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The Gordon knot, or, The bonny duchess hunting the Bedfordshire bull / Js. Gy. invt. et fect.

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James Gillray
1756-1815

The Gordon knot, or, The bonny duchess hunting the Bedfordshire bull / Js. Gy. invt. et fect.

[London] : Pubd. April 19th, 1797, by H. Humphrey, New Bond & St. James's Street, [1797]
etching, hand colored
image: 243 x 363 mm; plate mark: 265 x 365 mm; sheet: 276 x 375 mm
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
1986.723
Provenance

From the library of Gordon N. Ray.

Summary

Print shows the Duchess of Gordon pursuing a bull (the Duke of Bedford) with a ribbon inscribed 'Matrimony', tied in a bow. Her daughter (Lady Georgiana) runs behind her, saying, "Run, Mither! - run! run! O how I long to lead the sweet bonny Creature in a string! run! Mither! run. run." The Duchess cries: "De'el hurst your weam, ye overgrown Fool, what are ye kicking at? - are we not ganging to lead ye to Graze on the banks o' the Tweed, & to make ye free o' the Mountains o the North? - Stop! - stop! ye silly Loon ye! stop!, stop, stop." In the background, three other married daughters of the Duchess (Susan, Louisa, and Charlotte) dance hand in hand.

Associated names
Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.
Ray, Gordon Norton, 1915-1986, former owner.
Classification
Department
Century prints