View of the ruins of Goodesburg Castle near Bonn, inspected by a female observer in the foreground.
824.00.00.66
Acquired September 2023
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.
818.05.04.01
Acquired September 2023
“Orléans (Égalité), looking to the right, stands on the scaffold dressed as a grenadier of the National Guard. He holds out by the hair the decollated head of Louis XVI, while he waves his cap in his right hand. Behind (left) is the guillotine, with the King’s body; streams of blood pour from head and trunk. Below the scaffold (right) are heads and bayonets of the National Guard, and, behind, two large buildings, the windows and roofs filled with spectators; those on the roof wave their hats.”–British Museum online catalogue.
793.02.12.02
Acquired September 2023
“Twelve figures arranged in two rows, each representing Dundas (not caricatured) in one of his capacities, title and words etched above each. [1] ‘A Governor of the Charter House’. He walks (left to right), looking down at a document in his left hand and saying: “How I venerate Charters”. [2] ‘Joint Keeper of the Signet in Scotland’. He holds out his left hand looking admiringly at a signet ring: “a vera pretty Seal ring worth £2000 a Year”. [3] ‘Chancellor of the University of St Andrew’. He sits directed to the left in a high-backed arm-chair wearing academic cap and long gown: “There is great weight and Dignity in a gown and Square Cap.” [4] ‘Patent Printer of the Bible in Scotland’. He sits in dressing-gown, cap, and slippers at a printing-press of the Caxton type, saying: “This printing and composing is vera tedious, but as it brings in about £6000 per Annum I must noe loose sight of it.” [5] ‘Custos Rotulorum for Middlesex’. He sits pompously in a high-backed chair wearing an old-fashioned cocked hat and laced coat, saying: “A little Consequence is very necessary in a custos Rotulorum”. [6] ‘A Treasurer of the Navy’. He sits at a table on which are money-bags and piles of coin, which he is counting: “Ah! this is pretty neat employment I love to count over the Siller.” [7] ‘A Governor of Greenwich Hospital’. He stands, wearing cocked hat and uniform, in profile to the right, right hand on his hip, left hand on the hilt of a sword: “a naval uniform is vera becoming.” [8] ‘A Commissioner of Chelsea Hospital’. He stands with arms folded, wearing cocked hat with military uniform: “As is also that of the Miliatory in due season.” [9] ‘A Commissioner for India Affairs’. He stands with his back to a group of barrels and chests, turning to the right: “What are ye aboot ye lazy loons, why are not these goods shipp’d off for India d’ye mean to do nothing at aw’ for your money.” [10] ‘Governor of the Bank of Scotland’. He stands in profile to the left, ‘chapeau-bras’, one hand thrust under his waistcoat and wearing an old-fashioned wig: “This is what I call snug – vera little trouble.” [11] ‘A Secretary’. He writes busily in profile to the right at a davenport desk: “By my Sawl I care not how many Trades they make me sae that the Siller comes alang with them catch aw things is the rule in Scotland.” [12] ‘An Elder Brother of the Trinity House’. He stands in profile to the left, wearing a gown, bowing, cap in hand: “This concludes for the present my small portion of the Candle ends, and cheese parings” [cf. British Museum Satires No. 9038].”–British Museum online catalogue.
798.02.05.01++
Acquired September 2023
818.11.14.01+
Acquired February 2024
Four caricatures of men eating soup each type identified below the image: a rich man with rhinophyma eats “Turtle Soup”; a tall, thin soldier with a queue hairstyle eats “Soup Maigre”; a dustman eats “Pea Soup”; and a thin man in an upholstered armchair and wearing a cap and slippers eats “Mutton Broth.”
826.00.00.93
Acquired September 2023
“A Dutch broadside satirising the arrival of William III in England and the overthrow of James II and his Roman Catholic policies; with an engraving showing in the foreground on the right William (7) in armour mounted on the Dutch lion (1), attacking the many-headed Babylonian dragon (2) with his lance. Above William flies the angel of Providence (3). To left, priests and Catholic officials (4) flee, some riding on goats, wolves and asses. The dragon carries the infant Prince of Wales holding a windmill (5) held by Father Petre (6). The lion rides over fallen monks and Jesuits (8) and two decapitated heads of the dragon. In the centre background William is received by English notables (9). To left, James (10) departs in a small boat from a shore with a ruined church; to right; he is received by Louis XIV (11), together with Mary of Modena and the infant Prince of Wales. With engraved title, false publication line “Gisling Geneve exc.”, and numbering 1-10, and with letterpress verses, including legend, in two columns.”–British Museum online catalogue.
688.00.00.01+
Acquired February 2024
Print showing George IV being carried in a sedan chair by two men wearing judicial wigs and robes, one carries a sceptor; on the top of the chair sits Queen Caroline holding a noise maker, she tells the porters to “Keep joging, I’le be your Pilot, don’t fear his Wakeing – I have Composed his Highness, I warrant you.” George IV pours out the contents of a bottle labeled “opium” and on the ground next to the chair is a broken bottle also labeled “opium.”
“Political satire: the Prince Regent carried in a chair by two judges, with Mrs Fitzherbert on the roof with two babies, followed by the cabinet.”–British Museum online catalogue.
824.04.24.01+
Acquired September 2023
“Brougham stands in profile to the left, selling brooms; he holds up one, two are under his left arm. He wears a barrister’s wig and bands, with a small conical cap tied under the chin, a tight-fitting bodice, and a full petticoat to the knee, showing flat feet and large and ill-formed legs in black stockings. The dress is that of the German and Flemish girls who sold brooms in the London streets …”–British Museum online catalogue.
825.05.13.01
Acquired November 2023
Portrait of d’Eon, nearly half-length, in profile to the left; wearing the full military garb of a Captain of the Dragoons, including epaulets and medals; in an oval.
Portraits D418 no. 1
Acquired February 2024