks do., 8 turtles, 20 brace partridges, 20 pheasants, 20 brace woodcocks, 16 sirloins beef”. In the foreground lies another sheet which reads “Tripe Soup. Liver & Crow. Fried Tripe. Bill of Fare for 8 Novr.” The outgoing Lord Mayor, Sir Richard Glyn, who was notoriously spendthrift during his period in office, is seen being kicked out of the Mansion House holding large money bag. The two cats on the left and the dog following the butcher are also thin from malnutrition. Two large spiders have spun large webs below the archway on the left below are two cupids holding a heart molded above the archway.

  • Title: Hospitality kicking avarice out of doors, or, New tenants at a mansion house [graphic].
  • Distribution: [London] : Sold by all the printsellers in London, Novr. 9, 1799.

Catalog Record

799.11.09.02++

Acquired November 2018

English coronet auction by K-, P- & Co.

In a large room French aristocrats crowd across a table from Pitt who is taking money while handing a pen to the man opposite who holds a crown in his left arm as he throws coins toward Pitt’s grasping hand. Above Pitt stands George III behind podium, gavel in one hand and another crown extended toward one of the many bidders shouting comments and prices. The King calls out, “This is a lot, gentlemen, of superior brilliancy to the last. This, this raises you above your fellows in a very high degree indeed. I pity your distresses from my soul, what, what, what was that you were saying about jewels, Madames, too high. You may ride over the necks of half the nation with this upon your coach. You may get in debt as fast as you please and never pay. Mind that gentlemen, never pay.” The Queen walks up a ladder behind the King to retrieve more crowns from the shelves behind the King’s podium, turning her head to say, “Pay some attention to that Lady’s jewels, my love.”

  • CreatorByron, Frederick George, 1764-1792, attributed name.
  • TitleEnglish coronet auction by K-, P- & Co., or, Comfort for the late French noblesse [graphic] / designed by Corruption ; executed by Avarice.
  • PublicationLondon : Pubd. by Willm. Holland, No. 50 Oxford Street, July 8, 1790.

Catalog Record 

790.07.08.01+

Acquired May 2017

 

Sin ie cure

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A full-length caricature of an obese clergy man who wears a bishop’s hat (?) and smokes a long pipe as he walks left. He carries a pig and a chicken under his left arm. He holds a Bible in his left hand, and he carries a bottle in his pocket. He has a very large nose and a round checks. His very large belly is exaggerated further in graphite.

  • Creator: Grant, C. J. (Charles Jameson), active 1830-1852, artist.
  • Title: Sin ie cure [drawing].
  • Created: [England, between 1830 and 1852]

Catalog Record & Digital Collection

Drawings G761 no. 2 Box 123

Acquired November 2013