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

A faithful representation of the trial ….

“A realistic view of the House receding in perspective to the Throne, above which is inset an oval bust portrait of Bartolomo Bergami, wearing a cluster of five decorations, see British Museum Satires no. 13810. Some figures and objects have numbers referring to notes in the lower margin. Counsel are in a line across the foreground on each side of the centre figures, who are Gurney the short-hand writer and Majocchi facing the interpreter. The Queen is inconspicuously seated behind Brougham, next a smaller lady who must be the tall Lady Anne Hamilton. Eldon is at the Table in front of the Woolsack. On the Table is 13 Green Bag [see British Museum Satires no. 13735].”–British Museum online catalogue.

• Title: A faithful representation of the trial of Her Most Gracious Majesty Caroline Queen of England, in the House of Lords, 1820 [graphic].
  
• Publication: [London] : [publisher not identified], [ca. November 1820]

Catalog Record

Drawer 820.11.00.01

Acquired April 2017

Poetical address from the ladies of the the cabinet ministers

A lengthy risqué poem suggestive of the sexual prowess of Bartolomeo Pergami, a close companion of Queen Caroline (1768-1821) who accompanied her during her Mediterranean travels in The Regency period. A woodcut portrait at the top of the sheet displays Pergami’s handsome visage, curly locks and broad shoulders.

• Title: Poetical address from the ladies of the the cabinet ministers, to Bartolomo Pergami, Knight of the Bath, of Malta, and of Saint Caroline.
  
• Publication:[ London] : Published by M. O’Brien, No. 5 Newcastle-Street, Strand …, [ca. 1815]

Catalog Record 

File 53 B445 815+

Acquired November 2017

Honour to the defenders of innocence & the rights of the nation

A pot lid with a transfer print showing the figure of Justice in the center with outstretched arms holding laurel wreaths over two lists on either side naming the members of the House of Lords who voted for her acquittal.

• Title: Honour to the defenders of innocence & the rights of the nation [realia].
  
• Production: [London], [1820]

Catalog Record

66 820 H759

Acquired May 2017

The whole truth, or, John Bull with his eyes opened

Caricature with Queen Caroline (left) as Lady Macbeth in the mad scene, standing in the street before two shops; she holds a candlestick raised in her right hand as she holds out her dress with her left hand, looking down horror at her skirt which is decorated with three panels with images of men and labeled “Man B”, “Austi”, “Sapio”, “Mat …”, and “Bat”. The initials “C.B” are embroidered on the trim of her knickers. Standing to her right is an astonished John Bull who holds his hat in front of his face, arm extended in horror. The shop on the left is identified by a sign below second story windows with broken glass: Wholesale Dealer in Brass Forges, Ranges, &c N.B. Odd jobs in general. The street level is shuttered, its doors covered in graffiti: Gone away, Gone abroad, Empty, M.T. The one door has a knocker in the shape of a ram’s head. John Bull stands before the second door which stands open as if he has just emerged. The windows are curtained and the building well maintained. The large sign above reads “Time & Common-Sense Occulists. N.B. Films expeditiously removed &c. Below this sign (left) is a pair of large spectacles with the two eyeballs turned towards the shop on the left and a smaller sign (right) that reads “No connexion with the next shop.”

• Printmaker: Lane, Theodore, 1800-1828, printmaker.
  
• Title: The whole truth, or, John Bull with his eyes opened [graphic].
  
• Publication: [London] : Pubd. by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s St., Feb. 1st, 1821.

Catalog Record

821.02.01.04

Acquired March 2017

The man of the woods & the cat-o’-mountain

A kitchen scene [with a satire based on the fable of the “catspaw”]. A monkey with Wood’s head squats beside a plump cat with the head in profile of Queen Caroline. She sits gazing at the fire with an eagerly expectant smile. He puts his left hand on her shoulder and takes her right paw which is supported on his knee, looking fixedly at her with greedy expectation. Between the bars of the grate are four chestnuts like large potatoes. These are inscribed respectively: ‘Privileges’, ‘Rights’, ‘Liturgy’, ‘St Catherines’. Beside the grate and attached to a chain is a ‘Kettle of Fish’. Behind the cat is a big trap with steel teeth inscribed ’50 000 per Annum’. Behind it is a dresser, neatly arranged above a cupboard inscribed ‘Lately from St Omers’ [see British Museum Satires no. 13730]. On the dresser are a teapot and butterdish, each with a bust portrait of Bergami, and two cups, inscribed ‘BB’. There are also pans inscribed ‘Hash’ and ‘Stew’, a ‘Tinder’ box and bottle of ‘Brim-Stone’. On the chimneypiece, with other utensils, is a box of ‘Matches’.”–British Museum online catalogue.

