- Museum number
- 1868,0808.12587
- Title
- Object: [Frontispiece to The Satirist, Vol. I.]
- Description
-
A tall well-dressed man (left), flourishing a whip, holds out a paper inscribed 'Satirist' towards a group of ex-Ministers and others who fill the centre of the design. Some of these are conscious of his presence, others are absorbed in conversation. On the left. Burdett on crutches, his right thigh bandaged (see BMSat 10725), looks round nervously; under his slippered foot is 'Paull's Pamphlet'. Horne Tooke, wearing a bonnet rouge and clerical bands, supports him; across his legs is written 'Wimbledon Expenditure'. Windham, holding his 'Training Bill' [see BMSat 10596] and with a paper at his feet, inscribed 'Plan for Blowing open Hell gates', is in consultation with Whitbread who holds a tankard of his own beer and tramples on a paper: 'Melville's acquittal' [see BMSat 10576, &c.]. Both look serious. Behind (left) is the profile head of 'Temple' with a pile of 'Stationery' on his head (see BMSat 10721, &c). Grenville, in back view, looks over his left shoulder; from his pocket project a cross and a document; he tramples on a 'Letter to Dr Gaskin'. Facing him are Erskine, St. Vincent (or perhaps Fitzpatrick), Howick, and Petty holding a dancing-master's fiddle, with a book of 'Country Dances' at his feet (see BMSat 10589). Moira, in uniform and wearing a cocked hat, clasps a cross and tramples on 'Protested Bills'. Behind him is Kemble in profile to the left., in theatrical dress and with the letter 'H' ('Aches') repeated on his collar. In front of him Sheridan, on the r. of the group, declaims theatrically to the right, where a fat woman stands holding a bottle in each hand. At his feet are papers: 'Little Red Riding Hood' and 'The Forty Thieves' [see BMSat 10459]. In front of Moira and Sheridan a club, the 'Whig Club' [cf. BMSat 9375], lies on the ground, broken (cf. BMSat 10709). In the background (right), watching Sheridan, are actors, including one with a dog (cf. BMSat 10172); others flourish clubs. Behind, Drury Lane Theatre is sketched, the statue of Apollo having lost its head (as in BMSat 10796).
Behind the 'Satirist' are other groups in the background. A blindfolded man (? Barrett) walks off holding a book: 'Barouche driver & his Wife'; he walks after a lady in back view with the Prince's feathers in her hair, and a second man. Next these is another group: Skeffington stands full face holding a paper; at his feet is a paper inscribed 'Sleeping Beauty' [see BMSat 10455, &c.]. Behind him are two men and a fierce-looking lady. On the horizon (left) is a barouche on a tiny scale containing a man who puts his arm round a lady holding up a parasol; facing them on the back seat are two ladies. At the feet of the 'Satirist' is a pile of books, three inscribed 'Persius', 'Juvenal', and 'Horace', with a pen and paper. Above him in the sky is a royal crown irradiated. Above the centre group an old man with wings, wearing a fool's cap, leans from dark clouds, playing a fiddle. 1 October 1807
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1807
- Dimensions
-
Height: 180 millimetres
-
Width: 350 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VIII, 1947)
The 'Satirist' is George Manners, founder, editor, and part-proprietor of 'The Satirist or Monthly Meteor'. The print gives a general view of the intention of the paper 'to wield the scourge of ridicule . . .' and of its anti-Whig attitude. The first number contains a song 'The Administration of 1806'. There is a review of 'Paull's pamphlet': 'A Refutation of the Calumnies of John Horne Tooke including a complete Exposure of the recent Occurrences between Sir F. Burdettam Mr. Paull . . .' [see BMSat 10733]. Also a severe notice of a 'scandalous publication', 'The Barouche Driver and his Wife ...' by 'Charles Sedley Esq.'. According to G. Daniel ('Mod. Dunciad', 1814, p. 96 n.), the author is Cervantes Hogg, i.e. E. S. Barrett, see BMSat 10720. The Letter to Dr Gaskin [not traced] is probably a pamphlet on the Catholic question: George Gaskin, D.D., Secretary to the S.P.C.K., 'D.N.B.' Considerable attention is also given to the theatre. Sheridan was accused by Cobbett of using 'the play-actors, scene shifters, candle-snuffers and mutes of the Theatre, aided by a pretty numerous bevy of... unfortunate females . . .' to furnish an applauding crowd for his election procession. 'Pol. Reg.', 29 Nov. 1806. For Kemble's 'Aches' see BMSat 11424.
Described, 'Autobiog. of W. Jerdan', 1852, ii. 309 f.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.12587
