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print
;
satirical print
Object Type
print
satirical print
Museum number
1874,0808.2029
Description
Satire on impovershed writers showing a poet sitting at a table, scratching his head and pushing at his turban as he attempts a composition with his quill pen, his elbow resting on a pile of books; two bailiffs approach from behind, one clasping his shoulder and presenting him with a writ of execution. A cat sits on a stool beneath the poet's table. Etching
Producer name
Print made by:
Moses Vanderbank
((?))
School/style
British
Production date
1737
(circa)
Materials
paper
Technique
etching
Dimensions
Height:
179 millimetres
Width:
130 millimetres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments
Stephens assumes that the print is a reference to the Act for the relief of insolvent debtors which was passed on 21 June 1737. The pose of the poet may be compared with that of Hogarth's "Distressed Poet", 1736 (Paulson 145).
Bibliographic references
BM Satires / Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum
(2328)
Location
Not on display
Subjects
satire
author/poet
debt-collector
cat
Associated names
Associated with:
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford
Acquisition name
Purchased from:
Charles Francis Arnold Howard, 5th Earl of Wicklow
Previous owner
Previous owner/ex-collection:
Hugh Howard
Acquisition date
1874
Department
Prints and Drawings
Registration number
1874,0808.2029