Accession No

4599

Brief Description

colour cartoon entitled ‘Political Astronomy’, by William Holland, English, 1805

Origin

England; London; 11 Cockspur Street

Maker

Holland, William

Class

prints; astronomy

Earliest Date

1805

Latest Date

1805

Inscription Date

5/1805

Material

paper

Dimensions

breadth 244mm; height 351mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Grosvenor Prints on 12/12/1996.

Inscription

‘Pubd, May 1805 by Willm, Holland, No, 11 Cockspur Street London’ (bottom)
‘Political Astronomy.’ (bottom)

Description Notes

Satirical cartoon of politicians and their work. Pen and ink drawing with hand colouring on a cream paper. The image depicts six planets, one satellite, one comet and the Pole Star revolving around a sun in this case represented by the Treasury. Each planet etc. represents a politician. The positions are named as ‘The Tierneyan Star’, ‘The Dundasiad Star’, ‘The Addingtonian Star’, ‘Pittonian Star’, ‘Canningian Star’, ‘The Windhamerian Star’, ‘The Hawksberian Star’, ‘The Sherry-onian Star’, ‘The Foxonin Star’. Underneath each star is a brief quip about the personality of the politician. The names of the politicians have been added in pencil. Pencil at bottom left: ‘Vol. 2. 42.1’.

Mounted and framed

Condition good; complete.

References

Events