Skip to main content

Achitophel an Old Jew Scribe Lately Turned Greek, 11 July 1804

 Item — Box: LF104/7 Box 1
Reference code: LF104/7/80
Achitophel an Old Jew Scribe Lately Turned Greek, 11 July 1804
Achitophel an Old Jew Scribe Lately Turned Greek, 11 July 1804

Scope and Contents

Artist: James Sayers. Published: Hannah Humphrey. The title is spaced to indicate the persons depicted. In a room in Carlton House the 'Greeks', or Foxites, superintend the obeisance of the Persians' or Grenvilles before the 'rising Sun' of the Prince of Wales. On the extreme left stands Thurlow ('Achitophel'), turning his back on the others with a morose frown. He is bearded, and wears old-fashioned dress with a tie-wig. In his pocket is a paper: 'Secret Advice to his R H No Respecter of Persons to invite Tag Rag & Bobtail to dine'. Next (left to right) stand Foxites: Norfolk, Windham, Fox (with a satisfied smile), and Sheridan who touches the shoulder of the kneeling Lord Grenville, saying, "lower my Lord". Next Grenville is the spectacled Marquis of Buckingham kneeling very low, and pressing down his son, Temple, who kneels immediately in front of the two brothers. Four others, all in back view (as are all the 'Persians' except Buckingham), and all with identical bag-wigs, kneel before the rays of a large sun. These rays are surmounted by the Prince's feathers and strike a solid mass of cloud above which are the (obscured) Royal Arms, supported on a motto: 'Auspicium [meli]oris Ævi'. The Unicorn looks down at the 'Greeks' with pained surprise, the Lion frowns with melancholy anger at the 'Persians'; one says "God save the King", the other "Long live the King". Through a large sash window (left) is seen the screen of Carlton House, and beyond it a railing with the notice: 'Ruspini Dentist to his Royal [Hi]ghness the Prince of Wales.'. Description from the British Museum.

Dates

  • Creation: 11 July 1804

Conditions Governing Access

Physical item available by appointment in our Reading Room

Extent

1.0 Item(s)

Language of Materials

English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository

Contact:
Western Bank Library
University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield South Yorkshire S10 2TN United Kingdom
+44 (0) 114 222 7299