Repeal of the test act [graphic].

Published/Created:

[London]
Pub. Feb. 20, 1790, by S.W. Fores, N. 3 Piccadilly
[20 February 1790]

Copyright Date:

[20 February 1790]

Physical Description:

1 print : etching on laid paper ; sheet 27.3 x 40 cm

Related Links:

Grego, J. Rowlandson the caricaturist, v. 1, pages 270-2

Notes:

Title etched below image.
Attributed to Rowlandson by Grego.
Later state, with the original title "The test" burnished out and replaced with new title. Cf. No. 7629 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 6.
Publisher's advertisement above design: In Fores's Caricature Museum is the compleatest collection in the kingdom. Also the head and hand of Count Struenzee. Admittance 1s.
Sheet trimmed to plate mark.
Three lines of verse on either side of title: Bell and the dragon's chaplains were ...
Temporary local subject terms: Literature: sermon On the Love of Our Country, by Richard Price -- Sermons: Richard Price, November 4, 1789 -- Repeal of Test and Corporation Acts, March 2, 1790 -- Maces -- Bags of money -- Clergy: bishops -- Signs: mitre and crown -- Emblems: mitre -- Crown -- Great Seal -- Burning of 39 articles -- Clubs: cudgels -- Steeple hats -- Dissenters -- Pick-axes -- Buildings: churches -- Firebrand torches -- Literature: quotation from Bible, I Kings 22.17, II Ch. 18.16 -- Addresses: Price's address to the National Assembly of France, July 21, 1790 -- Musical instruments: horns.
Walter Schatzki; February 1961; Acquisitions no.: 961-2-1-95.

Abstract:

"Dissenters are engaged in burning churches and attacking the clergy. In the foreground a stout bishop on his knees is being kicked and assailed by men with bludgeons; beside him is a book: 'Refutation of Dr Price'. He exclaims, raising his hands, "Murder, fire, thieves". One of his assailants says, "Make room for the Apostle of Liberty"; the other, "God assisting us nothing is to be feared". Under this group is inscribed: 'And when they had smote the Shepherd, the Sheep were scattered'. Behind (right) a Gothic building, from which extends a sign of the Mitre and Crown, is being demolished. Price sits astride on the beam supporting the sign; in one hand is an open book, 'Love of our Country', in the other is a firebrand inscribed 'The Flame of Liberty'. Beneath, two men in steeple-crowned hats are feeding a fire with faggots, whose flame and smoke, inscribed '39 Articles', ascends in a thick cloud. Next the burning building, and on the extreme right, is a porch (over a doorway) in which stands Fox, blowing a horn and pointing down to a placard over the doorway: 'Places under Government to be disposed of. NB, Several Faro and E.O. Tables in good Condition'. An adjacent placard is: 'day next charity sermon by Revd chas Fox'. A group of eager fanatics with lank hair rushes towards the doorway, holding up to Fox money-bags inscribed '30.000', '10.000' and '20.000.' In the foreground (right) are two fanatics struggling for the bag of the Great Seal; one raises a mace inscribed 'Brotherly Love' to strike his opponent; under his foot is a paper: 'Repeal of the Test Act'. In the background (left) is a group of figures engaged in demolishing a church with pickaxes; a rope pulls over the cross on the steeple. Two of this group look towards Price: a parson inscribed 'P------ly' (Priestley) waves his hat, saying, "Make haste to pull down that old Whore and we'll build a new one in its place"; a lean man, fashionably dressed (evidently Stanhope), extends his arms, saying, "Address to Assemblee national"."--British Museum online catalogue, description of an earlier state with similar composition.

Variant Titles:

The test.

Associated Names:

Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827 [Printmaker]
Fores, S. W. [Publisher]

Topics:

Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806
Harvey, Francis
Price, Richard, 1723-1791
Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
Riviere & Son
Stanhope, Charles Stanhope, Earl, 1753-1816

Language:

English

Genre:

Etchings -- England -- London -- 1790
Satires (Visual works) -- England -- 1790
Watermarks (Paper) -- L V G.

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:

790.02.20.01.2+

Orbis Record:

7733328

Yale Collection:

Lewis Walpole Library

Digital Collection:

Lewis Walpole Library

Local Record Number:

lwlpr06877

Volume/Enumeration:

Digital version

OID:

10731229

PID:

digcoll:553014