Accession No

5871

Brief Description

colour print, composite caricature of “The Itinerant Apothecary”, by George Spratt, English, 1830 (c)

Origin

England; London

Maker

Spratt, George [artist] Madeley, George E. [printer] Tilt, C. [publisher]

Class

prints; chemistry

Earliest Date

1830

Latest Date

1840

Inscription Date

Material

paper

Dimensions

184mm; 246mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased by an individual at the Department of the History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge on behalf of the museum, on or before 19/08/2002.

Inscription

G. Spratt del. Printed by G.E. Madeley, Wellington St. Strand
THE ITINERANT APOTHECARY
Published by C. Tilt, Fleet Street.

Description Notes

Colour print, composite caricature of “The Itinerant Apothecary”, by George Spratt, English, c. 1830.

Hand coloured lithographic print of an apothecary depicting a man made up of different apothecary's equipment including measuring cylinders, bottles of chemicals, pestle and mortars and boxes of pills. The figure is shown standing outside an apothecary’s shop (signified by the pestle and mortar sign hanging above the door) in the country.

The print was originally produced as part of a set of similar such composite prints of which we have one other (Wh.5870).

Condition: good; some damp marks

References

Events

Description
Meet an unusual character from 1830. The way people lived, and how they studied the world, was changing rapidly at this time. Caricatures like this – where a character's body is made up of objects relating to their passion or trade – were popular, poking fun at the new kinds of people appearing as new scientific fields and opportunities opened up.

This apothecary travels from village to village selling medicines. His body is made from the tools of his trade.

Can you spot...?
- A pestle and mortar for mixing medicines?
- Boxes of pills?

Label from Learning Gallery display "Caricatures & Cartoons", 2024-25.
09/10/2025
Created by: Hannah Price on 09/10/2025

FM:46311