Publication
London : Pubd. by J.L. Marks, 28 Fetter Lane, Fleet Street, [approximately February 1821]
Notes
Title etched below image.
Printmaker and date of publication from the British Museum catalogue.
Two lines of quoted text following title: "Which both by Art and Nature made is, "The sport of sense, the toy of ladies. Royal Fable.
Provenance
Sold by London's Dulau and Company to the New York City bookseller Ernest R. Gee in 1928. Earlier ownership by W.E. Gladstone is suggested by a manuscript note from Dulau formerly laid into the front the first volume (now in the object file), which states that "These came from the Gladstone Library at Court Hey, Broad Green. The manuscript notes written below the caricatures are in the handwriting of W.E. Gladstone."
Summary
"George IV sits on the throne, surrounded by kneeling women; he takes the hand of Lady Conyngham, who proffers their address: "Loyal Address of the Married Ladies." She says: "We the humble and Loyal Married Ladies feel ourselves bound in due veneration to your most sacred person to present to you our sincere thanks for the many tokens of Love we the Loyal Married Ladies have laid under and we humbly acknowledge the favours our Husbands as [sic] experienced through the medium of us the Loyal Married Ladies!!!--" Behind her, a second lady, resembling Lady Hertford, looks startled. With them is a third, perhaps Mrs. Quentin. Behind the throne, which he clasps, stands Hertford (or Conyngham, cf. British Museum Satires No. 13847) holding a staff topped by antlers; he gapes at the speaker, saying, "I never heard a speech from a Lady so Cunning--." The King adds "Hum!" On his right stands Bloomfield, looking slyly sideways at his master. Both wear frilled muslin boudoir-caps. There is no dais, and on the right two grovelling women kiss, one the King's left foot, the other his thigh. A third kneels beside them. On the left is a black woman, who says: "God bless Massa he kiss his black servant in the kitchen at Brighton [see British Museum Satires No. 13208, &c.], my good Massa, make no distinction, Black or White, Massa Love'm all." On the extreme left is the profile of a noseless prostitute. On the King's throne is half a (bisected) crown, emblem of the repudiation of Queen Caroline, see British Museum Satires No. 13826."--British Museum online catalogue.