print; satirical print

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

Object Type: print; satirical print
Museum number: 1868,0808.3712
Title: Object: Bob the Political Ballance Master
Description: Satire on the failure of the committee enquiring into the conduct of Robert Walpole's administration and the prospect of a second enquiry. A forlorn Britannia sits on the ground near the shore with Trade prostrate on the ground, asleep on his pedlar's pack. A plank is balanced on Britannia's spear: at one end Justice sits lamenting, "I cant prevail", while at the other the hefty figure of Walpole, wearing his earl's coronet and holding large money bags labelled, "Treasury", "Exchequer" and "Sinking", hopes to outweigh her. Walpole calls to the devil flying above, "Oh Help the Faithfull Servant Bob", but the devil brandishes an axe, replying, "This thy due". At lower left, the Duke of Argyll approaches, sword drawn and trampling on "Court Favours" demanding "Just Vengeance for my Countrys Wrongs", and John Barnard in aldermanic robes holds a paper of "Instruction to the City members" crying "Our Liberty's destroy'd"; a sailor sits on the ground, his feet on a neglected bale of "Wool for Exportation" and his arms tied behind his back with a label lettered, "Secret Orders" (an allusion to the presumption that Admiral Haddock was secretly prevented by Walpole from taking action against the Spanish fleet). At top left, a tree is labelled, "Gangreen members must be lopt away/Lest nobler parts grow Tainted & decay". An anchor lies on the ground, to right, and a ship flounders at sea. Four lines of verse below. 16 November 1742 Etching and engraving
Producer name
School/style
Production date: 1742
Production place: Published in: London (England)
Materials
Technique: etching; engraving
Dimensions: Height: 183 millimetres (image); Height: 214 millimetres (trimmed?); Width: 187 millimetres (image); Width: 192 millimetres (trimmed?)
$Inscriptions
Bibliographic references
Location: Not on display
Subjects: satire; allegory/personification; naval
Associated names: Representation of: Britannia; Representation of: John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll; Representation of: Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford; Representation of: Devil; Representation of: Sir John Barnard; Associated with: Admiral Nicholas Haddock; Representation of: Justitia/Iustitia
Associated places: Associated with: London (City interests)
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1868
Department: Prints and Drawings
Registration number: 1868,0808.3712

Free entry

Opening hours