print;
broadside;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.4241
- Title
- Object: The Windsor Apparition, or the Knight of the Blazing Star.
- Description
-
A broadside satirising Lord Bute and his appointment as a Knight of the Garter. The illustration shows Bute in the Chapter House at Windsor startled by the appearance of the ghost of Edward III, founder of the Order. According to the verses below, Edward demands to know whether Bute has earned his Garter through military prowess, and the Duke of Cumberland, standing to right accompanied by Britannia, replies that on the contrary Bute "would sully our Glory to purchase a P[eac]e"; Edward responds sternly, "Forbid it, ye Pow'rs, that my grand Institution/Should ennoble a Scot who deserves [execution]". On the wall hangs a picture of Edward addressing the Kings of France and Spain, both his prisoners in 1356 (the Scottish Bute was often portrayed by his opponents as a secret ally of France). Letterpress title and verses of a song in two columns to be sung to the tune of "The Miller of Mansfield" and chorus "Derry Down, &c.", with one vertical segment of type ornament. (London: [1762])
- Production date
- 1762
- Dimensions
-
Height: 118 millimetres (etching)
-
Height: 306 millimetres (printed area)
-
Width: 175 millimetres (etching)
-
Width: 175 millimetres (printed area)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- The verses describe Edward III's prisoners as "Proud Philip of France, and false Davy the Scot"; Edward had fought Philipe VI for more than twenty years over his claim to the French throne, but it was his successor Jean II who was held captive at the same time as David II of Scotland.
The 'blazing star' of the titlelinks Bute's Garter star to current astronomical interest in the transit of Venus in 1761.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.4241