A short ride in the Long Walk, or, The ponies posed!!

“George IV drives Lady Conyngham in a four-wheeled pony-chaise. He is chubbily obese, in loose trousers and braided jacket, wearing a cap poised on his naturalistic curls (cf. British Museum Satires no. 14637). He turns to the enormously corpulent lady. Both overweight the little chaise, and the very small ponies strain desperately. Behind and on the extreme left is the head of the horse ridden by an attendant. They have just passed a gate with a small octagonal lodge. The drive is bordered by a paling; in the background are stags.”–British Museum online catalogue.

• Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  
• Title: A short ride in the Long Walk, or, The ponies posed!! [graphic].
  
• Publication: [London] : Pub. March 28, 1824, by S.W. Fores, 41 Picadilly [sic], London, [28 March 1824]

Catalog Record

824.03.28.01+

Acquired October 2018

The unexpected visit

“The King, in Chinese costume and seated on a cushion, among the chinoiseries of the Pavilion (cf. British Museum Satires No. 12749), throws up his arms in terror at the entry (right) of the Queen, closely followed by Alderman Wood. Her demure dress contrasts with that of a woman, who, much alarmed, runs off to the left from beside the King. Sidmouth (left) and Castlereagh (right), both in Chinese dress, are equally terrified, and Lord Eldon peeps anxiously from behind a little pagoda. Both visitors extend an arm towards the King in an authoritative gesture. Words float from them towards the King: ‘Nothing extenuate nor set down aught in Malice [Othello, v. ii] men sleeping with her at Black Heath 1808 v. call Hoods [sic].'”–British Museum online catalogue.

• Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  
• Title: The unexpected visit, or, More free than welcome [graphic].
  
• Publication: [London] : Pub. June 17th, 1820, by S.W. Fores, 50 Picadilli [sic], [17 June 1820]

Catalog Record 

820.06.17.01+

Acquired October 2018

The claims of Her Majesty Caroline Amelia Elizabeth

• Title: The claims of Her Majesty Caroline Amelia Elizabeth, Queen of England, to be crowned with her royal husband King George IV : Her Majesty’s memorial to the King in Council … embracing a legal and historical review … Her Majesty’s reply.
  
• Published: London : Printed and published by T. Dolby, 30 Holywell-Street, Strand, and 34, Wardour-street, Soho, 1821.

Catalog Record

53 C292 821

Acquired February 2017

Head and tail, or, A crown piece and a sovereign

“Lady Conyngham, immensely fat, and broadened by inflated sleeves and skirt, walks away from the picture-plane. The King advances from the right and takes her right hand. The back of her head is covered by a large ‘5s.’ piece, showing the reverse or “tail”, with St. George and the ‘Honi Soit’ … inscription. The King’s face is covered with a sovereign, showing the obverse, with his own head, the profile towards the lady, and ‘Georgius IV’… inscription. She wears an enormous high-crowned hat trimmed with loops of ribbon, the brim extending beyond her vast shoulders. He wears a top-hat and braided coat with fur collar, the ribbon of the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, with knee-breeches. Above the design: ‘If thou be a King, where is thy Crown! My Crown is in My heart, not on my head!’ Shakspeare– [“3 Henry VI’, III. i].”–British Museum online catalogue.

• Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  
• Title: Head and tail, or, A crown piece and a sovereign [graphic] / Wm. Heath.
  
• Publication: [London] : Pub. Sep. 30, 1829, by T. McLean, 26 Haymarket …, [30 September 1829]

Catalog Record & Digital Collection

829.09.30.01+

Acquired May 2016

The total eclipse

• Title: The total eclipse : a grand politico-astronomical phenomenon, which occurred in the year 1820; with a series of engravings, to demonstrate the configuration of the planets. To which is added, an hieroglyphic, adapted to these wonderful times!
  
• Edition: [Second edition].
  
