print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1849,1003.42
- Title
- Object: Sawney Below Stairs
- Description
-
Satire on Lord Bute's resignation showing him arriving arriving on the shore of Hades where an elegantly dressed devil introduces him to earlier politicians and royal favourites: Count Bruhl, Roger Mortimer, Robert Walpole (congratulating Bute on the Excise Bill), Cardinal Wolsey (noting Bute's support of the Pope), the two Hugh Despensers (father and son, referred to here as Spencer brothers), and Sejanus. On the right, a three headed Cerberus snarls; the flames of hell rise behind encouraged by a devil pumping bellows. A toad and snakes writhe on the ground and another snake ascends Bute's leg. Four devils fly above, one a female, another holding a mirror in allusion to Bute's personal vanity, another holding a pear and an apple (alluding to the excise on cider and perry). On the far side of the Styx, a group of figures wait to cross; they include Henry Fox who calls out for the boat. Charon pushes off saying that he will demand his fare in advance as Fox is "a bad Paymaster". 1763
Etching
- Production date
- 1763 (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 196 millimetres (image)
-
Height: 228 millimetres (trimmed?)
-
Width: 338 millimetres (image)
-
Width: 342 millimetres (trimmed?)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- The design is clearly by Jefferyes Hamett O'Neale, parallels with his print designs and porcelain painting can be seen in the devils, the boat, the facial types, especially that of Bute, the snarling jaws of Cerberus, the draped classical figures and the reptiles on the ground.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1849
- Acquisition notes
- 1849,1003.1 to 100 were purchased by A E Evans at the 3rd part of the Stowe sale (collection of the Duke of Buckingham) on 7-8 August 1849. The lots purchased were 258, 261, 266-7, 269-70, 273 (all of caricatures), and lot 24 (sea fights)
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1849,1003.42
