The Last Stake. Designed by Stuart.
Murray Delin.t. Junto fec.t.
Publish'd according of act Dec.r 6. 1779. for J. Almon in Piccadilly London.
Etching, sheet 250 x 335mm (10 x 13¼"). Trimmed within plate.
A satire on the state of the country that year. The names of the artists indicate that the creator believed this to be the fault of John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (1713-92) (Stuart), carried on by William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield (1705-93) (Murray) and executed by the Junto (Whigs). A bull representing John Bull is being lured on the other side of a creek that is marked "Rubicon - Flu -". Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford (1732-92) sits on his back, heavily fat and dozing off, ; at his back is a large square pack, inscribed "Taxes". The bull is restrained by a rope that is looped around a post bearing the inscription "The Last Stake," with a Scotsman in Highland attire intended for Bute and Mansfield in judge's robes and a wig holding the end of the rope. A pole and a club are being used by two other members of "the Junto" to prod the bull. Spain and France are using spears and swords to assault the bull. Spain wears a cut doublet, ruff, and cloak, while France dons a coat, hat, and bag-wig in French fashion. Behind them George III, who is idly observing the conflict with his hands in his pockets as they stand in front of an inn entrance gets a chamber pot emptied on his head by a woman's arm out the window. The signboard with the crown above the door is falling off and is only hanging by one hook. On the nearer side of the "Rubicon" a Dutchman stands facing the wall of a building, urinating on a paper inscribed "British Memorial".
BM Satires 5571.
[Ref: 61487] £380.00
Publish'd according of act Dec.r 6. 1779. for J. Almon in Piccadilly London.
Etching, sheet 250 x 335mm (10 x 13¼"). Trimmed within plate.
A satire on the state of the country that year. The names of the artists indicate that the creator believed this to be the fault of John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (1713-92) (Stuart), carried on by William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield (1705-93) (Murray) and executed by the Junto (Whigs). A bull representing John Bull is being lured on the other side of a creek that is marked "Rubicon - Flu -". Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford (1732-92) sits on his back, heavily fat and dozing off, ; at his back is a large square pack, inscribed "Taxes". The bull is restrained by a rope that is looped around a post bearing the inscription "The Last Stake," with a Scotsman in Highland attire intended for Bute and Mansfield in judge's robes and a wig holding the end of the rope. A pole and a club are being used by two other members of "the Junto" to prod the bull. Spain and France are using spears and swords to assault the bull. Spain wears a cut doublet, ruff, and cloak, while France dons a coat, hat, and bag-wig in French fashion. Behind them George III, who is idly observing the conflict with his hands in his pockets as they stand in front of an inn entrance gets a chamber pot emptied on his head by a woman's arm out the window. The signboard with the crown above the door is falling off and is only hanging by one hook. On the nearer side of the "Rubicon" a Dutchman stands facing the wall of a building, urinating on a paper inscribed "British Memorial".
BM Satires 5571.
[Ref: 61487] £380.00