- Museum number
- 1851,0901.501
- Title
- Object: Smelling out a rat; -or- the atheistical-revolutionist disturbed in his midnight "calculations"
- Description
-
Dr. Price (right), seated in an armchair at a small writing-desk, turns in horror towards a vision emerging from clouds (left): Burke is represented by an enormous spectacled nose which rests on the back of Price's chair and by two gigantic hands, one holding a crown, the other a cross, both of which are surrounded by star-shaped haloes. The spectacles support (between the crown and the cross): 'Reflections on the Revolution in France, and on the Proceedings in certain Societies in London, by the Rt honble Edmund Burke.' Price's pen drops from his hand; the paper before him is headed 'On the Benifits of Anarchy Regicide Atheism'. The table is lit by a lamp with a naked flame and reflector. Against his chair leans an open book: 'Treatise on the ill effects of Order & Government in Society, and on the absurdity of serving God, & honoring the King'. Beside it lies a pamphlet: 'Sermon preached Novr 4 1789. by Dr R. Price, before the Revolution Society'. On the wall above Price's head is a picture: 'Death of Charles Ist or, the Glory of Great Britain'; a headsman raises his axe to smite the King whose head is on the block; men with pikes are indicated in the background. After the title is etched : 'Vide. A troubled - conscience.' 3 December 1790
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1790
- Dimensions
-
Height: 245 millimetres
-
Width: 348 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VI, 1938)
One of many prints on Burke's famous 'Reflections...', see BMSat 7675, &c. For Price's sermon, which moved Burke to write, see BMSat 7629, &c. The title satirizes the calculations published by Price on the population of England (which he found to be declining, cf. BMSat 5864) and also on the sinking fund.
Grego, 'Gillray', p. 123. Wright and Evans, No. 45.
Reprinted, 'G. W.G.', 1830. Copy by Fairholt, Wright, 'Caricature Hist. of the Georges; [1868], p. 452.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
1986 Jan-Mar, London, Royal Academy, 'Sir Joshua Reynolds'
1989 May-Sep, BM, Shadow of the Guillotine: Britain and French Revolution
1990 Jan-Mar, Manchester, Whitworth AG, Britain and French Revolution
1990 Jun-Sep, Vizille, Mus/Rev Francaise, Britain and French Revolution
- Acquisition date
- 1851
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1851,0901.501
