Lord Bute in highland dress accompanied by Proteus as a merman pulls the string of a kite with the head of William Pitt the younger; a bull spears the cap of liberty before a crowd of gentlemen holding flags of their relevant companies. Engraving with etching, ca. 1767.

Date:
[1767?]
Reference:
585373i
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About this work

Description

Suggests that Lord Bute was in political control and pulling the strings of William Pitt while suppressing the cause for liberty led by John Wilkes who (presumably) is the figure attempting to push the bull away. Another figure on the floor cries 'Fie bully! bully! fling your brother'. A fox (Henry Fox) on the right looks in the direction of two ducks who cry 'posts, pensions, titles' and the other 'grants bounties reversions duties hard taxes undigested subsidies'. The moon top right emits a beam on to the kite headed by Pitt with the words 'via lunatica'. The connection with the moon is furthered by the banners of the gentlemen standing on the left 'The hon company of merchant adventurers' and 'By charter the lunar colonies'. Further banners far right announce 'A la lune! les anglais sont fous ils sonts tous perdus' and 'a la lune! - les anglais sont fous tous fous perdus tous fous, tous fous'

Publication/Creation

[London?] : [publisher not identified], [1767?]

Physical description

1 print : engraving, with etching ; platemark 23.6 x 41.4 cm

Lettering

P** and Proteus, or a political flight to the moon. Quem deus vult perdere prius dementat The verse below reads: 'P- and Proteus. Mutatas dicere formas. Chousing, cheating, chopping, changing, ... Owns his defeat and truckles under'

References note

British Museum, Catalogue of political and personal satires, vol. IV, London 1883, no. 4163, pp. 400-403

Reference

Wellcome Collection 585373i

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