print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1935,0522.12.116
- Title
- Object: Falstaff and his ragged crew or the contents of the green bag in propria persona
- Description
-
George IV dressed as Falstaff, and followed by a shambling rabble, advances towards the Queen (right) holding sword, and a round shield on which is a device of four wine-bottles and cork-screws. He stares with apprehensive defiance. She says with a dramatic gesture: "These are the Hireling Miscreants ye produce to Swear away the Life of your Neglected persecuted Queen ? for double fees they'd serve the Traitors Turn, & swear against their King—Leeches—vile Cooks for such a feast." The witnesses are seven men and a woman with patched face and damaged nose. The men are ragged and villainous; the tallest holds a stiletto, one is branded on the forehead with a gibbet. They are shepherded by a tall lean man (Cooke) holding a brief-bag, who walks behind the King; he answers: "I assure you these are the most Respectable Witnesses we could obtain." In his pocket are papers docketed 'Kangaroo Cook' and 'Million'.
17 June 1820
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1820
- Dimensions
-
Height: 219 millimetres
-
Width: 322 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', X, 1952)
For the witnesses see No. 13762, &c.; for Leach, Cooke, and the Milan Commission, No. 13755, &c.; f°r 'Kangaroo' Cooke see No. 13357; identification by using the name of a homonymous person is common in these prints. For George as Falstaff cf. No. 10625 (1806); he had previously been Prince Hal. The Queen's life of course was not at stake.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1935
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1935,0522.12.116
