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Secret Influence or a Peep Behind the Screen

Satirical Etching
1810 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The subject of this print is King George III being presented with a report of a military expedition by one of his ministers. The screen which obscures the seated King's face has lettering on it which reads "Caricature Screen or Fun Concentrated N.B. Most to be seen on the other side." This is a play on the images represented in the prints which are stuck onto the screen and on what is actually happening behind it. The left hand leaf of the screen is turned towards us and has stuck on it four prints of fictional soldiers famous for their incompetence: Capt. Bobadil, Sir John Falstaff, Copper Captain (a nickname for a sham captain) and Hudibras.

This caricature is evidence that prints were stuck onto screens at the beginning of the nineteenth century although surviving examples of such screens are very rare.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSecret Influence or a Peep Behind the Screen (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Etching coloured by hand
Brief description
'Secret Influence or a Peep Behind the Screen', hand-coloured etching, Charles 'Argus' Williams, published London, 1810
Physical description
Satirical etching
Dimensions
  • Plate height: 25.6cm
  • Plate width: 36.2cm
Credit line
Bequeathed by Frank A. Gibson
Subjects depicted
Summary
The subject of this print is King George III being presented with a report of a military expedition by one of his ministers. The screen which obscures the seated King's face has lettering on it which reads "Caricature Screen or Fun Concentrated N.B. Most to be seen on the other side." This is a play on the images represented in the prints which are stuck onto the screen and on what is actually happening behind it. The left hand leaf of the screen is turned towards us and has stuck on it four prints of fictional soldiers famous for their incompetence: Capt. Bobadil, Sir John Falstaff, Copper Captain (a nickname for a sham captain) and Hudibras.

This caricature is evidence that prints were stuck onto screens at the beginning of the nineteenth century although surviving examples of such screens are very rare.
Bibliographic reference
Work, rest and play: Caricatures from the bequest of Frank A. Gibson
Collection
Accession number
E.1134-1990

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Record createdJune 6, 2007
Record URL
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