W.A.R a masque

description below

“William IV, as Mars, in Roman armour, stands defiantly in a war-chariot drawn by three galloping horses, ridden by Discord, a virago with serpents for hair, who brandishes a handful of serpents. He holds a shield inscribed ‘Signed Protocols’, and a levelled spear; on his helmet is a dragon with gaping jaws. The chariot advances upon terrified Dutch soldiers (left), who flee; one drops his musket, but one on the extreme left (William I) stands firm beside the muzzle of a cannon and glares at the King with an obstinate scowl. They have high-crowned hats, with a ribbon inscribed ‘Orange’. Facing the chariot-horses (left) are a menacing Russian bear and a Prussian Death’s Head hussar with a levelled blunderbuss. Discord, looking sideways at the Prussian though turning away from him, says: ‘A word in your Ear! there’s nothing meant, its all show just to frighten these Dutchmen a little’. Under the chariot is a document inscribed ‘Treatys’; the wheel is about to collide with a large stone inscribed ‘Ireland’, on which the features of O’Connell are faintly suggested. Behind the chariot are three Furies, with serpents for hair, and holding firebrands and bunches of serpents. Rushing forward, they urge the King on; they are (left to right) Grey, Durham, and Brougham. As a background to the chariot a swarm of countless frogs (French soldiers) is dimly suggested; they rush forward, with a tricolour flag. On the front of the chariot perches a Gallic cock. In the foreground (right) stands John Bull, stout and spectacled; he clutches his ‘Reform Bill’, and gapes up in horror, saying, ‘Hey dey here’s a bobbery, just as I was going to look over my Reform Bill quietly, what do they mean not to go to war sure now,!! after suffering Poland to be annihilated & Germany trampled on, Oh nonsense! Nonsense’.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Seymour, Robert, 1798-1836, printmaker.
  • Title: W.A.R [graphic] : a masque.
  • Publication: [London] : [T. McLean], [1 November 1832]

Catalog Record

832.11.01.01+

Acquired June 2024

The Catholic sovereign safety-coach

description below

“Apparently an imitation (better drawn) of British Museum Satires No. 15716. Wellington drives (left to right) four galloping horses, each with a human head. The leaders are Lyndhurst (piebald) and Scarlett (black), both wearing legal wigs; the wheelers Brougham, also in his wig, and Burdett. He flicks his lash over the leaders, saying, ‘Kim up Motley–keep together odd Rat [Lyndhurst] ye–or I’ll lay it into ye!!’ The King’s (pleased) face is seen through the coach window; he says: ‘I say Arthur, you are the Man Wot can make’m go, if you like!!’ The guard is Lady Conyngham: she stands up, blowing her horn. She wears a guard’s greatcoat and satchel over her dress and holds a blunderbuss. The coach is the ‘Windsor Castle’; ‘Wellington & Co.’; ‘G R 1829’. It has just passed and overturned a two-wheeled ass-cart, the ass falling on its head, the driver, Eldon, sprawling on the ground. In the cart, which is inscribed ‘John Eldon Rubbish Carter’ [see British Museum Satires No. 15700, &c], are big bundles of ‘Anti-Catholic Petetions’ [see British Museum Satires No. 15661, &c.]. Standing behind and below the guard’s dickey is Peel as ‘cad’, or conductor; he thumbs his nose at Eldon, saying, ‘There’s a Guard for the Sovereign eh!!!’ Windsor Castle is on the extreme left; on the extreme right is a signpost pointing (left) to ‘Windsor’ and (right) ‘To London’.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Jones, Thomas Howell, active 1823-1848, printmaker.
  • Title: The Catholic sovereign safety-coach [graphic] : a new start from the castle Windsor – a regular out and outer / T.J. fect.
  • Publication: London : Pubd. 1829 by S.W. Fores, 41 Piccadilly, [April? 1829]

Catalog Record

829.04.00.19+

Acquired September 2023

Putting his foot in it

description below

“A Portuguese soldier and a British soldier, facing each other, co-operatively seize Ferdinand VII, who is putting his left foot across a line dividing Spain (right) from Portugal. Each holds a musket without bayonet. The Englishman’s right hand is on Ferdinand’s shoulder; the Portuguese clutches one of the King’s ass’s ears. Ferdinand wears a crown, a long cloak, and a spiky ruff. A French officer on the extreme right makes off to the right, shocked and alarmed; he looks over his shoulder, exclaiming, Sacré dieu! le pauvre bete est attrappée.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Title: Putting his foot in it [graphic].
  • Publication: London : Published by Thos. McLean, 26 Haymarket, 1826.

