print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.5442
- Title
- Object: Commanders engaged at sea.
- Description
-
Reissue of 'Sea Amusement, or Commanders in Chief of Cup and Ball on a Cruise', 1785. Two officers of high rank sit together in a cabin, gambling intently at cup (actually spike) and ball. One (left) wears a star; the other, who is older and stouter, watches the dangling ball held by his companion. At their feet is a pile of coins on papers inscribed 'Twenty Pound'. Under the former's foot is a plan of 'Fotification [sic]', under the latter's a large wall-plan of the disposition of a fleet, on which land and 'Ocean' are marked. On the broad many-paned window behind them hangs ramed plan of celestial and terrestrial globes inscribed respectively 'Celiastial' and 'Teristial'. Behind (right), a burly sailor pours out tea for the two effeminate "jeers, with an expression of pained contempt. 1 July 1802
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1802
- Dimensions
-
Height: 245 millimetres
-
Width: 345 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VIII, 1947)
The admirals seem to be types rather than portraits, but the officer wearing a star is identified [By Mr. M. S. Robinson of the National Maritime Museum.] as Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, 1766-90 (see BMSat 4845, &c.), rapidly promoted an Admiral of the White. The other may be Sir Edmund Affleck (1723 ?-88), whose promotion to Rear-Admiral of the Blue, 1784, seems to have been the only alteration in the flag-list from 1782 to 1787. He was M.P. for Colchester 1782-8. The plan of 'Fotification' probably relates to Richmond's scheme for fortifying Portsmouth and Plymouth, violently attacked in Parliament in 1785 as a slur on the Navy, see BMSat 6921.
Grego, Rowlandson, i. 176-8 (reproduction).
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.5442