Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

The weather cock of St. Stephen's [print] / JS f.

Accession number
PML 146857.128
Creator
Sayers, James, 1748-1823.
Published
[London] : Publd. 14th April 1795 by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street, [1795]
Credit line
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
Notes
Below caption title: Vide Bewilderforce's rhapsodies on peace &c.
Numbered "2" within plate at upper left.
The second of a set of 7 prints by Sayers entitled Outlines of the opposition in 1795 collected from the works of the most capital Jacobin artists.
Item no. 128 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 ; plate mark: 308 x 241 mm; sheet: 345 x 260 mm
Inscriptions/Markings
"Wilberforce" inscribed in pencil at foot of sheet.
Provenance
From the library of Gordon N. Ray.
Summary
Print shows Wilberforce, as a weathercock, standing with his right foot poised on a pinnacle at the point of intersection of the four points of the compass. He leans forward in profile to the right, both arms stretched out towards a bird which grasps a scroll resting on clouds: "Peace and Fraternity with France". The bird is half-dove, and holds an olive branch in its mouth, but the left leg is that of a bird of prey, and in its talons a dagger is clasped, while the left wing is fantastically webbed. Two papers issue from Wilberforce's coat-pocket: "Charge agt Kimber' and 'Abolition of the Slave Trade". From his back rises a vertical spike supporting the hat of a Roundhead, its brim inscribed "Fanaticism, Puritanism". On its crown sits a raven, shrieking at Wilberforce the word "Kimber". Below (right) is the dome of a minaret terminating in the head of Fox, directing a blast of 'Republicanism' against Wilberforce. Cf. George.
Classification
Department