Not currently on display at the V&A

H Beard Print Collection

Print
3rd December 1838 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This political cartoon, published in London in December 1838, depicts the Irish politician Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847) as the popular American lion trainer Isaac Van Amburgh who came to London in 1838 and appeared with great success at Astley's Amphitheatre and Drury Lane Theatre.

O'Connell is shown with his foot on the head of the Prime Minister Lord Melbourne (1779-1848) while other ministers play at his feet, submitting to O'Connell's power. Melbourne was the Prime Minister between 1835 to 1841 who held together a difficult and divided Cabinet through an uneasy alliance of Whigs, Radicals and the Irish under O'Connell. O'Connell was a major figure in the House of Commons in the 1830s who had agreed to support Lord Melbourne and his Whig government in return for significant Irish reforms.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleH Beard Print Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
lithograph, ink on paper
Brief description
'Van Amburgh. Outdone!'. Satirical cartoon by John Doyle (1797-1868) showing Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847) as the American animal trainer Isaac Van Amburgh (1808-1865) 'taming' the Whig cabinet. Print published in London by T. McLean, 3 December 1838, Harry Beard Collection.
Physical description
Lithograph entitled 'Van Amburgh. Outdone!'
Dimensions
  • Print size height: 44.5cm
  • Print size width: 30.9cm
Subjects depicted
Summary
This political cartoon, published in London in December 1838, depicts the Irish politician Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847) as the popular American lion trainer Isaac Van Amburgh who came to London in 1838 and appeared with great success at Astley's Amphitheatre and Drury Lane Theatre.

O'Connell is shown with his foot on the head of the Prime Minister Lord Melbourne (1779-1848) while other ministers play at his feet, submitting to O'Connell's power. Melbourne was the Prime Minister between 1835 to 1841 who held together a difficult and divided Cabinet through an uneasy alliance of Whigs, Radicals and the Irish under O'Connell. O'Connell was a major figure in the House of Commons in the 1830s who had agreed to support Lord Melbourne and his Whig government in return for significant Irish reforms.
Bibliographic reference
Literary Gazette and Journal of the Belles Lettres 8 December 1838, p.781
Other number
F.149-68 - H Beard collection numbering
Collection
Accession number
S.3767-2009

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Record createdJanuary 8, 2010
Record URL
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