print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.11675
- Title
-
Object: Unhappy ghosts crossing the Styx.
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Series: Political Sketches
- Description
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No. 359. A ferryman in the character of Charon (King William IV), holding a paddle under his right arm, standing on a boat in water, next to the shore; a group of man on the boat, shown in profile to left, walking towards him, the first one handing over a purse lettered with 'Seal HO' (Lord Duncannon), followed by two men (Lord Palmerston and Thomas Spring Rice); behind them to right, a man in the character of Mercury (Duke of Wellington), holding back a man trying to step out of the boat to right, wearing a wig, carrying the purse of the Great Seal in his left hand (Lord Brougham); to far left, a man walking on the shore towards left (Lord Melbourne). 11 December 1834
Lithograph
- Production date
- 1834
- Dimensions
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Height: 238 millimetres
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Width: 405 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Text from 'An Illustrative Key to the Political Sketches of H.B.', London 1841:
William IV, as old Charon, has ferried over his late Ministers, and is making them deliver up their seals of office by way of toll. There is something very shadowy in the figures of all the parties - everything looks ghostly. Lord Melbourne, just landed, walks slowly on in thoughtful mood. Lord Duncannon is just in the act of giving up his seal. Lord Palmerston follows, and next to him is Mr. Spring Rice, - all hanging their heads in mournful silence. In the character of Mercury, we see the Duke of Wellington catching Lord Brougham by the skirt of his robe, who is attempting to escape from his destiny. The Duke, repeating from Virgil, reminds the ex-Chancellor how much more easy it is to fall than to rise again. The 'facilis descensus Averni' refers to the Chancellor's running about the country, attending public dinners, and speechifying with more fluency than deliberation, whereby the favour of the King was soon lost; and the 'revocare gradum' expresses the difficulty of re-instating himself in His Majesty's good opinion. The Lord-Chancellor, endeavouring to get off with the great seal, exclaims: "Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo," which, being freely translated, means, - if I cannot subdue the House of Lords, I will stir up a commotion in the Birmingham Political Union.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated titles
Associated Title: Aeneid (VI.126)
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.11675