print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.12074
- Title
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Object: Phaeton taking the reins from Phoebus.
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Series: Political Sketches
- Description
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No. 743. On clouds in the sky, a man at centre in the character of Phaeton (Lord Palmerston), standing on a chariot, holding the reins of four horses, taken over from a man standing at left in the character of Phoebus (Lord Russell); at top right, a man in the character of Jupiter Tonans (Sir Robert Peel), holding thunderbolts, followed by and eagle with a man's head (Duke of Wellington); clouds at bottom right are lettered with 'Afghaniston'. October 1842
Lithograph, printed in fawn and black inks
- Production date
- 1842
- Dimensions
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Height: 283 millimetres (approximately; top edge obscured by binding)
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Width: 375 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- Text from 'An Illustrative Key to the Political Sketches of H.B.', London 1844:
This sketch alludes to the same subject as No. DCCXL (the Last Rose of Summer); namely, the lead taken by Lord Palmerston, in the place of Lord John Russell, in a general assault upon the administration of Sir Robert Peel at the close of the session of 1842. Rash, as this proceeding was on the part of Lord Palmerston, whose position would not command so large an attendance of members as that of the acknowledged head of the Whig party, and who is peculiarly vulnerable on so many points, the indiscretion was heightened, as appears in the sketch, by his making the war in Affghanistan a principal ground of attack.
His illustrious father (in politics), Lord John Russell, while yielding to the entreaties of 'his daring son to be permitted to take "a drive" at the enemy, expresses both in look and attitude, his admiration and his fears. The headstrong youth (for who does not recollect the appellation of "The Juvenile Whig" fixed upon his Lordship by Sir Henry Hardinge?) evinces nothing like doubt or apprehension; but prepares to start like a young heir just commencing the business of fortune-spending in Hyde Park.
The fatal issue of the trial is, however, seen in the distance. JUPITER TONANS, with his attendant eagle, in the likenesses of Sir Robert Peel and the Duke of Wellington, appear on high: the angry God is raising his avenging arm to launch a bolt that shall hurl the presumptuous driver from his seat, and at once terminate his experiment, and restore that order which his hardihood had disturbed, and had even threatened to convert into Chaos and Dull Night.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.12074