H Beard Print Collection
Print
30th October 1809 (published)
30th October 1809 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Print entitled 'Is This a Rattle Which I See Before Me?'. Caricature of John Philip Kemble as Macbeth with a parody of his soliloquy printed underneath, published by S.W. Fores, 1809.
In 1808 the theatre at Covent Garden was destroyed by fire. A new theatre was built on the site, opening on 18 September 1809 with a performance of Macbeth, featuring the theatre's manager, John Philip Kemble. The cost of rebuilding Covent Garden was so great that Kemble raised the price of the seats and this provoked an uproar on the first night, with the performance drowned out by shouting and hissing. The evening ended in chaos when the audience refused to leave the building and the police were called. This was the start of three months of protests, known as the Old Price Riots. Kemble tried to carry on with performances but his audiences, armed with rattles, were equally determined to keep up the disruption until there was a return to the old prices of the previous theatre. Eventually Kemble was forced to admit defeat and lower the seat prices.
This satirical print shows Kemble's Macbeth recoiling before a rattle.
In 1808 the theatre at Covent Garden was destroyed by fire. A new theatre was built on the site, opening on 18 September 1809 with a performance of Macbeth, featuring the theatre's manager, John Philip Kemble. The cost of rebuilding Covent Garden was so great that Kemble raised the price of the seats and this provoked an uproar on the first night, with the performance drowned out by shouting and hissing. The evening ended in chaos when the audience refused to leave the building and the police were called. This was the start of three months of protests, known as the Old Price Riots. Kemble tried to carry on with performances but his audiences, armed with rattles, were equally determined to keep up the disruption until there was a return to the old prices of the previous theatre. Eventually Kemble was forced to admit defeat and lower the seat prices.
This satirical print shows Kemble's Macbeth recoiling before a rattle.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | H Beard Print Collection (named collection) |
| Materials and techniques | Hand coloured etching |
| Brief description | Print entitled 'Is This a Rattle Which I See Before Me?'. Caricature depicting John Philip Kemble as Macbeth with a parody of his soliloquy printed underneath, published by S.W. Fores, 1809. Harry Beard Collection |
| Physical description | Caricature of John Philip Kemble as Macbeth, wearing a kilt, staring in horror at a wooden rattle which floats in mid-air, with the caption 'A word to the Wise' attached to its handle. Underneath the image, the title 'Is This a Rattle Which I See Before Me?', and a parody of Macbeth's soliloquy. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard |
| Literary reference | Macbeth |
| Summary | Print entitled 'Is This a Rattle Which I See Before Me?'. Caricature of John Philip Kemble as Macbeth with a parody of his soliloquy printed underneath, published by S.W. Fores, 1809. In 1808 the theatre at Covent Garden was destroyed by fire. A new theatre was built on the site, opening on 18 September 1809 with a performance of Macbeth, featuring the theatre's manager, John Philip Kemble. The cost of rebuilding Covent Garden was so great that Kemble raised the price of the seats and this provoked an uproar on the first night, with the performance drowned out by shouting and hissing. The evening ended in chaos when the audience refused to leave the building and the police were called. This was the start of three months of protests, known as the Old Price Riots. Kemble tried to carry on with performances but his audiences, armed with rattles, were equally determined to keep up the disruption until there was a return to the old prices of the previous theatre. Eventually Kemble was forced to admit defeat and lower the seat prices. This satirical print shows Kemble's Macbeth recoiling before a rattle. |
| Other number | F.114-110 - H Beard collection numbering |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.2466-2009 |
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| Record created | August 28, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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