print;
satirical print;
book-illustration
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.5021
- Title
- Object: The Quintuple Alliance
- Description
-
From the 'Rambler's Magazine', June 1783. The five partners in this "alliance" are typical mountebanks, quacks, and persons of small repute. Astley, the famous equestrian, of Astley's Amphitheatre, stands on his head on the saddle of his horse, firing a pistol and saying "I and my Horse levy Contributions upon Asses". Dr. Graham (left), notorious for his Celestial Bed, holds a cylinder labelled "Divine Balsam for the Ladies"; it resembles his electrical appliances, see BMSat 6325. Behind him stands Jack Ketch, the hangman, holding up a rope and saying "I am Doctor Katch & this is a sovereign Remedy for a sore throat". Katerfelto (right) faces Graham, saying "Begar Me make de fine Puffs & de English swallow dem". He points to a black cat, which stands beside him, saying "I am old Scratch". This is the black cat which usually sat on Katerfelto's shoulder and which he pretended to consult, see BMSat 6327. 1 July 1783
Etching
- Production date
- 1783
- Dimensions
-
Height: 161 millimetres
-
Width: 110 millimetres
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', V, 1935)
Evidently a gibe at the Quintuple Alliance, one of the many political associations of the day, composed of the radicals of London, Westminster, Southwark, Middlesex, and Surrey, in the interests of parliamentary reform and annual parliaments. Cf. BMSat 6217.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.5021