print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.3808
- Title
- Object: The Noble Game of Bob Cherry
- Description
-
A satire on the rivalries of leading politicians vying for cabinet appointments as George II tried to form an administration after the death of Lord Wilmington. A scene in front of St. James’s Palace with a public house on the left from which hangs the large inn sign of a crown; three cherries hang from this sign, a fourth string is broken. Sitting on a bench against the wall of the inn Lord Granville vomits up a cherry, lettered “Sec of State”, beside him Lord Bath has fallen on his back, having failed on his attempt to grab one of the cherries labelled “High Treasurer”; beside him Lord Winchelsea is jumping up, his mouth open, hoping to capture one of the cherries lettered “Sec of State”, next in line, dressed in full judicial regalia, Lord Chief Justice Willes prepares to jump for the “H. Chancellor” cherry. Lord Chesterfield stands behind Willes. On the right, a group of politicians watch. Thomas Pelham and his brother the Duke of Newcastle are in the foreground.. 1746
Etching
- Production date
- 1746
- Dimensions
-
Height: 227 millimetres (image)
-
Height: 248 millimetres (trimmed?)
-
Width: 268 millimetres (image)
-
Width: 278 millimetres (trimmed?)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- ‘Bob Cherry’ is a game where the player tries to seize a swinging cherry with the mouth.
After Walpole’s fall there was no obvious successor. Lord Wilmington formed a short-lived administration in which other men sought to distinguish themselves. On the death of Wilmington, the King asked Lord Granville (previously Lord Carteret), a personal favourite, to form a government, but after two days Granville's efforts were unsuccessful and the King then turned to Pelham and his adherents.
Attributed to Boitard on stylistic grounds.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.3808