• Printmaker: Lane, Theodore, 1800-1828, printmaker.
  
• Title: The man of the woods & the cat-o’-mountain [graphic].
  
• Publication: London : Pubd. by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s St., March 27, 1821.

Catalog Record

821.03.27.01

Acquired March 2017

Moments of pleasure

“Companion plate to British Museum Satires no. 13988. Seated on a sofa, the Queen, wearing a large feathered hat, receives the news of the dropping of the Bill; beside her is a paper: ‘Bill of Pains Thrown out’. Alderman Wood, in a furred gown more elegant than civic, capers before her, holding up his arms, snapping his fingers, and grinning with delight. The Queen looks up at him, with a gesture of surprised satisfaction; she is caricatured, but better characterized than in other prints, resembling the description given by Creevey of her appearance at the trial on 17 Aug. She sits facing a long scroll on which names of places presenting Addresses are inscribed (see British Museum Satires no. 13934, &c.): ‘London’ (in large letters), ‘Westminster’, ‘So[uthwark]’. On the wall behind her is a (flattering) bust portrait of Bergami, wearing his decorations (see British Museum Satires no. 13810). In the doorway (left) are the leading members of a body of proletarian addressers; the foremost, with the curved shin-bones known as ‘cheesecutters’ which resulted from rickets, holds a paper: ‘Address to the Queen’; they are received by a thin, sour-looking lady, evidently Lady Anne Hamilton. They have two banners: ‘Queer Fellows’ and ‘St Gi[les]’, but among them is the profile of Hobhouse, the radical M.P. for Westminster. Over the wide doorway is a picture or relief of two little puppets on a string: the King and Queen performing antics while the string is pulled by a fiddler and another man, watched by two bystanders. The room (in Brandenburgh House) is ornately furnished; a heavy curtain is draped round a pillar.”–British Museum online catalogue.

• Printmaker: Lane, Theodore, 1800-1828, printmaker.
  
• Title: Moments of pleasure [graphic].
  
• Publication: [London] : Pubd. by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s St., 1820 [ca. November]

Catalog Record 

820.11.00.02

Acquired March 2017

Bat, Cat & Mat, or, How happy could I be with either

Caricature with Queen Caroline on the arms of Bergami (left) and Alderman Wood (right), jubilant on the sidewalk before the door of “Mother Wood”. The Queen wears a watch at her waist and two miniature portraits hanging from cords from her bosom.

• Printmaker: Lane, Theodore, 1800-1828, printmaker.
  
• Title: Bat, Cat & Mat, or, How happy could I be with either [graphic].
  
• Publication: London : Pub. by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s St., Jan. 19, 1821.

Catalog Record

821.01.19.02

Acquired March 2017

A wooden substitute, or, Any port in a storm

“A companion plate to British Museum Satires no. 14103. Alderman Wood takes the Queen’s left arm, staring down at her and grinning. He wears a top-hat on the back of his head, black tail-coat with trousers; his left hand is thrust under the buttons of his double-breasted coat. He wears an order and a star on which the Queen’s head is depicted (see British Museum Satires no. 13810). From her neck hang twin miniatures: Bergami and Wood. Her dress is a modified version of that in British Museum Satires no. 14103: between open over-dress and Turkish trousers is a frilled petticoat reaching well below the knee; her feathered hat resembles that worn at her ‘trial’. They stand in a wooded landscape with goats and rabbits in the middle distance. In the background, on the edge of a lake, is the tiny figure of Bergami, both arms raised.”–British Museum online catalogue.

• Printmaker: Lane, Theodore, 1800-1828, printmaker.
  
• Title: A wooden substitute, or, Any port in a storm [graphic].
  
• Publication: London : Pubd. by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s St., Jany. 19, 1821.

Catalog Record

821.01.19.01

Acquired March 2017

Transfer print snuff box with portrait of Caroline of Brunswick

Circular snuff box, varnished with a gilt edge. The lid shows a portrait of Caroline of Brunswick at center and bears the text ‘Queen Caroline of England’ at foot.

• Title: [Transfer print snuff box with portrait of Caroline of Brunswick] [art original].
  
• Production: [England], [ca. 1820]

Catalog Record

66 821 C292

Acquired October 2017