Object types
satirical print (scope note | all objects)
print (all objects)
Title (object)
The wonderful pig.
Materials
paper (all objects)
Techniques
etching (scope note | all objects)
Production person
Published by S W Fores (biographical details | all objects)
Print made by Thomas Rowlandson (biographical details | all objects)
Production place
Published in London (scope note | all objects)
Date
1785
Schools /Styles
British (all objects)
Description
A semicircle of spectators, seated and standing, crowded one behind the other, watch the performance of the pig, who stands before a row of initial letters, one of which he holds in his mouth. Over the chimney-piece is a placard, 'The Surprising PIG well versed in all Languages, perfect Arethmatician Mathematician & Composer of Musick'. On the right wall of the room hangs a large shoe. 1785
Etching
Inscriptions
Inscription Language:
Inscription Content: Lettered with title, text within image and publication line: "Publish'd by S. W. Fores No. 3 Piccadilly April 12th. 1785."
Dimensions
Height: 247 millimetres
Width: 346 millimetres
Curator's comments
(Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VI, 1938)
The learned pig caused a sensation in 1784 and later, see BMSat 6715, 7214. Cf. Southey, 'Letters of Espriella', 1807, iii. 49: 'the learned pig was in his day a far greater object of admiration to the English nation than ever was Sir Isaac Newton.' See also Boswell, 'Johnson', ed. Hill and Powell, iv. 1934. pp. 373, 547 f.
Subject
satire (scope note | all objects)
Acquisition date
1868
Acquisition name
Purchased from Edward Hawkins (biographical details | all objects)
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