print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.7818
- Title
- Object: An ass in a mare's skin.
- Description
-
An ass with the head of Sir Charles Flower, the Lord Mayor, and draped with a shaggy skin, is dragged forward by Perceval (left) who tugs at a Ministerial Curb Rein. On its back sit the three Aldermen who were Ministerial M.P.s for the City: the bottle-nosed Curtis sits in front clasping the animal's ear; he says: I should say a speedy dismount & soon [see No. 11306] but that noisy Cur-' tis frightens me so much I dare not get off. He alludes to a dog, John Bull, which barks savagely at the ass: Bow Wow Wow. Behind him sits Shaw, saying P'Shaw on such vile proceeding; from his pocket projects : My Speech for the Common Hall. The third asks: Is this the Price of my political integrity. Two men (right) maltreat the ass. One, Waithman, drags at its tail, and flourishes a club inscribed Independence, saying, I am only giveing you a little more Weight-man to your tail lest you should prove top heavy. The other, Alderman Combe, the Whig M.P. for the City, pricks the beast's hind-quarters with a goad inscribed Honesty, saying, I'll Combe his hide for him—gee up Jenny, I'll gall the Jade. Bells are attached to the ass's ears, and to its kicking-strap, which is inscribed [R]oyal Trapings. A flower inscribed Passion Flower decorates its forehead. It tramples on a torn paper: Right[s of] Citizens. The scene is in fields, with the dome of St. Paul's, houses, and spires in the background. A signpost points (left) To Westminster.
April 1809
Etching
- Production date
- 1809
- Dimensions
-
Height: 249 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)
For the anger of the Common Hall and Common Council with the Mayor and three City M.P.s for their attitude to the attack on the Duke of York see No. 11314, &c.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.7818
