A toad in a hole

“A fat, ugly woman, seated full face on a commode, in the form of a chair.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Grinagain, Giles
  • Title: A toad in a hole [graphic] / Giles Grinagain invt. et fect.
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. by S.W. Fores, No. 50 Piccadilly, Jany. 2d, 1804.

Catalog Record

804.01.02.15

Acquired November 2017

Madrid – a false alarm

Fourth page of a monthly magazine that consisted of four pages; included on this page are five individually-titled images.

  • PrintmakerSeymour, Robert, 1798-1836, printmaker.
  • TitleMadrid – a false alarm [graphic] ; Dieting in Germany ; Dutchmen blocking up the navigation of the Scheldt ; Portugal ; Perfects and imperfects, or, Dreadful times.
  • Publication[London] : [T. Mclean], [1 October 1832]
  • Manufacture[London] : Printed by Maguire, Lemercier & Co., 24 Leicester Sq.

Catalog Record 

832.10.01.01+

Acquired March 2018

Hudibras’s first adventure

Hudibras's first adventure

Hudibras and Ralpho encounter a mob armed with sticks; in the foreground to right, a one-legged fiddler, a butcher and a dancing bear with his leader. On the left, a woman reaches out her arms.

  • PrintmakerHogarth, William, 1697-1764, printmaker.
  • TitleHudibras’s first adventure [graphic] / W. Hogarth delin. et sculp.
  • Edition[State 3].
  • Publication[London] : Sold by Phil. Overton near St. Dunstans Church Fleetstreet, [1726]

Catalog Record 

Hogarth 726.00.00.26 Box 100

Acquired June 2018

How to obtain a request

A social satire: a beggar wearing ragged clothes and leaning on a crutch hold his hat out towards a old, well-dressed woman as he says, “My angelic young lady! Heaven preserve your ladyship’s beautiful shape and countenance these thousand years! Give a halfpenny to a poor old man.” Her face is caricatured, with a large pig-like nose from which long hairs protrude and with growths on her face, but she carries a parasol and is fashionably dressed and wears a feather and flower in her hair and earrings and large beaded necklace.

  • Printmaker: Grinagain, Giles, printmaker, artist.
  • Title: How to obtain a request [graphic] / Giles Grinagain invt. et fect.
  • Publication: [London] : Published Febry. 1st, 1802, by S. Howitt, Panton Str., Haymarket, [1 February 1802]

Catalog Record 

802.02.01.07

Acquired November 2017

Stinking lobsters

A social satire: a woman in a apron and with a kerchief on her head is seated at a low table with a basket of lobsters; she holds out one lobster that is pulling a man’s nose, as she says “There d-n your Eyes, who stinks now?” He winces in pain and pushes back against her arm as he replies, “Begar he bite! Oh!!!”

  • Printmaker: Grinagain, Giles, printmaker, artist.
  • Title: Stinking lobsters [graphic] / Giles Grinagain in. et fect.
  • Publication: [London] : Published Decbr. 1, 1801, by S. Howitt, Panton Street, [1 December 1801]

Catalog Record 

801.12.01.10

Acquired November 2017

Black eyed lovers

“Satire on servants; a scene in a pantry with a liveried servant retreating in horror from a stout woman, probably a cook; he holds his hand to his face which sports two black eyes and she, scowling in fury, extends her right fist.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • PrintmakerNewton, Richard, 1777-1798, printmaker, artist.
  • TitleBlack eyed lovers [graphic] / drawn & etchd. by Rd. Newton.
  • PublicationLondon : Pubd. by Willm. Holland, Oxford St., Novr. 1795.

Catalog Record 

795.11.00.01+

Acquired May 2017

What a nice bit!

A large black woman, smiling in her sleep, lies in a bed surrounded by bedcurtains. She wears a cap and earrings, and her large breasts hang out over her nightclothes. A thin old, white man also in nightclothes and a night cap ogles her by the candlelight from the candlestick he holds in his right hand.

  • PrintmakerNewton, Richard, 1777-1798, printmaker.
  • TitleWhat a nice bit! [graphic] / R. Newton delin.
  • PublicationLondon : Pub. by W. Holland, Oxford St., July 8, 1796.

Catalog Record

796.07.08.01+

Acquired May 2017

The full moon in eclipse

An old man sits outdoors in an upholstered chair, looking through a telescope which is pointed up left to a black woman standing on a cliff with her dress pulled up and her large derrière bared. A dog sits by the man’s chair with a similar look on its face as it too looks up at the woman.

  • Printmaker: Newton, Richard, 1777-1798, printmaker.
  • Title: The full moon in eclipse [graphic] / desin’d & etch’d by Rd. Newton.
  • PublicationLondon : Publish’d by W. Holland, Oxford St., May 8, 1797.

Catalog Record

797.05.08.02+

Acquired May 2017

The children of India worshiping the golden calf

“Indian men and women kneel before a large rectangular pedestal on which stands a golden calf with the head of Hastings. Three Indians lie on the pedestal at Hastings’s feet, making gestures of despair and entreaty. From his mouth protrudes a sword (left) inscribed ‘The Brand of Devastation’. On his back sits Wilkes facing the tail (right) which he lifts with one hand; in the other is the cap of ‘Liberty’ in which he catches large jewels excreted by the Golden Calf. He wears a livery gown and says: “Who would not wipe a Calf’s Backside, To gain the Sparks of Eastern Pride”. At the Calf’s feet lie a crown, sceptre, and orb, with (?) scimitars. On the ground and on the extreme left a well-dressed man stands before an altar holding a knife which drips blood over the altar; he says, pointing to an Indian who lies at his feet, stabbed through the heart: ‘When British Judges rule the Coast, The Natives must obey, No palliative means we boast, By G——you die or pay’. In the foreground (right) stand Thurlow and a military officer. The Chancellor, who wears his wig and robe, is blindfolded; in his right hand he holds erect the ‘Sword of Justice’, which is being taken from him by the officer who holds a diamond against the blade. In Thurlow’s left hand is a bag inscribed ‘Gold Moors’; he says: “Which Powerful God my wavering mind controuls, And my Sage Brows with Golden bands infolds, ‘Tis Mammons self I can be Just no more, Take thou the Sword give me the Golden Store”. The officer, who wears a wallet or haversack inscribed ‘Diamonds’, says: “So shall we Triumph while the Diamond’s smile, Can melt the Soul and Justice’s beguile.” Three Indians who kneel in the foreground below the pedestal of the Golden Calf are offering money (a bag inscribed ‘Gold Moors’) and jewel-boxes to Hastings.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • TitleThe children of India worshiping the golden calf [graphic] : this be thy God O India! who has brought thee to the verge of destruction.
  • Publication:[ London] : Publish’d May 15, 1788, by J. Berry, No. 129 Oxford Road, [15 May 1788]

Catalog Record 

Drawer 788.05.15.01

Acquired October 2017

The bear broke loose

“A muzzled bear sits up, as if begging, on a fat woman who lies on her back. She says: “Gemini! what a Weight! my poor dear Mr Dripping was quite a Feather to him”. The bear’s keeper (right) raises his club, saying, “Down Bruin! I’ll teach you to ride the high Horse”. A dog (right) springs towards the bear. A man (left) runs off, saying, “D——m me I’ll be off! . . . [etc.]”.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Grinagain, Giles, printmaker, artist.
  • Title:The bear broke loose [graphic] / Giles Grinagain invt. et fect.
  • Publication:[London] : Published Decbr. 20th, 1801, by S. Howitt, Panton Street, [20 December 1801]

Catalog Record 

801.12.20.03

Acquired November 2017