• Published: London : Published by Thomas Dolby, 299, Strand, 30 Holywell Street, adn 34, Wardour Street, [1820]

Catalog Record

763 820

Acquired February 2016

The little princess and Gulliver

“Princess Charlotte (three-quarter length) stands at a table looking into a large (chinoiserie) punch-bowl (right) in which Bonaparte frantically swims towards her, among agitated waves, his large hat floating in the water. The Princess, very mature for her seven years, wears a cap with a jewelled fillet inscribed ‘Ich Di[en]’ in which are three feathers. Round her neck on a rope of pearls hangs an oval miniature of the Prince of Wales. She holds her left fist over the bowl, saying, “There you impertinent boasting swaggering Pigmy, – take that, – You attempt to take my Grandpap’s Crown indeed, and plunder all his Subjects, Fillet you know that the Spirit and Indignation of every Girl in the Kingdom is roused at your Insolence.”–British Museum online catalogue.

• Printmaker: Williams, C. (Charles), active 1797-1830, printmaker.
  
• Title: The little princess and Gulliver [graphic].
  
• Published: [London : Pubd Octobr 21st 1803 by S.W.Fores 50 Piccadilly, 21 October 1803]
  

Catalog Record & Digital Collection

803.10.21.01

Acquired June 2015

 

The King’s dwarf plays Gulliver a trick

A satire on Napoleon. A corpulent King George sits at his dining table before a large dinner plate with utensils decorated with his crest in gold. From a hollow upright bone pops an image of the slight Napoleon in full uniform with his arms posed to box. Above King George’s head are etched the lines: “There you little insignificant pigmy, I’ve bone’d you.”

• Printmaker: Williams, C. (Charles), active 1797-1830, printmaker.
  
• Title: The King’s dwarf plays Gulliver a trick [graphic].
  
• Published: [London] : Pubd October 18th 1803 by S.W. Fores 50 Piccadilly [18 October 1803]

Catalog Record & Digital Collection

803.10.18.01

Acquired June 2015

 

Mrs. Hill’s apology

• Author: Hill, P. (Philippina)
  
• Title: Mrs. Hill’s apology for having been induced, by particular desire, and the most specious allurements that could tempt female weakness, to appear in the character of Scrub, Beaux stratagem : for one night only, at Brighthelmstone, last year, 1786, when the theatre was applied for by the Honourable George Hanger, and engaged for that purpose; with an address to Mrs. Fitzherbert. Also, some of Mrs. Hill’s letters to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Mrs. Fitzherbert, and others. The dénoum̂ent, with events and remarks, that may not be deemed uninteresting to this nation at large / by Mrs. Hill.
  
• Published: London : Printed for the authoress, and sold by G. Kearsley, Fleetstreet, and E. Harlow, St. James’s Street, [1787]

Catalog Record

53 H645 787

Acquired July 2013

Reflection: to be, or not to be?

George IV, looking into a full length mirror, is startled by the sight of the likeness of his estranged wife, Caroline looking back at him over the shoulder of his reflection in the mirror. He wears a crown, his coronet and feathers discarded on the floor beside him. The carpet, chair, and table-cloth are decorated with the Royal Arms.

• Printmaker: Cruikshank, Robert, 1789-1856, printmaker.
• Title: Reflection [graphic] : to be, or not to be?

Catalog Record & Digital Collection

820.02.11.01

Acquired July 2007

A kick up among the whigs

Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker

A kick up among the whigs / [man with an umbrella] Esqr. del.

Published: London : Pub. by Tho. McLean, 26 Haymarket, [Jan. 1828?]

828.01.00.05+

A satire on the formation of a Tory Ministry by Wellington in 1828. Wellington is shown in the uniform of a Life Guards officer riding his charger over little men made of large wigs — judges’ wigs, barristers’ wigs, bag-wigs — as they flee in confusion. One clings to the strap around Wellington’s arm, crying “Hold tight Huskey” (Huskisson). George IV stands in the background, hands on his hips, laughing at the scene.

Subjects (Library of Congress): George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830–Caricatures and cartoons; Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852–Caricatures and cartoons; Huskisson, W. (William), 1770-1830–Caricatures and cartoons; Whig Party (Great Britain);
Satires (Visual works) England 1821; Etchings England London 1821; Artists’ devices.

Lewis Walpole Library new acquisition: July, 2010