“A giant mushroom reaches the upper margin of the design; in its summit a cask is embedded. The butler stands on a ladder (left) holding out the spigot, and saying to Banks who stands below (right): “here’s a pretty “Tale of a tub, all the Wine’s gone!!” Sir Joseph stands in back view, capering delightedly; he holds up both arms, a stick in the left hand, and says with head thrown back: “It is a most Glorious discovery cut it down & send it to the Museum had the Wine been Bottled, it wod not have been half so Interesting.” Against the wall of the cellar are wine-bins, stacked with bottles, four inscribed respectively ‘Curious Tinta’; ‘Cypress’; ‘Very Curious’; ‘Wine drank by the Grt Mogul’. Flasks on the top of the bins are ‘Nile Water’ and ‘Water from Tombuctoo’. On the ground (left) is a two-handled covered vase: ‘A small portion of the Sabine left by Horace at his death contained in this Vase preserved for dinners of the R S.’.”–British Museum online catalogue.
“Below the title: ‘–Dedicated to the worthy President–Sir Joseph Banks having a Cask of Wine rather too sweet for use, he directed that it shod be placed in a Cellar that the Saccharine matter it contain’d might be more perfectly decomposed by age–At the end of three years he directed his Butler to ascertain the state of the Wine, when on attempting to open the Cellar door he was prevented by some powerful obstacle–the Door was therefore cut down & the Cellar was found to be completely fill’d with a firm fungus vegetable production–the Cask was Empty & carried up to the deling where it was supported by the surface of the Fungus.–(vide Monthly Magazine).'”–British Museum online catalogue.
- Title: A mushroom for the Royal Society!, or, A view of a fungus lately grown on their own banks [graphic].
- Publication: [London] : Pub. by J. Sidebotham, 287 Strand & sold also at No. 20 Princes St., March 1819.
819.03.00.03
Acquired May 2024
A man stands facing the viewer, a pipe in his left hand and a paper labelled “London Gazette” sticking out of the pocket of his coat. He gleefully points with his left hand to two bottles set on a drop-leaf table beside him. The room is decorated with a marble pilaster with Ionic capital.
A gentleman is shown half-length in profile to the right, pressing a walking stick to his chin and holding his hat under his arm; he stands in a disconsolate manner at table on the right on which are set tankard lettered “small beer” and paper “W. Davison druggist Alnwick sells”.
An old man, wearing a robe from which hangs a crucifix, walks with a staff towards a city in the distance. A long beard grows from his chin and long hair hangs from the back of his head; the top of his head is completely bald.
A theatre scene; a man on stage holding a long cane leans towards the box stage left saying: ‘Bucks of the Boxes, sneer and talk aloud! I don’t mean you.’ The rotund young man at the front of the box says ‘Boo Boo’; he holds an unfurled sheet of paper headed ‘Fair Penitent. Lothario, by the amateur who murdered Romeo …’