1776

Courtesy of the Print Collection, Lewis Walpole Library, Yale University

DEATH and the WOODMAN

339
Printed for Carington Bowles at his Map & Print Warehouse, No. 69 in St. Pauls Church Yard London. Publish'd as the Act directs (erased)

Death leans over an aged woodman seated on a bank, with his hatchet at his feet. The woodman points to his bundle of sticks as if answering Death's question "what would you have of me?" in the following verse:

A poor old Woodman trudg'd along the Road
Bending beneath the double load
Of Faggots and of Age. Alas! he cry'd,
Is there like me a Wretch beside,
In all the Country around?
Quite spent and almost out of breath,//
He throws his Burden on the Ground,
Bemoand his Fate and calld on Death
Come DEATH, O come and end my Pain.
DEATH came: and ask'd, what would you have of me
Only, that you would be so kind, said he,
To help me with my Bundle up again.

Surviving impressions with date intact read "4 May 1776."

32.6 x 25 cm.
Harry Elkins Widener Collection, Houghton Library at the Harvard College Library (colour, no date, HEW 13.8.3), Lewis Walpole Library (no date, 776.0.3)

Courtesy of the Print Collection, New York Public Library

THE DUTIFUL DAUGHTER

Pub'd 25th (erased) 1776 by W. Humphrey, Gerrard Street, Soho

A young woman (l.) sits across from her mother at a table and listens intently as the mother, looking cross and pointing for emphasis, admonishes her. The table is covered with a long velvet tablecloth with a tasseled fringe that brushes the patterned carpet. A large volume is open on the table with another beside it. As the mother preaches, a young gentleman, hidden under the table, lifts the fringed tablecloth and emerges to kiss the daughter's hand.The background is a folding screen and a window to the right behind the mother; above the screen the portraits of three stern ancestors overlook the scene. The verse reads:

Says pious Mamma to her young daughter Ann,
I advise you to read the whole Duty of Man,
Indeed my dear Mother I'll do what I'm able,
I've got a fine Lesson--here under the table.

32.5 x 25 cm.
New York Public Library (Satyr p. 201)

Courtesy of the Print Collection, Library of Congress

THE WISE MEN of GOTHAM and their GOOSE

Pubd. 16th Feby 1776 by W. Humphrey Gerrard Street Soho

This scene satirizes the North ministry's treatment of the American colonies. At least nine ministers, some in elaborate wigs--one seated, the rest standing--surround a covered table upon which is stretched a fat goose. Lord Bute (r.) in highland dress raises his sword to strike off the goose's head. Behind them, another grinning minister, or possibly a servant, hoists a basket full of golden eggs, and on the floor, a torn potato sack, labelled "TAX PO." spills out more eggs. In the foreground, a dog hoists its leg to urinate on the map of North America. On the back wall, an elaborate frame topped by the crown holds the painting of the sleeping British lion. The image is unique among the mezzotints for its text in the two upper corners:

In Gotham once the Story goes
A lot of Wise-acres arose
Skill'd in the great Politic Wheel
Could pound a Magpie, drown an Eel,
With many Things of worthy Note
At present much too long to quote,
Their district was both far and wide
Which not a little swelld their Pride
But above all that they possess'd
Was a fine Goose, by all confess'd,
A Rara Avis to behold
Who laid each Day an Egg of Gold
This made them grow immensely rich
Gave them an avaritious Itch,
The Case belongs to many more
They not contented with their Store
Would Methods vague and strange pursue
To make the Harmless Bird lay Two,
This Glorious purpose to obtain
About her Neck they put a Chain,
And more their Folly to compleat
They Stampt upon her Wings and Feet,
But this had no Effect at all,
Yet made her struggle, flutter, squall,
And do what every Goose would do
That had her Liberty in view,
When one of more distinguis'd Note
Cry'd D__n her, let us Cut her Throat,
They did, but not an Egg was found
But Blood come pouring from ye Wound.

Dorothy George described this print (BMC, V, p. 216-217) but did not catalogue it since it was not included in the British Museum collection.

33 x 25.5 cm.
Library of Congress (PC3+1776)

Courtesy of the Print Collection, Yale Center for British Art, Yale University

The FASHIONABLE DRESSES for the YEAR 1776

345
Printed for Carington Bowles at his Map & Print Warehouse, No. 69 in St Pauls Church Yard, London. Published as the Act directs 26 Dec 1776.

A older gentlemen with a cane seated on a park bench gazes at two young ladies who walk past him arm-in-arm. One (r.) is dressed more for the outing with a flat and feathered hat on a modest hairdressing and a trim, tailored jacket and gown. She walks a small dog on a leash. Her companion wears the massive wig and elaborate gown more appropriate to the ballroom. She glances back at the negro servant, a boy, who gestures as if he has just addressed her. His style of dress indicates that he attends the young ladies rather than plain garbed gentleman. This image was also issued as BOB BLUNT in AMAZE or FEMALE FASHIONABLE FOLLIES by Carington Bowles and catalogued under that title by the British Museum (BMC 4547). The date is erased on the British Museum impression.

Yale Center for British Art (B1977.14.10982)