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

Keep within compass

description below

“A young woman stands within a compass inscribed ‘Fear God’, holding an open book inscribed ‘The Pleasures of Imagination Realized’. At her feet is an open chest full of guineas from which hang bank-notes and jewels; it is inscribed ‘The Reward of Virtue’. A small dog stands beside her. In the background (right) is a country house, on the left farm-buildings and haystacks. The four corners are filled … with the disasters which beset the woman who does not ‘keep within compass’. (1) A woman weeps dejectedly with cards and an empty purse on the ground at her feet. (2) A drunken woman lets an infant fall from her arms; on the wall is a torn print inscribed ‘Domestic Happiness’. (3) A woman is being conducted to the watch-house by two watchmen, one with his lantern, the other with a rattle. (4) She beats hemp in Bridewell, a man standing behind her with a whip, as in Hogarth’s ‘Harlot’s Progress’. …”–British Museum

  • Title: Keep within compass [graphic] : Prudence produceth esteem.
  • Publication: [London] : Printed for & sold by Bowles & Carver, No. 69 in St. Paul’s Church Yard, London, published as the act directs, [not after 1832]

Catalog Record

832.00.00.53

Acquired April 2024

Promenade d’Anglais

description below

“Two very tall and lank Englishmen walk arm-in-arm in profile to the left; one grasps a big (red) umbrella, and looks down at a dog. Before them walks a dwarfish man holding a tall cane, perhaps a servant, but dressed in the fashion of the day apart from striped trousers. Behind walks a second couple, shorter, broader, and more cheerful. All have flower-pot hats, and all double-breasted long-tailed coats, except one of the second pair, who wears top-boots. The others wear either long tight trousers or tight gaiters reaching above the knee. Two have large bows suspended from their fobs, to which seal and watch-key are attached. Three wear neckcloths with projecting ends.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Title: Promenade d’Anglais [graphic].
  • Publication: A Paris : Chez Genty, rue St. Jacques, [between 1814 and 1815?]

Catalog Record

814.00.00.44

Acquired April 2024

La taverne anglaise

description below

Interior view of an English tavern, with two men dining at a table in the left foreground (their dogs beside them looking up at the food) and another man reading a newspaper at a table to the right. A fourth man stands in the right background, his back to the viewer, looking out a window. A waiter carries a plate of food from the left.

  • Title: La taverne anglaise [graphic].
  • Publication: A Paris : Chez Martinet, et presentement chez Basset Md. d’Estampes et fabricant de papiers, peints, rue St. Jacques au coin de celle des Mathurins, No. 64, [not before 1806]

Catalog Record

806.00.00.55

Acquired April 2024

Money hunting

description below

“A fat squat and ugly woman sits on a sofa next a tall dandified officer (right) who makes his address, his hand on his breast. She turns to him complacently, her feet awkwardly resting on a stool. Their two dogs face each other, each with shape and manner corresponding with its owner. Two appropriate pictures are on the wall: Bank of England (left) and Seige of Acre (right).”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878, printmaker.
  • Title: [Money hunting] [graphic] / deigned [sic] by an amature ; etched by G. Ck.
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. Jany. 10, 1823 by G. Humphrey 27 St. James’s Stt, [10 January 1823]

Catalog Record

823.01.10.02

Acquired September 2023

The Hombourg waltz, with characteristic sketches of family dancing!

description below

Members of the Royal Family at an informal dance, the centre couple being Princess Elizabeth, grotesquely stout, and the Prince of Hesse-Homburg, who grasps her dress, unable to reach her waist.

  • Printmaker: Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878, printmaker.
  • Title: The Hombourg waltz, with characteristic sketches of family dancing! [graphic] / Knahskiurc [that is, Cruikshank] fect.
  • Publication: London : Published May 4, 1818, by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s St., nephew & successor to the late Mrs. H. Humphrey, [4 May 1818]

Catalog Record

818.05.04.01

Acquired September 2023

The Graces they were culling posies…

description below

“Three grotesquely ugly old maids stoop delightedly over a Cupid who sleeps against a rose-bush, arrow in hand, his unstrung bow beside him. On the back of one sits an ape; a lap-dog is beside her. A parrot sits on the bonnet of another, the third kneels. On a mound (right) a cock stands crowing: ‘Cock a doodle doo.'”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878, printmaker.
  • Title: The Graces they were culling posies and found young love among the roses [graphic].
  • Publication: [London?] : [publisher not identified], [between 1817 and 1819?]

Catalog Record

817.00.00.24+

Acquired September 2023

Case of frightful destitution

description below

“Eldon as a street-beggar kneels on both knees on straw placed on paving-stones, wearing a cap resembling those worn by butchers and the rags of a Chancellor’s gown over tattered breeches. He supports himself by a staff, and holds out his short powdered wig. Beside him (left) lies an empty and dilapidated bag inscribed The Old Bagg [cf. British Museum Satires No. 12883]. He looks down with a gloomy scowl, and from his closed lips rise the words: Pity the sorrows of a poor old man [cf. British Museum Satires Nos. 13991, 16236]–vide beggars petition, Tricked out of Work by a Soldier. Round his neck is tied a placard reaching below the waist, and inscribed: Pity a poor Old Man out of Place, at the age of 78 [76], and though extremely anxious, for employment, disappointed in, all his expectations of procuring the Same. His pension is only 4.000 P A [cf. British Museum Satires No. 10714] and not a Dinner has been dressed in his house within the memory of man! He has a wife to support, and a Son to provide for, who holds only Eight Appointments! Beside him an emaciated dog stands on its hindlegs holding a begging-dish, with a piteous expression.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  • Title: Case of frightful destitution [graphic] : the fatal effects of getting out of chancery!!! / [man with an umbrella] Esq. del.
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. by T. McLean, 26 Haymarket, London, [approximately January 1828]

Catalog Record

828.01.00.06+

Acquired May 2023

Do you want any brick-dust

description below

“A pretty young maidservant stands on a doorstep (right) while a man, Irish in appearance, gazes insinuatingly into her face as he fills her bowl with brick-dust from a jar. He has an ass which stands patiently, a double sack pannier-wise across his back and a second jar or measure standing on the sack. The profile of a shrewish old woman looks through the door at the couple, who are intent on each other. A dog barks at the girl. Behind is a street, the nearer houses tall the farther ones lower and gabled. At the doorway opposite a woman appears to be giving food to a poor woman and child. A man and woman lean from the attic windows of adjacent houses to converse. A little chimney-sweep emerges from a chimney, waving his brush.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Merke, Henri, printmaker.
  • Title: Do you want any brick-dust [graphic] / Rowlandson delin. ; Merke sculp.
  • Publication: London : Pub. Feb. 20, 1799, at R. Ackermann’s, 101 Strand, [20 February 1799]

Catalog Record

799.02.20.03+

Acquired April 2023

Columbus breaking the egg

description below

Christopher Columbus demonstrating how to make an egg stand on its end. The five observers look at the cracked egg, upright on the table, in amusement at the evidence of an inventive mind at work. Two other eggs intertwined with two eels lie on a plate in the center of the table. A dog peeps over the edge of the table in the foreground; the cutlery is pushed off to one side.

 

  • Title: Columbus breaking the egg [graphic].
  • Publication: [Alnwick] : Printed and published by W. Davison, Alnwick, [between 1812 and 1817]

Catalog Record

812.00.00.112 Impression 2

Acquired August 2022