print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.9325
- Title
- Object: The bull in a rage kicking off his burden!!!
- Description
-
Above the design: 'The Chronologist. N° 1'. The bull (John Bull), with tipped horns, kicks violently, having broken a collar of Slavery and his chain. On his back are the Duke of Cumberland, grasping the horns, and saying, 'We had better cut his throat' (an allusion to the deaths of Sellis and Lord Graves, cf. BM Satires No. 17052), Queen Adelaide, holding on to Cumberland, and losing her crown, and Wellington who holds the beast's tail and says 'Hold fast Addle, D—n him how he kicks'. The bull has kicked a bloated bishop who lies on his back, and is kicking William IV, who staggers back. The King's crown falls off and is replaced by an extinguisher or fool's cap, to which a birch-rod is attached. This is placed on his head by a hand emerging from clouds inscribed 'Justice and Reform'. A tricolour flag flies from a hill (left), irradiated by the 'True Son' [sic]. This is a pendant to a tattered Union flag (r.) surrounded by carrion birds. Two frightened dogs (right) retreat, one with the head and wig of 'Weth[erell]', the name on his collar; the other with a Life Guard's helmet. Other emblems are a sword and police baton, both broken. c. May 1832
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1832
- Dimensions
-
Height: 166 millimetres
-
Width: 202 millimetres
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', XI, 1954)
A threat of revolution. The "True Son" connotes the Radical paper 'The True Sun' (5 Mar. 1832-23 Dec. 1837), cf. No. 17080. The more extreme Radical papers were republican. In its first issue (1 July 1831) the 'Poor Man's Guardian' spoke of Mr. and Mrs. Guelph. The "National Union of the Working Classes and Others", which was republican, expressed contempt for the Reform Bill. J. R. M. Butler, 'Passing of the Great Reform Bill', 1914, pp. 270, 302 f. Cf. No. 17073 ; for the Queen, No. 17076.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.9325
