print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.6038
- Title
- Object: The Russian bear and her invincible rider encountering the British legion.
- Description
-
Prince Potemkin (left) rides astride the back of a bear with the crowned head of Catherine II. His sabre is raised above his head to strike opponents who stand with levelled spears. These stand in a close group headed by George III (crowned) and Salisbury, the Lord Chamberlain. Behind are Thurlow and Pitt. These four hold spears, but Potemkin has sheared off the heads of three, which fly in the air, leaving intact only that of Pitt. Behind these four are two bishops wearing mitres. Catherine, the Russian bear, with one paw raised menacingly, says, "Shiver their lances into a thousand pieces, my dear Potemkin! I always vanquish when ridden by you!" Potemkin, who wears a hussar's uniform with a furred cloak and has long moustaches, says, "Saint George and my old Mistress inspire me! We two have done such feats before now in the tented field that Jove himself has wondered at our godlike prowess!!!" His sabre is inscribed 'Death and Destruction!' Pitt says "My Spear never failed yet in any engagements! only let me pierce her once and it will be all over with her!" One of the bishops says "From Russian Bears good Lord deliver me". Thurlow says "Blast her tough hide; my broken spear will never enter it by G---d!" (cf. BMSat 7320). The King says "Enter it, enter it, enter it; no Thurley, and if it did she wouldn't care a fig if you were pricking her from this till to morrow night!" Salisbury says "I thought my Wand of office was invincible every where; but he has cut it down, Sire, like a bulrush!" 19 April 1791
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1791
- Dimensions
-
Height: 308 millimetres
-
Width: 402 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VI, 1938)
One of many satires on Pitt's Russian policy, see BMSat 7841, &c. Prince Potemkin was the ambitious favourite and general of Catherine.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.6038