The Westminster watchman [graphic].

Edition:

[State with background of clouds and thunderbolts partially burnished out].

Published/Created:

[London]
[publisher not identified]
[ca. 12 April 1784]

Copyright Date:

[ca. 12 April 1784]

Physical Description:

1 print : etching on wove paper ; plate mark 17.3 x 24.8 cm, on sheet 27 x 36 cm

Related Links:

Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 6, no. 6525
Grego, J. Rowlandson the caricaturist, v. 1, pages 126-7

Notes:

Title etched above image.
Printmaker and date of publication from British Museum catalogue.
Dedication etched below image: To the independent electors of Westminster this print of their staunch old watchman the guardian of their rights and privileges is dedicated by a gratefull elector.
Text at bottom of plate: NB. Beware of counterfeits as the Greenwich and Chelsea watchmen are upon the look out!
Alfred Bowditch Collection; December 1966; Acquisitions no: 966-12-4-134.
Mounted to 30 x 40 cm.

Abstract:

"Fox, dressed as a watchman, stands full-face, his right hand grasping his staff (inscribed 'Uprightness'), his left on his hip. Over his head is the word 'Liberty'; his lantern stands on the ground beside him sending forth rays inscribed 'Truth'. His dog (left) is 'Vigilance'. Zigzag flashes of lightning among clouds, inscribed 'Ministerial Thunderbolts', threaten him from all sides. In the background (right) two sham watchmen are running off to the right holding staves and dark lanterns, which contrast with that of Fox, which sheds its rays in all directions. The foremost is Sir Cecil Wray in military uniform, saying, "For Chelsea Ho a"; the other wearing a hooded cloak over his naval uniform is Lord Hood saying, "For Greenwich Ho a". They are followed by two dogs."--British Museum online catalogue.

Associated Names:

Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827 [Printmaker]

Topics:

Buckingham, George Nugent Temple Grenville, Marquess of, 1753-1813
Elections -- England -- Lond
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806
Great Britain. Parliament
Great Britain. Parliament, 1783-1784
Hood, Samuel Hood, Viscount, 1724-1816
Wray, Cecil, Sir, 1734-1805

Language:

English

Genre:

Etchings -- England -- London -- 1784
Satires (Visual works) -- England -- 1784

Format:

Image

Content Type:

Prints & Photographs

Rights:

These images are provided for study purposes only. For publication or other use of images from the Library's collection, please contact the Lewis Walpole Library at walpole@yale.edu. Further details on the Library's photoduplication policy are available at http://www.library.yale.edu/walpole/html/research/rights_reproductions.html

Call Number:

784.04.12.01.3 Impression 1

Orbis Record:

7624779

Yale Collection:

Lewis Walpole Library

Digital Collection:

Lewis Walpole Library

Local Record Number:

lwlpr05494

Volume/Enumeration:

Digital version

OID:

10727498

PID:

digcoll:2755516