print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.4547
- Title
- Object: The present state of Great Britain
- Description
-
Great Britain or John Bull (centre) stands half-asleep, his arms folded, holding a staff on which is the cap of liberty (the word "Liberty" inscribed on it in large letters). America (right), a Native American with a headdress of feathers, is about to take the cap from its staff. A Scotsman, his arm behind John Bull's neck, holds the staff of liberty with his left hand which rests on John's shoulder, while he looks ferociously towards a lean figure personifying France (left) whom he has seized by the cravat. The Scot wears full Highland dress with a dirk and sporran, his cap is ornamented with a thistle and covered with ostrich-feathers. France threatens the Scot with his fists; he is lean with a cadaverous face, his hair in a high toupet with an enormously long, tightly-bound queue which is decorated with a fleur-de-lys. John Bull is in quasi-military dress with cockaded hat, epaulettes and a sash. On the ground kneels a stout Dutchman wearing a steeple-crowned hat, his nose suggesting addiction to brandy. He draws a netted purse from John Bull's pocket. ?1779
Etching
- Production date
- 1779
- Dimensions
-
Height: 268 millimetres
-
Width: 391 millimetres
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', V, 1935)
The apparently favourable representation of Scotland is exceptional; it may indicate the much greater activity of recruiting in Scotland than in England, and the number of Scottish regiments raised for the war. For similar satires on Holland see BMSat 5557, &c.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.4547