print; satirical print

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Object Type: print; satirical print
Museum number: 1868,0808.3740
Title: Object: A Political Battle Royal Design'd for Broughton's New Amphitheater
Description: Satire on the rivalry of politicians contending for power after the fall.of Robert Walpole, presented as taking sides with regard to the duel between Horatio Walpole and William Richard Chetwynd, here shown as taking place at the amphitheatre of John Broughton, the prize-fighter. From left to right: Lord Chesterfield determines to fight John Carteret who had been appointed secretary of state for the north; William Pulteney notes that he gave Robert Walpole an "Easy Fall"; Carteret rejoices that he now "at ye Top of ye Tree"; the Duke of Argyll stands in the background complaining of subsidies, "a share in ye Box" (i.e., Treasury funds) to foreign forces in the war of Austrian succession; Sir Watkin Williams Wynne, holding a hat with a leek, demands money for Wales; John Perceval, Viscount Egmont, claims his independence and considers whether to vote for or against the Old Pretender; a country member wonders whether the "Chevalier" might be made elector of Hanover; Horatio Walpole, his wig fallen to reveal a head shaved like that of a pugilist, remarks that he has "touch'd ye Cole" (i.e., the money) and does not need the support of seconds; Arthur Onslow, Speaker of the House of Commons (or possibly Philip York, Lord Hardwicke, Lord Chancellor) stands betwen the duellists pointing towards the "Box"; Chetwynd, drawing his sword, repeats the claim that he had made in the House of Commons that the Walpole brothers "deserv'd Hanging"; the diminutive figure of William Pitt claims that he is ready to fight anyone; George Lyttelton complains to Pitt that they are not able to offer effective support; Sir John Hynde Cotton damns both sides and determines to gain a place for himself; Cotton reaches his hand behind his back towards the "T[reasur]y" box which is held by Samuel Sandys saying that like Paul Whitehead (an opposition journalist and boxing enthusiast) he will "hold ye Box as long as I can". 1743 Etching and engraving
Producer name
School/style
Production date: 1743 (circa)
Materials
Technique: etching; engraving
Dimensions: Height: 82 millimetres (image); Height: 202 millimetres (trimmed?); Width: 307 millimetres (image); Width: 320 millimetres (trimmed?)
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: In 1744 Paul Whitehead published a mock epic 'The Gymnasiad, or, Boxing Match' dedicated to John Broughton. The print was advertised in the London Daily Post, 28 March 1743
Bibliographic references
Location: Not on display
Subjects: satire; duel; boxing/boxer; politician/statesman; welsh
Associated names: Representation of: Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole of Wolterton; Representation of: William Richard Chetweynd, 3rd Viscount Chetwynd; Representation of: Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield; Representation of: William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath; Representation of: John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville; Representation of: John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll; Representation of: Sir Watkin Williams Wynne; Representation of: John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont; Representation of: Arthur Onslow (?); Representation of: Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke; Representation of: William Pitt the Elder, 1st Earl of Chatham; Representation of: George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton of Frankley; Representation of: Sir John Hynde Cotton; Representation of: Samuel Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys of Ombersley; Associated with: Paul Whitehead; Associated with: Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford; Associated with: John Broughton; Associated with: John Ellys; Associated with: James Stuart, the Old Pretender
Associated places: Associated with: London
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1868
Department: Prints and Drawings
Registration number: 1868,0808.3740

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