Terms and conditions of use
A new Dutch exercise
1795; printed (1804)
Medium
hand-coloured etching
Measurements
32.2 × 46.8 cm (image) 34.8 × 48.5 cm (plate) 36.7 × 49.6 cm (sheet)
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1946
Gallery location
17th & 18th Century Decorative Arts & Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
In A new Dutch exercise, Isaac Cruikshank pairs military commands with comic scenes of Dutch soldiers doing the exact opposite. Beneath the caption ‘Stand to your Guns!!’, a panicked Dutch soldier drops his musket, which discharges accidentally in the wrong direction. Under ‘Advance with Spirit!!’, another soldier is shown mid-yawn, arms outstretched in sleepy indifference. Cruikshank’s mocking portrayal of incompetent Dutch troops was likely prompted by the Dutch military’s weak defence of Fort Crèvecœur, which was surrendered to the French after a short siege on 27 September 1794.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
London, England
Catalogue/s Raisonné
Krumbhaar 807; BM Satires 8633
Printing/Publishing
published by S. W. Fores, London
Inscription
printed in ink (in image) l.l.: I.C
printed in ink l.l.: G. M. Woodward delin
printed in ink l.c.: A NEW DUTCH EXERCISE. / Pub.d (d in superscript above . ) April 1.st (st in superscript above . ) 1795 by S.W Fores N.o (o in superscript above . ) 3 Piccadilly.
printed in ink u.r.: Vol 2. Pl.2
printed in ink (in image) u.l.-c.r.: Watch with Diligence!! Advance with Spirit!! Face your Enemies!! Stand to your Guns!! / Reverence. Treaties!! Aſsist your Government!! Obey your orders!! Rise in a Maſs!!
Accession Number
1573.31-4
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
Subjects (specific)
captions card players caricatures cartoons (humorous images) men (male humans) smoking (activity) soldiers
Movements
Georgian