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.

Bishop O'Blarney's flight to Ireland with Mrs. Clarke

Image not available
Charles Williams
1796-1866

Bishop O'Blarney's flight to Ireland with Mrs. Clarke

Published

London : London Pubd. March 1809 by E Knightly Lambeth, March 1809.

hand colored etching
image: 221 x 335 mm; plate mark: 248 x 352 mm; sheet: 263 x 366 mm
Peel 1935
Notes
Lettered with title, text within image and publication line "London Pubd. March 1809 by E Knightly Lambeth."
The bishop is perhaps O'Meara, but his features have more resemblance to the Duke of York, often depicted as a bishop, than to the grotesque parson who stands for the former in these prints.
Provenance

Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.

Summary

Mrs. Clarke sits on the back of a bishop who flies with large feathered wings across the sea from a cliff inscribed 'Holyhead' (right) to a plain with buildings inscribed 'Dublin' (left). He wears long robes and mitre, and holds a crosier. He says: "I'll take you to the Holy land, Honey! --I'll take you to the Island of Saints! I'll defend you from Rag Boys, White Boys, and Tight Boys. I'll defend you from all evil, unless a gentle stroke from an Irish Shillelee."

Associated names
Knightly, E., publisher.
Peel, Robert, 1788-1850, former owner.
Classification
Department