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 political Cerberus

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Robert Seymour
1798-1836

The political Cerberus

Published

[London] : [William Strange], [ca. 1834]

wood engraving
77 x 100 mm
Peel 2130
Notes
Probably detached from one of four issues of Whiggeries and waggeries, London : William Strange, 1834. This publication reprinted wood engravings by Robert Seymour, Robert Cruikshank, and others which had previously appeared-- often with different captions-- in Figaro in London, also published by Strange. The identical image appeared in Figaro in London, no. 78, 1833, with the same title.
Provenance

Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.

Summary

A monstrous dog with three human heads (possibly William IV, Wellington, and Lamb) guards the English Treasury. The center head wears a tiara labelled "Tory"; the head at the right one that reads "Whig." The Whig head holds a bag (?) labelled "Office." The leftmost head is eating a steak (?) that reads "Popularity a sop." Behind the Cerberus is a pile of large bags labelled variously, "For the landed interest" (topped by a crown), "Church / £8000," "Church £90000," "Civil list," and "For the fundholder." A gun with a bayonet attached (?) is labelled "Corn laws." Two men in the background tug at bags labelled "Sinecures & pensions" and "Robberies or unfair taxes."

Associated names
Peel, Robert, 1788-1850, former owner.
Strange, W. (William), publisher.
Cowie, G. (George), printer.
Strange, W. (William). Whiggeries and waggeries.
Strange, W. (William). Figaro in London.
Artist
Seymour, Robert
Classification
Print
Department
Drawings and Prints
Catalog link
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