Not currently on display at the V&A

The Rival Artistes

Print
17 July 1832 (Published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

To the left Lord Grey, wearing a mid-thigh length tunic, belted at the waist, with puff sleeves and an open neck and a wide-brimmed over-plumed hat, facing left in arabesque, ams at shoulder height and head turned to front; to the right, the Duke of Wellington, wearing a simple thigh length classical tunic, the right leg extended at right angles to the left. Lord Grey is saying: "That you shine in a Pirouette, I readily admit, but for standing long and steadily upon one leg, I flatter myself that I enjoy some reputaiton." The Duke is saying: I defy any man to turn round quicker than I can." Titled below the print: "The Rival Artistes." and in pencil "Lord Grey" and "Duke of Wellington". HB Sketches 21(3 missing). Proof lithograph by A Ducole, published Thos. McLean, July 17th 1832.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Rival Artistes
Materials and techniques
Lithograph
Brief description
"The Rival Artistes." HB Sketches 21(3 missing). Proof lithograph by A Ducole, published Thos. McLean, 1832.
Physical description
To the left Lord Grey, wearing a mid-thigh length tunic, belted at the waist, with puff sleeves and an open neck and a wide-brimmed over-plumed hat, facing left in arabesque, ams at shoulder height and head turned to front; to the right, the Duke of Wellington, wearing a simple thigh length classical tunic, the right leg extended at right angles to the left. Lord Grey is saying: "That you shine in a Pirouette, I readily admit, but for standing long and steadily upon one leg, I flatter myself that I enjoy some reputaiton." The Duke is saying: I defy any man to turn round quicker than I can." Titled below the print: "The Rival Artistes." and in pencil "Lord Grey" and "Duke of Wellington". HB Sketches 21(3 missing). Proof lithograph by A Ducole, published Thos. McLean, July 17th 1832.
Dimensions
  • Height: 267mm
  • Width: 380mm
Production typeProof
Marks and inscriptions
"THOS McLEAN" (Lower left hand corner; Embossing; McLean, Thomas)
Credit line
Cyril W. Beaumont Bequest
Object history
The pirouette reference is to Wellington's 'turns' over Catholic Emancipation and his attempt to form a Ministry in May 1831 with the intention of bringing in a Reform Bill.
The print came to the Museum as part of the Cyril Beaumont Bequest.
Subjects depicted
Bibliographic reference
See: 17192 Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires, preserved in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum, Vol. XI, 1828-1832, by M. Dorothy George, British Museum, London, 1952
Collection
Accession number
S.306-2000

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Record createdJanuary 31, 2001
Record URL
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