Four men attempt to destroy the pillars of the Temple of fame, the Hanoverian horse devours the British lion chained to a post while two men to the left remove a stone cover to a pit. Engraving, 1757.

Date:
1757
Reference:
579992i
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About this work

Description

The temple represents Earl Temple whose structure is labelled 'honor', 'virtue' and 'merit'. The pillars being destroyed are inscribed 'public utility', 'mercy', 'probity', 'loyalty' and 'generosity'. The four men attacking the pillars are labelled 'envy', malice', 'treachury' and 'folly'. The two men removing the stone are Alderman Beckford and Sir John Barnard. Inscribed on the stone cover are the words 'avarice and folly 1757'. From within the pit, William Pitt the elder shouts, 'Oh my King', 'Oh my country', 'Oh justice', 'Oh my brave countrymen', 'Ah! me now exp(ire) virtue, & honesty'. The Duke of Cumberland holds a map of Hanover inscribed 'Gloria Mundi'. Henry Fox stands in the centre holding a container of 'plaster of Paris', i.e. French bribes. A monument of Britannia lying in the foreground with a broken spear is inscribed 'she is not dead but sleepeth'. Refers to the political conflict between Pitt who was supported by his brother-in-law, Earl Temple, and Henry Fox who was backed by the likes of Beckford and Barnard

Publication/Creation

[London] (to be had at the Golden Acorn facing Hungerford, Strand) : published according to Act, 1757.

Physical description

1 print : engraving ; sheet 19.4 x 31.2 cm

Lettering

The temple and pit. There are numerous speech bubbles within the print

References note

British Museum, Catalogue of political and personal satires, Vol. III, London 1978, no. 3652

Reference

Wellcome Collection 579992i

Type/Technique

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