print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.4523
- Title
- Object: A Political Lesson
- Description
-
A black horse, rearing violently, has just thrown its rider, whose head has struck a mile-stone and broken it across. The part still standing is inscribed "To Boston VI Miles". Behind it (right) is a sign-post inscribed "To Salem". The rider lies on his back, clutching his head with his right hand, his legs are in the air. He wears a laced coat and waistcoat and gloves, his hat and wig are on the ground. The horse is looking wildly-down at its rider. The scene is a narrow country road, with bushes in the foreground and low mountains in the distance. 7 September 1774
Mezzotint
- Production date
- 1774
- Dimensions
-
Height: 355 millimetres
-
Width: 252 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', V, 1935)
General Gage, who succeeded Hutchinson as Governor of Massachusetts, removed the legislative assembly from Boston to Salem (May-June 1774), the Port of Boston having been closed under the Boston Port Act. All shipping for Boston was forced to enter by Salem or Marblehead and thence through Cambridge by wagons. The result was to inflame the opposition of the colony to England. Five representatives to a General Congress were elected and the subscribers to a Solemn League and Covenant pledged themselves to suspend all commercial intercourse with Great Britain until the Boston Port Act was repealed; and in a number of ways Gage was defied and insulted. The rider may represent either Gage or Great Britain overcome by the resistance of Massachusetts to the penal measures against the colony, cf. BMSat 5549.
The manner of this mezzotint is that of the history painter, not of political satire. Reproduced, R. T. Halsey, 'Boston Port Bill', p. 157.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.4523