Accession number
PML 146857.116
Creator
Sayers, James, 1748-1823.
Published
[London] : Publd. 15 Decr. 1792 by Thos. Cornell, Bruton Street, [1792
Credit line
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
Notes
Below title: "nought can make us rue If England to itself do rest but true".
Item no. 116 of a collection of prints by James Sayers (PML 146857); formerly part of an album of mounted prints, now disbound.
Item no. 116 of a collection of prints by James Sayers (PML 146857); formerly part of an album of mounted prints, now disbound.
Description
1 print on wove paper : etching & drypoint ; image: 240 x 198 mm; plate mark: 249 x 207 mm; sheet: 365 x 310 mm
Provenance
From the library of Gordon N. Ray.
Summary
The left and wider portion of the design represents England, the right portion France; two posts and the corners of two buildings meet along the dividing line. From each post a horizontal beam projects to support a signboard, in each case that of a crown. In England this is in place, and has the inscription "Good Entertainment for Man & Horse"; two Frenchmen standing on the opposite side are pulling at the English sign with ropes. They stand on the sign of the (French) crown which has already been cut down. They are assisted by Tom Paine who sits astride the horizontal bar to saw it through, but leaves his saw in the wood to stare in terror at a large bill, posted on the house from which the sign projects, and inscribed: "Association for preserving Liberty & Property against Republicans and Levellers Resolved. ...". He exclaims, "Here's a Stop to my Levelling." On the ground, and opposite the door of the Crown Inn, stand a sailor (left) and a soldier (right) who clasp hands; the sailor waves his hat, crying, "for our King and"; the soldier, who holds a musket, the butt end resting on the ground, adds "Country". Against the door is pasted a bill headed "Proclamation". In the background is a castle, flying a British flag, and the masts of ships. In front of them is a wall on which stands a small British Lion. In France the sky is covered with heavy clouds. On the building are three large placards: [1] "Liberté & Egalité Ca ira", [2] "Mr Fox's Speech to the Vig Club Anglois", [3] "Memorial of Cit Thos Paine to the Nation[al] Conven[tion]". Beside the two men who pull at the English crown is a third Frenchman, a ragged sansculotte, who holds a pike on which is a head; he stands astride a recently decapitated body, shouting, "Vive la Nation." Behind him are the branches of a bare tree, inscribed "L'arbre de la Liberte", from which hangs the body of a monk. Cf. George.
Classification
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Department