The Dutch Apollo!

description below

“The Prince of Orange (left), dressed like a Dutchman in (English) caricature, kneels with arms extended imploringly at the feet of Princess Charlotte (a good portrait). He wears Apollo‘s wreath, decorated with small oranges, before him is his clumsy flower-pot hat, containing a paper: ‘Rules for the game of ye Dutch Pins’ (ninepins); beside this is a Jews’ harp, a degraded form of Apollo‘s lyre. His breeches are enormously bulky, and a tobacco-pipe projects from a pocket. He sings: “Lovely Maid, assuage my Anguish! At your feet your true love sighs; Do not let your Dutchman languish, If you frown, alas he dies!” She answers, pointing to his breeches: “From what I feel, and what I see, There’s nought about you that bewitches; Unless indeed a charm may be In a Dutchman’s great big breeches!!!” She stands beside a table (right) at which she has been sitting. On this are her painting materials, pencil, brushes, cakes of water-colour, porcelain palette, and jar of water, with an open box. Her painting is on a sloping board: a fat Dutchman trudges off, a bundle at his back, in the direction of a sign-post pointing ‘To Holland’; he grasps his head despairingly. Behind the Prince a French window with draped curtains gives on to a small balcony. By the window are flowering plants in a jardinière; a sofa stands against the wall; a patterned carpet completes the design.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, printmaker.
  • Title: The Dutch Apollo! [graphic].
  • Publication: London : Pubd. June 29, 1814, by Wm. Holland, 11 Cockspur St., [29 June 1814]

Catalog Record

814.06.29.01+

Acquired June 2024

A duett at the Hanover Square concert

description below

Two women stand on a balcony, mouths open in song and eyes cast downward at their music sheet. They wear corsetted dresses and feathered head wear. A satire of the duet performed by Harriet Abrams (1758-1821), the English soprano and composer, and her sister Theodosia (ca. 1770-1849), a contralto, on 9 May 1788 at Hanover Square Rooms. The piece performed was ‘Gia che mia sposa sei’ by Antonio Sacchini, and the occasion was the annual benefit concert for the tenor Samuel Harrison.

 

  • Title: A duett at the Hanover Square concert [graphic] / JN [monogram] 1788.
  • Publication: London : Pub. by W. Holland, No. 50 Oxford Street, Augst. 5, 1789.

Catalog Record

789.08.05.01

Acquired November 2022

Townsend the umpire of love

description below

“Townsend, the Bow Street Officer, holding up his constable’s staff, chases a man away from a country house, a corner of which appears on the right. A third man, Wellesley-Pole, shelters behind the constable, stretching out his arms towards his fleeing rival; he turns his head to listen to a pretty young woman who stands on a small iron balcony immediately behind him, with an open sash-window behind her. She says: “Risk not thy Precious life my Love in bold encounter with that dareing Scott.” He answers: “no no my dear I’ll shelter me behind the arm of Justice, & hunt him from his Scent by one of the most famous Bull Dogs in the Kingdom, & teach him never never to Dare to woo the [sic] from my Longing Arms Oh thou Golden Angel.” A paper inscribed ‘Scot’ projects from the fugitive’s pocket. Townsend says: “I’ll teach you worsted working rascall to dare to set up in opposition to the Irish Secretary D-n your Impudence.” A signpost points (left) to ‘Norwhich’ and (right) ‘To Chippenham’.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  • Title: Townsend the umpire of love, or, The Poled Scott hunted off after a long struggle [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. Jan. 7, 1812, by S.W. Fores, 50 Picadilli [sic], [7 January 1812]

Catalog Record

812.01.07.01

Acquired February 2022