A picture of futurity

description below

Grey stands in the center pulling back a curtain on the large painting (right) addressing the three men (probably Peel, Cumberland, and Wellington) who look on in amazement. Grey says, “Gentlemen this is a fine color’d picture representing Futurity. The idea of which was concieved [sic] by an injured people and painted by a new and promising artist. Reform.” Reading from the left Peel looks at himself in the painting seated in a chair at a loom, “Why if there a’nt me at a spinning Jenny.” Cumberland, hat flying off, looking at himself depicted in the painting on his backside, “And me dying on a dunghill.” And Wellington closest to the painting that depicts him as a wounded soldier holding a broom and begging with his cap in hand, observes “And me begging.” In the painting is a tower with the British and French flags the former with the year 1814, referencing the Wellington’s successful campaign to end the Peninsular War.

  • Printmaker: Grant, C. J. (Charles Jameson), active 1830-1852, printmaker, artist.
  • Title: A picture of futurity [graphic] / C.J. Grant, d. & sc.
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. by G. Tregear, Cheapside, May 1831.

Catalog Record

831.05.00.02+

Acquired March 2022

Christmass boxes

A satire, divided into quarters, with four small scenes of different episodes of persons trying to collect their Christmas boxes. In the first square in the upper left, a plump supplicant in an apron holds out his hat to a scowling-faced man with a kerchief tied over his hat and a walking stick under his arm as they meet in a road outside a building with a lamp. Behind him on the wall is a sign posted “Miser’. In response to the request, the miser says “Give you a Christmass box. Curse you don’t I pay you for your meat.” On the top row, right, a thin man (a grave digger?) with a pipe in his mouth, bows to an obese clergyman, with a fat dog at his heel, as they stand in the graveyard of a church. The gravedigger asks, “Most worthy Parson give me a Christmass box.” The Parson replies, “Give you a halter you rascal. What should I give you a Christmass box for.” In the lower left, clergyman shakes his walking stick at a surprised man who is carrying a large box on his back and secured with a strap over his forehead. The clergyman says to the laborer, “If you ever ask me for a Christmass box again, I’ll physic you to death.” They are standing in front of building with a lantern and sign that reads “Gargle Apothycary.” The fourth square, lower right, shows old, hag-faced woman with a hat and muff standing in a parlor as she slaps the face of an astonished footman. She tells him, “Take that you saucy rascal for a Xmass box!” He replies, “What’s that for. I did not want a box on the ear, not I.”

  • PrintmakerNewton, Richard, 1777-1798, printmaker, artist.
  • TitleChristmass boxes [graphic] / drawn & etchd. by Rd. Newton.
  • PublicationLondon : Pubd. by Wm. Holland, 50 Oxford St., Decemr. 25, 1794.

Catalog Record 

794.12.25.02+

Acquired May 2017