print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1865,0311.167
- Title
- Object: The Vanity of Human Glory
- Description
-
Satire on George Sackville's inadequacy as a commander at the Battle of Minden on 1st August 1759, comparing him with James Wolfe who died as he triumphed at Quebec six weeks later. A mock design for a funeral monument for Wolfe with a portrait, bust length, in an oval, in profile to the right, wearing a powdered tie-wig and military uniform, upon a triangular monument inscribed 'Set Honour in one Eye and Death in T'other And I will Look on both Indifferent And let the Gods so Speed me as I Love The Name of Honour than I Fear Death', a dead lion lying beneath the monument with 'Here lies honour' lettered to its flank with a laurel wreath between its forepaws, a dog urinating upon the lion, 'Minden' lettered upon its collar (representing Sackville) and saying 'Honour's a jest & all things show it, I thought so once but now I know it.' 1760
Etching
- Production date
- 1760
- Dimensions
-
Height: 347 millimetres (sheet)
-
Width: 247 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- The style of the lettering in particular is close to that of Paul Sandby, see for instance, BM Satires 3955 and 3971
The print was announced in the Public Advertiser, 12 May 1760"
"This Day is published, Price 6d. The Vanity of Human Glory; or, A living Dog, better than a dead Lion, a moral and allegorical Print; being a Design for the Monument of General Wolfe. To be had at Mr. Bull's Print-shop, on Ludgate-hill; and at the other Print-shops of London and Westminster. There are a few of the first Impressions printed on a superfine Royal Paper, at a Shilling each, for the Use of the Curious." (information from Tim Clayton)
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated events
- Associated Event: Battle of Minden 1759 (1st August)
- Acquisition date
- 1865
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1865,0311.167