Tag Archives: Political satire

Le colera de Napoleon

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A Spanish version of Gillray’s 1803 satire ‘Maniac Raving’s-or-Little Boney in a Strong Fit’, the texts in the plate adapted to the Spanish relationship with France during the Peninsular War – after the invading French armies were defeated by the Spanish in Andalusia at the Battle of Bailen ‘Napoleon is frantic with rage at the news from Spain… He blames Godoy (whom he had made ‘Prince of the Algarves’) for deceiving him, apostrophizes Talleyrand, reproaches Dupont, and his second-in-command Vedel, for the capitulation of Baylen… his deceptions are discovered by the ‘perfidious Englishman’, probably Sir Hew Dalrymple, the Governor of Gibraltar’ (British Museum catalogue).

  • Title: Le colera de Napoleon [graphic].
  • Publication: [Spain] : [publisher not identified], [1808 or 1809?]

Catalog Record

808.00.00.38+

Acquired April 2023

The peddigree of Corporal Violet

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“The base of the design is a dunghill from which rises the head of Napoleon as a young republican officer, not caricatured. His head is covered by a large cup-shaped fungus, decorated with a tricolour cockade and resembling a Cap of Liberty; from its apex ascends a curving stalk, terminating in the large yellow rosette of a sunflower, centred by the head of Napoleon as Emperor, larger than that of the base, and representing an older man; like the lower one it is directed slightly to the right. Below it, leaves project from the stalk, balancing the design. On Napoleon’s head is an arrangement of stamens in the form of an imperial crown. These unite to form the long scraggy neck of the third Napoleon, a head in profile to the right, emaciated and desperate. On this head is a larger fungus than that below, projecting like an enormous hat. From it ascend the stems of a bunch of violets, copied from No. 12511, but with the addition of more flowers, and on a larger scale. It contains the profiles of Napoleon, Marie Louise, and the King of Rome, arranged exactly as in British Museum Satires No. 12511. Smaller fungi sprout from the dunghill, some flat and some conical, like caps of Liberty; on the latter tricolour cockades are indicated. Four little figures are on a slope (left) leading towards the dunghill, prepared to clear it away. In front are Blücher and Wellington, running forward, and talking to each other; one holds a spade, the other a broad hoe. Behind them is the Tsar, shouldering a pickaxe. Behind again stands Louis XVIII, with splayed gouty legs, supported on a crutch. He waves his hat to cheer them on.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Cruikshank, George, 1780-1842, printmaker.
  • Title: The peddigree of Corporal Violet [graphic] / etchd. by G. Cruikk. ; G.H. invt. et del.
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. by H. Humphrey June 9th, 1815 – No. 27 St. James’s St., [9 June 1815]

Catalog Record

815.06.15.02+

Acquired April 2023

R—l George running from his wife

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printed text

  • Title: R—l George running from his wife, or, A cruize in the channel!!.
  • Publication: [London] : Printed and published by John Fairburn, Broadway, Ludgate-Hill, [approximately 1820]

Catalog Record

File 763 820 R888+

Acquired August 2022

 

