The fruits of early industry & oeconemy

description below

“A family in a wealthy interior; an elderly man at centre, seated at a table, a glass in his left hand, holding out his right to receive coins from a younger man standing to left with his right hand on a book and a quill in his mouth; on the table, another glass, writing materials, coins and notes; to right, a woman …, supporting, and holding up a bunch of grapes for, a young child standing on a chair; looking on from behind the chair, a boy and, at right, a black servant holding a bowl of fruit, his left hand on the chair; in front of the table, a young girl lying on the carpet with a spaniel; a shipping wharf seen through an open window to left.”–British Museum online catalogue, description of another print engraved after the same painting

  • Printmaker: Darcis, Louis, -1801, printmaker.
  • Title: The fruits of early industry & oeconemy [sic] [graphic] / G. Morland pinxt. ; Darcis sculpt.
  • Publication: London : [publisher not identified], publishd. March 25, 1800.

Catalog Record

Drawer 800.03.25.07

Acquired April 2023

Royal love letters

description below

Heading to a broadside printed in two columns. Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, is dressed in an officer’s uniform and seated at a writing desk next to a window. He turns to gaze at a portrait on the wall of his mistress, Mary Anne Clark. Printed beneath the satirical illustration are a love poem and a quoted extract from a love letter, taken from the work ‘The Authentic and Impartial Life of Mrs. Mary Anne Clarke’ that was published after the Duke severed ties with her in 1809.

 

  • Title: Royal love letters [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Published by M.C. Springsguth, [approximately 1809]

Catalog Record

809.00.00.65+

Acquired November 2022

Lady P aragraph championizing

description below

“Lady Perceval sits at an ornate writing-table, pen in hand. A serpent issues from her breast, coils round her arm, and darts its fang at the tip of her pen. She frowns meditatively, saying, “Now then for something strong but not libellous, I hate half measures we must rush upon the enemy–suprise [sic], astound him–and unhorse him by Terror–John Bull have at you! I’ll open your eyes–.” The table is littered with papers and books; some are docketed: ‘For the Star’, ‘To the Editor of the Star’, ‘For the News’, ‘Extracts from the Book’, one is ‘Copy’, a book is ‘Politicks’, and a large paper is displayed: ‘Select Scraps from Shakespeare–with my own comments “Some achieve greatness “some have greatness thrust upon them …. Querie was this not the case with Nunky [Spencer Perceval], why not happen …. Son–.’ Other papers and books lie on the floor: newspapers are ‘The News’ and ‘The Star’, a paper is headed ‘Memorandums Billy Austin [see British Museum Satires No. 12027]–the Will–‘ Books are ‘Life of Lord Nelson’, ‘A very Woman by Massinger’, ‘Machiavael’, ‘Johnson’, ‘Indiscretion a Novel’, ‘Don Quixote’. On the left John Mitford, identified by a letter in his coat-pocket ‘To John Mit–‘, stands facing the wall, and hanging one picture over another: he places a view of a country inn, ‘The Tigers Head’ above one of ‘[War]burton’s Mad House’, saying, “Come this is a prettier picture than the other [left] shall catch some fish in this neighbourhood.” He is fashionably dressed, wearing Hessian boots. This picture is on the left of a row: a large picture of ‘Alecto’ (cf. British Museum Satires No. 7721), naked, wreathed in serpents, and brandishing scourge and fire-brand, with a background of flames hangs between three-quarter length portraits of ‘Lady Douglas’ and ‘Lady A Hamilton’. The former covers her face with a tragic gesture; a dagger lies on a table beside her, she seems to contemplate suicide. The latter clasps her hands. Over the chimneypiece (right) is a three-quarter length portrait of ‘Lord P . . . . val’ concealing his face with his hat; below, and partly hiding the frame, is a statuette of a knight killing a dragon. On the chimney-piece there is also a bottle labelled ‘Cephalic’ (for diseases of the head). Papers are burning in the grate, one inscribed ‘To[o] Libellous’.”–British Museum online catalogue.

 

  • Printmaker: Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, printmaker.
  • Title: Lady P aragraph championizing [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. March 4th, 1814, by S.W. Fores, No. 50 Piccadilly, [4 March 1814]

Catalog Record

814.03.04.02

Acquired November 2022

Spectres visiting Iohn Bull

description below

“John Bull, a fat ‘cit’, is seated beside a writing-table (right) holding up a large book. On the left hand page is inscribed ‘Vote of Thanks respecting the Expedition to Copenhagen’; John’s pen rests on the last word, but he turns in horror to gaze at the ghosts of (left to right) Fox, Pitt, and Burke. These wear shrouds and stand on clouds; all point a menacing forefinger. Fox says: “Erase those lines from your Journal”; Pitt and Burke say “Erase”. Burke wears spectacles and a Jesuit’s biretta (cf. British Museum Satires No. 6026), and holds a large book inscribed ‘Sublime & Beautiful’ [cf., e.g., British Museum Satires No. 6361]. John wears glasses, his hair rises on his head, pushing up his ill-fitting wig. He says: “Why dont you come then and transact the business yourselves? – it is impossible I can please every body. – it is come to such a pitch now that I have no peace either with the living or the dead!!!””–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, printmaker.
  • Title: Spectres visiting Iohn Bull [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. Feby. 23, 1808, by Walker, No. 7 Cornhill, [23 February 1808]

Catalog Record

808.02.23.01+

Acquired November 2020