“Kean, in the costume of Sir Giles Overreach, stands on the stage, indicated by a boarded floor surrounded by flame and smoke from the jaws of a semicircle of ferocious monsters, serpentine, scaly, and fanged, and with glaring eyeballs. The largest and most menacing is the Old Times, emitting Gall, Spite Venon [sic] Hypocricy. Towards this Kean directs his levelled rapier, saying, By the powers of Shakspeare, I defy ye all. He holds above his head a large open book: Shakspeare, which is irradiated. Almost as large as the ‘Times’ is the pendant to it: New Times, vomiting Hypocricy. The other monsters are not specified, they spit flames inscribed respectively: Spleen; Cant; Malignity; Slander; Spite; Envy; Malice; Nonsence; Oblique.”–British Museum catalogue.
- Printmaker: Cruikshank, Robert, 1789-1856, printmaker.
- Title: The hostile press and the consequences of crim. con., or, Shakspeare in danger / R. Cruikshank delt.
- Publication: [London] : Pubd. Feby. 1825 by J. Fairburn, Broadway, Ludgate Hill, [1825 February]
825.02.00.01+
Acquired January 2020