Not on display

George Speaight Punch & Judy Collection

Print
August 1829 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This black and white lithograph is entitled 'The Political Charivari', a title that may have been inspired by the French illustrated newspaper Le Charivari (the literal translation of which is Pandemonium). This newspaper was published from 1832-1937 and its success inspired the English magazine Punch which was established in 1841 and subtitled 'The London Charivari'.

It shows a traditional Punch and Judy stand in which a puppet, dressed in a harlequin's suit and with the hump and tall hat that characterised the punchinellos, holds a sturdy stick marked 'Opposition'. He is being manipulated by a shadowy figure whose head is just visible in the bottom right hand corner of the stand. In front of this stand are two figures. The man on the left is dressed in a tightly buttoned overcoat and a conical hat and is playing a mouth organ. In his left hand he raises a drum stick in the air. The man on the left wears a checked overcoat and holds out his top hat (presumably to collect money from spectators).

It was published in London in August 1829 by S.W. Fores, 41 Piccadilly and printed by W.Kohler, 22 Denmark St. Soho. George. It is part of the George Speaight Punch & Judy Collection.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleGeorge Speaight Punch & Judy Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
printing ink on paper
Brief description
A black and white lithograph entitled The Political Charivari. It was published by Messrs. Fores, 14 Piccadily, and printed by W.Kohler, 22 Denmark St. Soho. George Speaight Punch & Judy Collection
Physical description
A black and white lithograph entitled The Political Charivari. It shows a traditional Punch and Judy stand in which a puppet dressed in a harlequin's suit and with the hump and tall hat that characterised the punchinellos, holds a sturdy stick marked 'Opposition'. He is being manipulated by a shadowy figure whose head is just visible in the bottom right hand corner of the stand. In front of this stand are two figures. The man on the left is dressed in a tightly buttoned overcoat and a conical hat and is playing a mouth organ (which he wears tucked in to his collar). In his left hand he raises a drum stick in the air. The man on the left wears a checked overcoat and holds out his top hat (presumably to collect money from spectators).
Dimensions
  • Height: 40.5cm
  • Width: 27.7cm
Credit line
Accepted by HM Government in Lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the V&A in 2010.
Summary
This black and white lithograph is entitled 'The Political Charivari', a title that may have been inspired by the French illustrated newspaper Le Charivari (the literal translation of which is Pandemonium). This newspaper was published from 1832-1937 and its success inspired the English magazine Punch which was established in 1841 and subtitled 'The London Charivari'.

It shows a traditional Punch and Judy stand in which a puppet, dressed in a harlequin's suit and with the hump and tall hat that characterised the punchinellos, holds a sturdy stick marked 'Opposition'. He is being manipulated by a shadowy figure whose head is just visible in the bottom right hand corner of the stand. In front of this stand are two figures. The man on the left is dressed in a tightly buttoned overcoat and a conical hat and is playing a mouth organ. In his left hand he raises a drum stick in the air. The man on the left wears a checked overcoat and holds out his top hat (presumably to collect money from spectators).

It was published in London in August 1829 by S.W. Fores, 41 Piccadilly and printed by W.Kohler, 22 Denmark St. Soho. George. It is part of the George Speaight Punch & Judy Collection.
Other number
Political Puppet Cartoons File
Collection
Accession number
S.1162-2010

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Record createdJune 22, 2010
Record URL
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