print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.6153
- Title
- Object: The Terrifying Comet, or, Modern Planetary System
- Description
-
A comet, whose head is a large star in which are the heads of George III and the Duke of Richmond, and whose tail issues from the latter's mouth, streams diagonally across the design from the upper left to the lower right corner. A (?) rising sun in the lower left corner contains the feathers of the Prince of Wales and is surrounded by satellites. A large star, 'Venus', close to the comet, contains the smiling profile of the Queen, gazing up at the King. Two smaller stars are above the comet's tail: 'Jupiter', containing the head of Pitt, and 'Georgium Sidus', containing the head of Burke; both look towards the King. The King looks downwards in profile to the left, from his mouth issues his 'Proclama' [-tion]; his wig is perched back to front on his bald head, giving an appearance of insanity; his neck is joined to that of Richmond. The long tail of the comet is covered by tiny figures of soldiers, artillery, and camps. Below it in the lower right corner of the design is a rectangular block inscribed 'Bagshot'. Six small stars surround the Prince of Wales, containing the heads of Fox, Sheridan, and Grey on the left, and on the right, M. A. Taylor and two others. 24(?) July 1792
Etching with hand-colouring
- Production date
- 1792
- Dimensions
-
Height: 248 millimetres
-
Width: 348 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VI, 1938)
A satire on the encampment on Bagshot Heath during part of July and August 1792, two 'grand reviews' being held to introduce a new system of manoeuvres 'to reconcile quick movements with order'. 'London Chronicle', 7, 10 July, 19 Aug., &c. Its association with the Proclamation of 21 May, see BMSat 8095, &c, probably derives from the debate on 31 May in which Lauderdale violently attacked the proclamation. The Prince of Wales made his maiden speech in its defence, and Lauderdale attacked Richmond as the fittest person, General Arnold (see BMSat 6173) excepted, to command a camp intended 'to overawe the people of the metropolis, and to destroy their endeavours to obtain a reform'. 'Parl. Hist.' xxix. 1516 ff. For Richmond as Uncle Toby see BMSat 6921, &c. For Burke's position cf. BMSat 7866, &c. The planet Uranus was first named Georgium Sidus by Herschel in honour of George III. The Bagshot manoeuvres and 'the bustle and prowess of the invincible Duke' are satirized in Wolcot's 'Pair of Lyric Epistles to Lord Macartney . . .' 1792. See also 'Auckland Corr.' ii. 430, and BMSats 8102, 8116, 8120, 8233. The design is probably imitated from BMSat 7508.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.6153