Catalog Record

826.00.00.90+

Acquired May 2021

The guard wot looks arter the sovereign

description below“Lady Conyngham stands directed to the left, feet apart, dressed as in British Museum satires no. 15720; she amusingly combines the ultra-feminine with masculine attributes and stance. She is immensely fat and wide with small cherubic features and curls; under her left arm is a cocked blunderbuss. She wears a wide-brimmed hat, a neckcloth fastened with a jewelled crown, a coach-guard’s greatcoat, wide open over her tight-waisted dress. A pouch hangs from her shoulder and two coach-horns from her left arm. Above her head: ‘I says to our Governor says I–keep your eye on them ere Leaders George’; i.e. on Lyndhurst and Scarlett, see British Museum satires nos. 15720, 15850. Cf. British Museum satires no. 15716.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  • Title: The guard wot looks arter the sovereign [graphic] / [man with an umbrella] Esq. del.
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. April 28, 1829, by T. McLean, 26 Haymarket, [28 April 1829]

Catalog Record

829.04.28.01+

Acquired November 2019

The delegates in council

“Naval mutineers, seated and standing at a long table, glare ferociously at Admiral Buckner, who stands (left) calmly, hat in hand, in profile to the right at the foot of the table. The man at the head of the table, seated in a chair which is higher than the others, holds a blunderbuss and wears a hat. He must be Richard Parker, but does not resemble him. At his elbow and on the extreme right stands Thelwall filling a glass from a ‘Grog’ can; he says “Tell him we intend to be Masters, I’ll read him a Lecture”; from his pocket hangs a paper: ‘Thellwals Lecture’ (see British Museum Satires No. 8685). One man only is seated on the president’s left and on the near side of the table. He places a fist on a long paper headed ‘Resolutions’. Under the table in the foreground, lifting up the tablecloth, five secret instigators are (left to right): Lauderdale, holding a paper: ‘Letter from Sheerness to Ld L——le’; Horne Tooke, Stanhope, Grey, Fox, the most prominent, saying, “Aye, Aye, we are at the bottom of it”, and Sheridan. All have satisfied smiles. Four ruffians are seated at the farther side of the table, others stand behind them; one aims a pistol over the admiral’s head, one man smokes, another chews tobacco, taking a quid from his box. Weapons lie on the table. On the wall behind them are a print of Britannia head downwards, and two torn ballads: ‘True Blue an old Song’ and ‘Hearts of Oak are our Ships Jolly Tars are our men We alway are Ready’, the last word scored through. On the right the slanting window of the captain’s cabin is indicated.”–British Museum online catalogue

  • Printmaker: Cruikshank, Isaac, 1756?-1811?, printmaker.
  • Title: The delegates in council, or, Beggars on horseback [graphic] / I. Cruikshank del.
  • Publication: London : Published by S.W. Fores, N. 50 Piccadilly, June 9, 1797.

Catalog Record 

797.06.09.03+

Acquired June 2019

 

The itinerant chancellor

Four rows of designs with one to three designs in each, individually titled.

  • CreatorGrant, C. J. (Charles Jameson), active 1830-1852, lithographer, artist.
  • TitleThe itinerant chancellor [graphic] ; [and 9 other designs] / C.J. Grant invent., del. & lith.
  • PublicationLondon : Published by J. Kendrick, 54 Leicester Square …, [1 October 1834]
  • Manufacture[London] : Printed by Dean & Munday …

Catalog Record 

834.10.01.01+

Acquired November 2017