Not currently on display at the V&A

H Beard Print Collection

Print
10th March 1805 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Print entitled 'Uncorking Old Sherry'. William Pitt the Younger having returned as Prime Minister despite his ill health uncorks an exploding bottle of old sherry (Richard Brinsley Sheridan). The words released from the bottle represent Pitt's dislike of Sheridan's infrequent but long and 'invective' speeches. Pitt's return occurs after Addington's unpopular time in office. Addington is seen here as a spilt bottle of medicinal wine, whilst Sheridan's Whig Party members are shown are bottles of alcohol laid out on the House of Lords benches. Published in London by Hannah Humphrey.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleH Beard Print Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
etching and aquatint, ink and wash on paper
Brief description
Print entitled 'Uncorking Old Sherry'. Published in London by Hannah Humphrey on 10th March 1805, Harry Beard Collection.
Physical description
Etched and aquatinted print entitled 'Uncorking Old Sherry'.
Dimensions
  • Print size height: 51.8cm
  • Print size width: 33.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Burdett / Erskine / Sidmouth / (Addington) / Pitt. Sheridan. Tierney Fox Windham Grey / Gillray. 1805. No. 293. One of the most popular of Gillray's / Caricatures' (Written in pencil on front on print.)
Subjects depicted
Summary
Print entitled 'Uncorking Old Sherry'. William Pitt the Younger having returned as Prime Minister despite his ill health uncorks an exploding bottle of old sherry (Richard Brinsley Sheridan). The words released from the bottle represent Pitt's dislike of Sheridan's infrequent but long and 'invective' speeches. Pitt's return occurs after Addington's unpopular time in office. Addington is seen here as a spilt bottle of medicinal wine, whilst Sheridan's Whig Party members are shown are bottles of alcohol laid out on the House of Lords benches. Published in London by Hannah Humphrey.
Associated object
S.4638-2009 (Version)
Other number
F.117-52 - H Beard collection numbering
Collection
Accession number
S.4639-2009

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Record createdSeptember 9, 2009
Record URL
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