print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.7347
- Title
- Object: The interpretation of the hand-writing in the wall
- Description
-
Four men are interrupted at a (Cabinet) feast, the fare being puddings stuffed with guineas, by Fox, who stands facing them and pointing with r. hand to the word 'TEKEL' on the wall, with the left. at Melville (r.). The latter, who wears Highland dress, falls back in his chair in frenzied terror, overturning a jug of wine and a salt-cellar. In back view, and on Melville's l., sit Pitt and (l.) a burlesqued colleague, who both look up in horror at the fatal word; both have helped themselves to guineas. Hawkesbury sits opposite the latter, his back to the wall, and relatively undisturbed. On Melville's r. stands a footman with three glasses on a salver, he holds his nose, looking down at him with quizzical disparagement. Fox dominates the scene; he says to Melville: "Thou art weighed in the Balances and art found wanting". A plump hand emerges from cloud to write on wall, a red cuff indicating the King. c. April 1805
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1805
- Dimensions
-
Height: 246 millimetres
-
Width: 350 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VIII, 1947)
See BMSat 10377, &c. For Fox and Melville cf. BMSat 10391, &c. As in BMSat 10393 the fall of the Ministry is prophesied. For Belshazzar's Feast BMSat 10072, &c.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.7347
