Meditations among the Tombs
Pub. by J Sidebotham 24 Lower Sackville St.
[graphic].
| Contributors: | |
|---|---|
| Summary: | After George Cruickshank's 'Meditations among the Tombs', lettered with title, artist's name, text within image and publication line 'G Cruickshank fect/Pubd May 1st 1813 by J Johnston, 96 Cheapside'; see BM Satires 12041. Satirical print concerning the discovery of the coffin of Charles I during building work in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle and its’ exhumation in the presence of the Prince Regent. The scene is the interior of a sepulchre or tomb, a stone wall with Gothic arches forms a background. The Regent, Prince George, stands in profile to the left, his knees bent and both hands raised in shock as he stares [at left], at the two open coffins, where the corpses of Henry VIII and Charles I are raising themselves up into a seated position. Sir Henry Halford (1766-1844), is depicted as an elderly man dressed in black, standing, holding a pair of scissors in his right hand and supporting the head of Henry VIII, with his left. (In fact Halford, physician extraordinary to King George III, was only 47 at this time; directly involved in the exhumation, according to Robert B. Partridge [in ''O Horrable Murder': Trial, Execution and Burial of King Charles I', published 1998], Halford acquired the fourth vertebra of Charles I, which bore the marks of the axe). Henry VIII wears a flat Tudor cap on his head, a shroud and has large glassy eyes. Hanging around his neck is a chain of Maltese crosses. At the foot of his coffin is a coffin-plate inscribed 'Henry VIII'. In a coffin alongside, Charles I raises his decapitated head up in both of his hands - the coffin is inscribed 'King Charles 1st'. Behind the Regent, Sir John McMahon (with pimpled face and an evil grin), stands on his tiptoes on a closed coffin, while holding a torch above the Prince's head he puts his left hand on his master's shoulder. From his coat-pocket hangs a large purse (a reference to the fact that he was Keeper of the Prince's Privy Purse). He says (in a speech bubble) "How queer King Charley looks without his Head, does'nt he?!!! faith & sure & I wonder how We should look without Our Heads?!!" Behind him, the head and shoulders of a grinning devil appear from behind the coffin, from which ascend columns of flame and smoke. George, Prince Regent, responds "Aye! There's great Harry! great indeed!!!!! for he got rid of many Wives, whilst I, poor soul, can't get rid of one - Cut of [off] his Beard Doctor t'will make me a prime pair of Royal Whiskers!!!" |
| In collection: | Volume two of a collection of caricatures, mainly set in Dublin |
| Format: | Prints & Drawings |
| Language: | English |
| Published / Created: |
[Dublin] :
J. Sidebotham, 24 Lower Sackville St.,
n.d., ca. 1813-1814?].
|
| Subjects: | |
| Notes: | Physical description: 1 print : hand coloured etching, image 20.9 x 31.5 cm., on sheet 22.3 x 31.5 cm., cropped within platemark, mounted in album on sheet 37.2 x 27.8 cm.. |
| Arrangement: | Item |
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Meditations among the Tombs
Pub. by J Sidebotham 24 Lower Sackville St.
[graphic].
| In Collection: | Volume two of a collection of caricatures, mainly set in Dublin |
|---|---|
| Description: | After George Cruickshank's 'Meditations among the Tombs', lettered with title, artist's name, text within image and publication line 'G Cruickshank fect/Pubd May 1st 1813 by J Johnston, 96 Cheapside'; see BM Satires 12041. Satirical print concerning the discovery of the coffin of Charles I during building work in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle and its’ exhumation in the presence of the Prince Regent. The scene is the interior of a sepulchre or tomb, a stone wall with Gothic arches forms a background. The Regent, Prince George, stands in profile to the left, his knees bent and both hands raised in shock as he stares [at left], at the two open coffins, where the corpses of Henry VIII and Charles I are raising themselves up into a seated position. Sir Henry Halford (1766-1844), is depicted as an elderly man dressed in black, standing, holding a pair of scissors in his right hand and supporting the head of Henry VIII, with his left. (In fact Halford, physician extraordinary to King George III, was only 47 at this time; directly involved in the exhumation, according to Robert B. Partridge [in ''O Horrable Murder': Trial, Execution and Burial of King Charles I', published 1998], Halford acquired the fourth vertebra of Charles I, which bore the marks of the axe). Henry VIII wears a flat Tudor cap on his head, a shroud and has large glassy eyes. Hanging around his neck is a chain of Maltese crosses. At the foot of his coffin is a coffin-plate inscribed 'Henry VIII'. In a coffin alongside, Charles I raises his decapitated head up in both of his hands - the coffin is inscribed 'King Charles 1st'. Behind the Regent, Sir John McMahon (with pimpled face and an evil grin), stands on his tiptoes on a closed coffin, while holding a torch above the Prince's head he puts his left hand on his master's shoulder. From his coat-pocket hangs a large purse (a reference to the fact that he was Keeper of the Prince's Privy Purse). He says (in a speech bubble) "How queer King Charley looks without his Head, does'nt he?!!! faith & sure & I wonder how We should look without Our Heads?!!" Behind him, the head and shoulders of a grinning devil appear from behind the coffin, from which ascend columns of flame and smoke. George, Prince Regent, responds "Aye! There's great Harry! great indeed!!!!! for he got rid of many Wives, whilst I, poor soul, can't get rid of one - Cut of [off] his Beard Doctor t'will make me a prime pair of Royal Whiskers!!!" |
| Created: |
[Dublin] :
J. Sidebotham, 24 Lower Sackville St.,
n.d., ca. 1813-1814?].
|
| Language: | English |
| Extent: | 1 print : hand coloured etching, image 20.9 x 31.5 cm., on sheet 22.3 x 31.5 cm., cropped within platemark, mounted in album on sheet 37.2 x 27.8 cm.. |
| Format: | Prints & Drawings |
| Call Number: |
PD 2121 TX 2 (43)
(Collection unavailable) |
| Rights: | Reproduction rights owned by the National Library of Ireland. |