- Museum number
- 1867,1012.635
- Title
- Object: A reception of doctors at Oxford's University, the 15th of June 1814. Recption de docteurs a l'Université d'Oxford, le 15 Juin 1814.
- Description
-
A French caricature of the presentation of degrees to the Allied sovereigns at Oxford. In the centre of the platform sits the Regent, with the Prince's feathers on the back of his chair. On his right hand is the Tsar, on his left the King of Prussia, both handsome, and facing each other in profile. All wear long full wigs, with academic caps (like pork-pies) and furred robes. The cocked hats of the two foreign sovereigns are on stools beside them. The Prince wears a broad ribbon round his knee which dangles to the ground and is inscribed 'Honi soit qui mal y pense'. The English and French titles of the print are divided by a more correctly drawn garter with the same inscription. The Tsar's sister, the Duchess of Oldenburg, flatteringly depicted, sits on his right A man, also in academic dress and much caricatured, stands near the King of Prussia in profile to the left, pointing to the sovereigns, and making a speech. He is Grenville, Chancellor of the University, see No. 11570. Men similarly dressed in doctors' gowns form a semicircle seated behind and to left and right of the royalties. Behind these stand officers wearing stars and medals; among them are one or two ladies. Across the base of the design cheering spectators (half length) stand against the platform, looking up and shouting. These are much caricatured. According to a pencil note in an old hand, which is probably correct, those on the left are 'les Russes', those on the right 'Les Prusses'. Those between them seem to be English and are equally hideous. Two men turn their backs on the proceedings and stand full-face; these are Frenchmen, both handsome, one an officer wearing a cocked hat and stars.
Flying downwards above the Regent's head, and much foreshortened, is a man dressed as a jester, symbolizing Folly; he holds out a fool's bauble with head, cap and bells in each hand. The wall is divided into three sections by two pilasters. On the left and right respectively are drawn terrestrial and celestial globes, one with compass, &c., the other with telescope, &c.
August 1814
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1814
- Dimensions
-
Height: 317 millimetres (cut)
-
Width: 401 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', IX, 1949)
The visit of the Allied sovereigns to Oxford, 14-15 June, was a magnificent affair. At the ceremony in the Theatre the sovereigns and notables wore academic growns and received diplomas of the degrees which had already been conferred: D.C.L. for the Tsar and King of Prussia, LL.D. for Metternich, Count Lieven, and Blücher. See 'Europ. Mag.' lxv. 551-3; 'Examiner', 1814, p. 393 f. The five principals sat as in the print, but the Regent's chair was higher than those of his two chief guests. See Nos. 12287, 12820.
(Supplementary information)
Dated by M. D. George, ? June 1814.
One impression was 'brought by Mr. Colman from France, 1817' (pencil note in the title).
A hand-coloured but cut and stained duplicate of 1861-10-12-401
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1867
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1867,1012.635