The Dispute / To Be or Not to Be a Protestant, 9 January 1805
Scope and Contents
Print made by: Charles Williams. Formerly attributed to: James Gillray. Published by: S. W. