Accomodation (sic) Ladder
Satirical Etching
1811 (published)
1811 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This print makes fun of the idea of a physical relationship between a diminutive man and a huge woman, punning on the phrase "accommodation ladder" which means a ladder up the side of a ship from a small boat. The most famous short man in Europe at this time was of course Napoleon, although he never set foot on British soil.
A version of Admiral Nelson's famous signal before the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, "England expects that every man will do his duty", appears on the ribbons of the woman's hat. That quotation is used here in a sexual context as opposed to that of a heroic naval battle. The woman's waistband makes a reference to HMS Bellepheron which took part in the Battle of Trafalgar and to whose captain, Napoleon later surrendered in 1815. The canon and cannonballs in the right foreground are also a visual innuendo.
A version of Admiral Nelson's famous signal before the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, "England expects that every man will do his duty", appears on the ribbons of the woman's hat. That quotation is used here in a sexual context as opposed to that of a heroic naval battle. The woman's waistband makes a reference to HMS Bellepheron which took part in the Battle of Trafalgar and to whose captain, Napoleon later surrendered in 1815. The canon and cannonballs in the right foreground are also a visual innuendo.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Accomodation (sic) Ladder (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Etching coloured by hand |
| Brief description | 'Accommodation Ladder', hand-coloured etching, Thomas Rowlandson, London, 1811 |
| Physical description | Satirical etching depicting a short man in naval uniform climbing a ladder held by a tall woman. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by Frank A.Gibson |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This print makes fun of the idea of a physical relationship between a diminutive man and a huge woman, punning on the phrase "accommodation ladder" which means a ladder up the side of a ship from a small boat. The most famous short man in Europe at this time was of course Napoleon, although he never set foot on British soil. A version of Admiral Nelson's famous signal before the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, "England expects that every man will do his duty", appears on the ribbons of the woman's hat. That quotation is used here in a sexual context as opposed to that of a heroic naval battle. The woman's waistband makes a reference to HMS Bellepheron which took part in the Battle of Trafalgar and to whose captain, Napoleon later surrendered in 1815. The canon and cannonballs in the right foreground are also a visual innuendo. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.1241-1990 |
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| Record created | June 11, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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