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.
Classification
Department