The cradle hymn

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“Heading to a broadside printed in two columns. The King, a bloated and whiskered infant, sleeps in a cradle, rocked by Sidmouth (right), a lean old woman wearing a cap and bag-wig, who sits in a rocking-chair, his clyster-pipe (cf. British Museum Satires No. 9849) on the ground. The cradle is surmounted by a pagoda with bells, and ornamented by two large crocodiles, representing the Chinese dragons of the Pavilion, cf. British Museum Satires No. 12749. On it are also a sun, with a fool’s cap in its disk, between crescent moons. Round the cradle lie toys: soldiers, mounted lancers, &c., on wheels, a cannon, a sceptre, a crown with a toy windmill stuck in it. With these are papers: ‘Divorce’; ‘Protocal’ [sic]; ‘Send her to Hell’. The infant holds a coral and bells and a corkscrew. Castlereagh sits over the fire warming a napkin. Canning (see British Museum Satires No. 13737) walks off to the left, disgustedly carrying the pan of a commode decorated with a crown and ‘G.R.’ On the chimneypiece are pap-boat, bottle of ‘Dolby’s Carminative, &c’. (Dolby was a radical bookseller, ‘Dalby’s carminative’ a well-known remedy for infants). A large ‘Green Bag’ hangs on the wall. In a doorway behind Sidmouth, inscribed ‘French Dolls’, stand two young women, in evening dress, stiff and impassive.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Cruikshank, Robert, 1789-1856, printmaker.
  • Title: The cradle hymn [graphic] : new version / I.R. Cruikshank fecit.
  • Publication: [London] : Published by T. Dolby, 299, Strand, and 34, Wardour Street, Soho, [ca. July 1820]

Catalog Record

820.07.00.01

Acquired November 2021

A bill to deprive Her Majesty…

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  • Author: Hone, William, 1780-1842, author, publisher.
  • Title: A bill to deprive Her Majesty Caroline Amelia Elizabeth of the title, prerogatives, rights, privileges, and pretensions of Queen Consort of this realm, and to dissolve the marriage between His Majesty and the said Queen.
  • Publication: [London] : Printed by W. Hone, Ludgate Hill, London, [1820]

Catalog Record 

File 53 C292 820b

Acquired May 2019

 

The party wot drives the sovereign

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Queen Adelaide, side-saddle on a horse with a man’s face, Lord Grey, using spurs and a riding crop to press him into the ‘Slough of Despond’, joining other politicians including Wellington. Grey says, ” Don’t drive so hard; you will worry me to death.” A signpost ‘To Reform’ points the other way. A group behind her cry, “Go it, Addy, push him on, don’t let him make any, without he first makes us.”

  • Creator: Heath, Henry, active 1824-1850, lithographer.
  • Title: The party wot drives the sovereign [graphic] / HH [monogram].
  • Publication: [London] : Published by S.W. Fores, 41 Piccadilly, London, 1832.

Catalog Record

832.00.00.49+

Acquired June 2017

Old Nick’s gatherings!

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“he Devil, laden with Tories, strides to the left, quoting the Duke of Newcastle with a gloating grin: ‘Can’t I do what I like with MY OWN’ [see BM Satires No. 15884, &c.]. Across his shoulder is a trident on which a bloated bishop is spiked. From the lower end of the handle a rat-trap (see BM Satires No. 15734), on which Peel sits, hangs by a rope. Wellington, encircled by the barbed tail, is dragged along, kicking violently. He is in uniform with spurred boots; a gibbet projects from his cocked hat. Under the Devil’s arm are two lawyers: Wetherell in his slovenly dress, and Lyndhurst. The remainder are tied by ropes to the Devil’s back; most prominent (left to right) are Ellenborough, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Croker. The others are scarcely characterized; a Scots cap may denote Lauderdale, a renegade.”–Britism Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Grant, C. J. (Charles Jameson), active 1830-1852, printmaker.
  • Title: Old Nick’s gatherings! [graphic] : “A pretty considerable damn’d hard day’s work I’ve had on’t!”.
  • Publication: [London] : [W. Chubb], [1832]

Catalog Record

Folio 75 G750 832 no. 6 (Oversize)

Acquired November 2016

The Cock of cotton walk, and maid of all work

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Relates to the Italian witnesses at the trial to deprive Caroline of the style of Queen and the rights of Queen consort.

  • Title: The Cock of cotton walk, and maid of all work, alias “Non mi ricordo,” and “Je ne me rappelle pas” : introduced as principal supporters to the wonderful green bag : a poem.
  • Edition: 3rd ed.
  • Published: London : Printed for and published by C.E. Pritchard, 1820.

Catalog Record

763 820C

Acquired February 2017