print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1862,1217.558
- Title
- Object: A pair of spectacles-or-The London stage in 1824-5.
- Description
-
Three H.L. figures at the base of the design look up at two circles linked to form giant spectacles. In one (left), inscribed Tragedy, Kean as Richard III (see BM Satires 12325) postures, leaning to the right, on a pedestal inscribed Drury Lane. In his right hand he holds upside down a moneybag inscribed Minus £800 from which sovereigns and bank-notes pour out. He holds a mask. In the other circle Maria Foote dances elegantly to the left, holding out a money-bag inscribed £3.000, in the other a mask. Kean: Take off your Mask Maria!! | Confound the Crew!!! She answers: Edmund, t'is off!— | I'm here as well as You!!! Below, and on a larger scale than the other figures, John Bull, a stout 'cit' in old-fashioned wig, sits squarely, chin and hands resting on his stick; he turns up his eyes, one towards Kean the other to Maria, registering intense melancholy; he says with down-drawn mouth: Horrible! Horrible! most Horrible! Hamlet. On the left a handsome décolletée woman (? Mrs. Cox) looks up at Kean, both arms extended, exclaiming, Oh! He is a nice Man!! and performs his part well!! A man of fashion (right), resembling Col. Berkeley, looks foppishly up through an eye-glass, saying, O! what a lovely Creature and what a charming leg and Foot. In the upper margin: All the World's a Stage, and all the Men and Women merely Players." Shakspeare. 24 January 1825.
Hand-coloured etching.
- Production date
- 1825
- Dimensions
-
Height: 246 millimetres
-
Width: 347 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', X, 1952)
A comment on Cox v. Kean, see No. 14863, and Foote v. Hayne, see No. 14711, &c, both distressing to John Bull, cf. No. 14860. For the spectacles cf. No. 11429.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1862
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1862,1217.558
