print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.8632
- Title
- Object: A civic Louse in the state bed!!!-or the corporation conglomorated!!
- Description
-
A Mansion House scene; the state bed (part) on the extreme left, is being inspected by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen. An enormous louse stands on the coverlet facing the Mayor, another is less conspicuous in a festoon of drapery. Close to the bed (left) stands a horsy-looking man wearing a low-crowned top-hat and top-boots, and holding a hunting-crop. He says : Its a savage looking Animal! [showing that he is Savage] I'd have the old ' 'Pulvinar [see BM Satires 14692] burnt immediately and Currycomb you all. The louse: Gentlemen do'nt ill use me! for some of us are nearly related, if you do, Martin, the M.P. [see BM Satires 14696] will take me under his Wing. The Mayor, Garratt, in his robes and holding a wand, heads the inspecting body; he stands with legs astride, arms extended, saying, A very omenous appearance indeed I should like the Lady Mayoress to see it at any rate. At his feet is a book, Mayor of Garratt [Foote's play]. Just behind him are Wood and Waithman (ex-Lord Mayor). All the aldermen wear their gowns. Wood says: It can't be a Wood louse at all events; Waithman : —wait-man, what the devil could bring it here? Behind stands Cox (see BM Satires 14710, &c.) with hair arranged to suggest small horns; he glares fiercely at the insect with folded arms, saying, How Kean it cocks it [sic] eye at me! The centre and largest figure is Curtis, inspecting the insect through a nautical telescope. Under his gown he wears a white waistcoat or jacket defining a vast paunch with striped sailor's trousers, cf. BM Satires 11353. A chain of sausages (cf. BM Satires 14389) supports a bunch of crossed spoons, sauce-boat, and ladle which rests upon his paunch. At his side are carving-knife and fork. He says: It looks very like a Turtle, it might make very good soup—I hope there is more to be found speedy and soon [see BM Satires 14382], it's quite fat! Behind him John Key (subject of many caricatures in Nov. 1830), younger and handsomer than the others, stands on a low stool, holding his sheriff's wand; he says : I'l find a Key for this mystery. His fellow sheriff, Heygate, says: Gang your Hey [scored through]—gate its na Scotch, I'll warrant for it has na high cheek banes [his own are high] it must ha crawled out of some Garrett. Between the two sheriffs is the angry puckered profile of Sir Charles Flower; he holds a paper, City Bonds [see BM Satires 14694], and says: It must have droped out of some musty old Flower sack. Behind Heygate and touching his arm stands Sir James Shaw; he says: Pshaw, its a scotch louse I'l take my Oath of it. Inconspicuous on the extreme right is Sir Claudius Hunter, saying, It's a Nunter. All these heads are portraits. Two other heads are indicated only. Under the bed is a large chamber-pot with the City Arms inscribed: Presented by the Corporation to The Lady Mayoress. December 1824
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1824
- Dimensions
-
Height: 246 millimetres
-
Width: 352 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', X, 1952)
The City State Bed had been placed in the Mansion House in 1801 by the then Lord Mayor at a cost of £3,000. A General Purposes Committee of the Common Council met to discuss its fate: the hangings had rotted and the bed was said to be verminous; a Mr. Savage stated that there was 'living evidence' of the impropriety of keeping it. It was removed shortly afterwards. London Packet and Chronicle, 6-8 Dec. 1824. [Information from the Director of the Guildhall Art Gallery. 438]
See No. 14692.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.8632
