print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.4675
- Title
- Object: The heads of the nation in a right situation
- Description
-
A view of Temple Bar, with three heads on spikes. The heads are being pelted with stones, dead dogs, &c, by a crowd of men, women, and children. A market-woman smoking a pipe kneels before her basket, and is about to use its contents as missiles. Another woman says "This is a sight I have long wish[ed] to see". A boy holds a stone in one hand, a dead dog or cat in the other. A man waves his hat, crying, "Steer to the North", indicating that one of the victims is Lord North; another says, "There goes for Germany" (Lord George Germain). The third is evidently Lord Sandwich. Another man says "This is a happy day for England". A man waves his wig in delight. Small figures hurling missiles are seen through the centre arch; passers-by appear through the two side arches. On the upper part of the masonry of the arch is sketched a figure of Justice, seated on clouds, her scales in one hand, a spear in the other. The statues of two kings in the alcoves show that this is the west side of Temple Bar. On Temple Bar are placards: "Lecture upon Heads", a punning allusion to the popular 'Lecture' of George Alexander Stevens; "A Cure for a Distressed] nation" and "1745", in allusion to the heads on Temple Bar after the Jacobite rebellion. See BMSat 5660, &c. 1 May 1780
Etching
- Production date
- 1780
- Dimensions
-
Height: 234 millimetres
-
Width: 340 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.4675