print; satirical print

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

Object Type: print; satirical print
Museum number: 1868,0808.3703
Title: Object: The Tables turn'd or, The Lurchers Lurch'd and Monsieurs Whip'd
Description: Satire on the progress of the War of Austrian Succession after the Treaty of Breslau in June 1742 between Austria and Prussia had left France isolated. A large room in the centre of which is a table laid with plates, knives and forks, and a large dish on which lies the Imperial Eagle one detached wing lying on a plate beside Frederick the Great; on the wall hang two pictures, of the Duke of Marlborough and Liberty. The room is full of figures prominent in the conflict, each numbered (there is no key): 1. (at lower left), the Queen of Spain is anxious that her sons (Don Carlos, future Charles III of Spain, and Don Felipe, future Duke of Parma and Piacenza) will be killed by Maria Theresa; 2. Philip V replies, "The Road to Crowns is dangerous, Madam"; 3. Louis XV of France who has fallen to the ground with his chair begs mercy of (4.) Maria Theresa, Queen of Hungary who whips him crying, "You have my Low-Countrys! give us back Loraine" while with her other hand she strikes (5 and 6) the Spanish princes; a small dog at the king's feet holds a paper lettered "Partition Treaty". In the foreground, towards the left, 7. a French commander, probably the Duc d'Harcourt, complains of "faithless allies" to 8. a Count, probably Count Brühl of Saxony, who refers to French support for Saxony's rival in the War of Polish Succession (1733-37); behind this pair, 9. the duc de Belle-Isle, commander of French forces in Bohemia, kneels begging mercy of 10. Charles of Lorraine, commander of Austrian forces; a Frenchman (11.) stands behind them saying, "Morblue de French to be so dup'd"; behind them 12. Frederick, King of Prussia, exclaims that the French "will be all in the Suds" (that is, in difficulties) to 13. an English nobleman, probably Lord Hyndford, British minister in Berlin, who suggests that it is time for Prussia to withdraw from the conflict; further back, 14. another Briton, possibly George II, invites 15. the Netherlands to ally with him, ending their neutrality, but the Dutchman is wary. Behind the table, 16. an Austrian (?) minister advises 17. the Elector of Saxony (Augustus III of Poland) to leave for Maria Theresa the wing of the Imperial Eagle that he seeks; behind them stand (17 - 22) five anxious electors, including 18. Charles Philip, Elector Palatine and 22. Clemens, Bishop Elector of Cologne, who raises his hands in alarm at the situation of his brother Charles VII (see below). Beneath the portrait of Marlborough, stands 23. an old Frenchman crying, "Me do de grand Exploit Begar me fly in time"; in front of him, 24. Robert Walpole, saying "My remove has ruin'd all", holds on his back 25. Cardinal Fleury, his breeches lowered, who is being beaten by 27. the infant Joseph, son of Maria Theresa, held in the arms of 26. his father, Francis Stephen, Grand Duke of Tuscany; 28. Britannia removes the crown from 29. the young Charles VII, recently crowned Emperor (in his shirt-sleeves because his Bavarian electorate had been occupied by Austria) in order to hand it to the young Prince Joseph; above Charles's head is lettered, "Menetekel" (a reference to the warning to King Belshazzar, Daniel 5.25). In the foreground, to right, the Devil sees the predicament of Louis XV saying, "He Bullys the men & is thrashd by a Woman, ha! ha!". 3 July 1742 Etching Etching with engraving
Producer name
School/style
Production date: 1742
Materials
Technique: etching; engraving
Dimensions: Height: 223 millimetres; Width: 297 millimetres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: Stephens identifies no. 29 as the Young Pretender, but it is clearly intended as the Emperor Charles VII.
Bibliographic references
Location: Not on display
Subjects: satire; punishment; allegory/personification
Associated names: Representation of: Frederick II, King of Prussia; Representation of: Carl Philipp of Bavaria, Elector Palatine; Representation of: John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough; Representation of: Elizabeth Farnese, Queen of Spain; Representation of: Charles III, King of Spain; Representation of: Philip, Duke of Parma and Piacenza; Representation of: Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia; Representation of: Philip V, King of Spain; Representation of: Louis XV, King of France and Navarre; Representation of: Anne Pierre, duc d'Harcourt; Representation of: Count Heinrich von Brühl; Representation of: Charles Louis Auguste Fouquet, Duc de Belle-Isle; Representation of: Charles Alexandre de Lorraine; Representation of: John Carmichael, 3rd Earl of Hyndford; Representation of: George II, King of Great Britain; Representation of: Augustus III, King of Poland (Frederick Augustus II, Elector of Saxony); Representation of: Clemens August, Archbishop of Cologne and Bishop of Paderborn and Münster; Representation of: Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford; Representation of: Cardinal André Hercule de Fleury; Representation of: Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor; Representation of: Francis I, Holy Roman emperor; Representation of: Britannia; Representation of: Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor; Representation of: Devil
Associated events: Associated Event: War of Austrian Succession 1740-1748
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1868
Department: Prints and Drawings
Registration number: 1868,0808.3703

Free entry

Opening hours