print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1915,0313.151
- Title
-
Object: A (four dice depicted) Macaroni. Gambler
-
Series: Macaronies, Characters, Caricatures & designed by the greatest personages, artists &c graved & published by MDarly, 39 Strand. 1772 (Vol.3)
- Description
-
No.16: Whole length Portrait of a man, with his head turned in profile to left, with a dejected expression. In his right hand is a money bag, in his left a paper: "Scotch Bill for 10,000l". 2 July 1772
Etching
- Production date
- 1772
- Dimensions
-
Height: 174 millimetres
-
Width: 123 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', V, 1935)
The four dice of the title indicate that this is Alexander Fordyce, the most active partner in the firm of London bankers, Neale, James, Fordyce, and Down. He absconded in 1772, after which, 10 June 1772, the bank stopped payment. See Walpole, 'Letters', viii. 178-80, 1 July 1772. He was famous for speculations in 'Change Alley, at first very successful, and for his extravagant way of living. See 'Every Man's Magazine', July 1772, pp. 11-12. He was a Scot, and the failure rekindled the outcry against the Scots. The speculative mania which caused the crisis had begun in Scotland, see BMSat 4961.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1915
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1915,0313.151
