“The Queen (right) and Mrs. Wood, a stout virago and a lean one, fight, clutching each other’s hair. The Queen’s large feathered hat is on the floor. A curtain is draped on a pillar (right), and from behind a curtain on the left, Alderman Wood, wearing his furred gown, watches the fray, drooping apprehensively; he says: “He Jests at Scars who never felt a wound!” Mrs. Wood: “I’ll teach you to play at Bergami with my Husband indeed–no–no I’ve read Jane Shore, & knows how things goes on in Courts, & Palace’s, in Como’s [cf. British Museum Satires No. 13857], Virgin’s Waters, Cottages, Pavilions, Yachts, & such like. An Honest Citizen has no business in such bad place’s & I’ll Tear your Eyes out before you shall make a Bergami of him.” The Queen shrieks: “Avaunt ye Termagant I’ll stop the Tongue of Slander & Level to the Dust, the proudest Foe that dares suspect my Chastity I’d tear you limb from [sic] tho you be made of Wood.” Behind, on a small chimney-piece, is a bust, perhaps that of Lady Craven.”–British Museum online catalogue.
- Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
- Title: Brandenburgh House theatricals [graphic] : a wood scene in a new farce now performing with the greatest eclat at the Hammersmith Theatre.
- Publication: [London] : Pub. Sep. 20, 1820, by S.W. Fores, 41 Picadill [sic], [20 September 1820]
820.09.20.01+
Acquired June 2024
Copy in reverse of the first state of Plate 5 of Hogarth’s ‘The Rake’s Progress’ (Paulson 136): Tom and a wealthy old woman are being married in the dilapidated church of St. Marylebone. The bride has only one eye and growths on her forehead; the IHS on the wall behind her serve as a mock halo. In contrast the old woman is attended by a beautiful young woman who has already caught Tom’s eye. In the background on the left, the elderly pew opener pushes Sarah Young, carrying Tom’s child in her arms, and Sarah’s mother; she shakes her keys in their faces to prevent them from entering the church to stop the marriage. Two dogs in the lower left of the image mirror the courtship of Tom and his bride; the courted dog has only one eye. The clergyman is assisted at the altar by a clerk, and a charity-boy kneels at the bride’s feet offering a hassock. The Poor Box on the left is covered with a cobweb; there is a crack down the center of the slab with the Commandments on the wall behind the clergyman.
“A low platform covered with roses extends almost across the design; from this bed new Ministers advancing from the left are ejecting the old. Roses are scattered on the floor. The central figure is the tall and handsome Castlereagh, author of the phrase, see British Museum satires No. 10558, &c. With a taut two-stringed bow in his left hand, a quiver on his shoulders, he strides across Grenville who is on his back on the bed, and takes ‘Candle End[s] & Cheese Paring[s]’ from a bag with which Windham tries to make off (see British Museum Satires No. 9735). He says: “I’d have you to know I’ve two strings to my Bow!! Down, Down, Down, Derry Down!!” [See British Museum satires No. 10426.] Behind him, Portland threatens Grenville (in his peer’s robe) with a big block of ‘Portland Stone’ [see British Museum Satires No. 10718, &c.]. In front of Windham Rose steps forward from the bed to grasp a large rose on the floor: ‘Treasurership of the Navy.’ This Sheridan, in his Harlequin’s suit (see British Museum Satires No. 9916), is crawling towards, saying, “Just got into my first Nap – how – Unfortunate – come Sir fat touch that however.” Rose holds up a pair of bellows inscribed ‘Sing old Rose & burn the Bellows’. Eldon, in Chancellor’s wig and gown, strides from the bed on to the prostrate Erskine, seizing the Purse of the Great Seal, whose cord is still round the latter’s arm. He raises the mace to strike the ex-Chancellor, whose wig has fallen off. Erskine says: “Be quiet I’ll retire”; he holds a money-bag inscribed ‘4,000 Pr Anm’ [see British Museum Satires No. 10714]. Lauderdale, wearing a plaid, is behind him on the ground. On the extreme left Canning, standing on the bed, holds up a massive club inscribed ‘Bon Mots & Repartee by G C–g’; he stoops over Howick pointing at the ‘Catholic Bill’, which the latter holds. Howick steps from the bed, angrily looking up at Canning (his especial enemy, cf. British Museum Satires No. 10972), but, unlike his colleagues, not devoid of dignity. On the ground between Howick and Sheridan is Petty in his gown, one hand on his ‘Budget’, a small bag, the other on a sheaf of papers inscribed ‘Ways & Means’. He says: “Bless me I wish I was safe in College I’d never have anything more to do with Taxes” [an allusion to his youth, and to the fact that he was M.P. for Cambridge]. In the background (right) are Moira in his cocked hat and Lord Temple who makes off rapidly.”–British Museum online catalogue.