Terms and conditions of use
Dissentions in the cabinet or Affairs in a perilous situation
1801
Medium
hand-coloured etching
Measurements
26.9 × 21.5 cm (image) 26.9 × 21.3 cm (plate) 32.0 × 25.4 cm irreg. (sheet)
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1944
Gallery location
Not on display
About this work
Unsubtle prints satirising politicians have a rich and long tradition in England, which continues today through cartoons. In 1801, when this print was made, hot topics before parliament included the recent union with Ireland that created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, as well as the ongoing conflict with France. These would have been among many issues that would have caused noisy cat-like squabbling in parliament and the ruling cabinet, likened by this artist to the scene of a catfight that has erupted in the toilet, scratching the backside of a hag-like figure.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
London, England
Catalogue/s Raisonné
BM Satires 9821
Printing/Publishing
published by S. W. Fores, London
Inscription
printed in ink below image l.l.: pubd (d in superscript) May 4th (4 reversed) (th in superscript) by SW Fores 1801 / 50 Piccadilly / (fleur-de-lis above squared circle) Esqr (r in superscript above . ) delt (t in superscript above , )
printed in ink below image l.c.: DISSENTIONS in the CABINET / or Affairs in a Perilous Situation
printed in ink below image l.r.: Folios of Caracatures (sic) / lent out for the Evening
Accession Number
1289-4
Departments
International Prints / International Prints and Drawings
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of the Joe White Bequest
Subjects (general)
Human Figures Humour and Satire Law, Civics and Protest
Subjects (specific)
conflict (general sense) domestic cat (species) fighting lavatories (rooms) political cartoons politics women (female humans)
Movements
Georgian