print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1895,0408.22
- Title
- Object: Anti-dandy infantry triumphant or the velocipede cavalry unhobby'd.
- Description
-
Scene on a high-road passing through a village. Those who see their livelihood threatened by mechanical transport (cf. No. 13427) attack the riders of velocipedes (see No. 13399). In the foreground a dismounted dandy lies on his back, while a fat veterinary surgeon stands with one foot on his chest, squirting a syringe into his mouth. A stalwart blacksmith is breaking the machine into small pieces. The dandy, who is very thin, with a wasp waist, exclaims: "I swear by my stays [cf. No. 13394], I never will mount a Hobby again! don't now you'll take all the stiffening out of my collar and frill." The man answers: "I'll only give you a dose to make you remember! and if ever I catch you again you shall swallow all the contents of my shop!" The smith says: "That's right Doctor! if we don't exterminate these Hobbies, you'll never have to bleed or drench or I to shoe." Behind him (left) are houses bordering a village street. The mistress and maid of an inn, with 'Man and Horse taken in' over the gate, watch delightedly. Next door is a smithy: 'Anvil Smith and Farrier &c.', adjoining the thatched and gabled cottage of 'Drench Veterinary Surgeon Cows Asses & Dogs cured'. In the middle distance an ostler prises a dandy out of his seat with a pitchfork; he shouts: "D—n you but I'll spoil your sitting! if the Doctor can't get horses to dose he shall have asses to plaster! D—n me! I shall never have an opportunity of cheating a horse of his corn any more if these Hobbies come in Use." The road curves to the left and recedes in perspective, a sign-post pointing 'To Coventry'. A man eggs on a dog to attack a retreating hobby-rider; and a tiny fugitive in the distance shouts: "Dick! steer clear of the Blacksmiths in the next village and put up your Hobby where there is no stabling." After the title:
"Then beware Hobby Horsemen, beware of yr fate
"Dismount from your Hobbies before t'is too late,
"For Farmers, horse doctors and horses providers,
"Cry down wooden horses & down walking riders,
whoa hobby, down hobby down."
1819
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1819
- Dimensions
-
Height: 242 millimetres
-
Width: 347 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', IX, 1949)
(Supplementary information)
Serial number erased.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
2005 Sep-Oct, Worcester City AG (Sth Bank Tour), In All Directions
2005 Oct-Dec, Plymouth City MAG (Sth Bank Tour), In All Directions
2006 Feb-Mar, Carlisle, Tullie House (Sth Bank Tour), In All Directions
2006 Apr-May, Aberystwyth Arts Centre (Sth Bank Tour), In All Directions
- Acquisition date
- 1895
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1895,0408.22
