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Swearing at Highgate

Satirical Print
12 September 1796 (published)
Artist/Maker
Laurie & Whittle (publishers)
Isaac Cruikshank (artist)
Place of origin
London (published)

Satirical etching showing a scene outside the door of the 'Horns' Tavern, the landlord with open book standing opposite his customer, an elderly man to whose coat-tail a young woman is pinning a ragged cloth. Beside them is a boy holding a pole with a ram's head and stag's antlers. Below the etching is the text of the oath.

Object details

Categories
Caricatures & Cartoons
Prints
Satire
Scotland
Object type
Satirical print
TitleSwearing at Highgate (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Etching
Etching
Brief description
Isaac Cruikshank (attributed). Swearing at Highgate. Published London, September 12 1796.
Physical description
Satirical etching showing a scene outside the door of the 'Horns' Tavern, the landlord with open book standing opposite his customer, an elderly man to whose coat-tail a young woman is pinning a ragged cloth. Beside them is a boy holding a pole with a ram's head and stag's antlers. Below the etching is the text of the oath.
Dimensions
  • Height: 8in
  • Width: 10in
Marks and inscriptions
SWEARING AT HIGHGATE Pray Sir lay your Right Hand on this Book, and attend to the Oath - You swear by the Rules of Sound Judgment, that you will not eat Brown Bread when you can have White except you like the Brown better, that you will not Drink small Beer, when you can get strong except you like the Small beer better - But you will kiss the Maid in preference to the Mistress, if you like the Maid better - So help you, Billy Bodkin. Turn round & fulfill your Oath.
Bibliographic references
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1943, London: HMSO, 1956.
  • British Museum, Catalogue of Politicial and Personal Satires [c.1320-1832] London, 1870-1954.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.551-1943

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O726444/swearing-at-highgate-satirical-print-isaac-cruikshank/
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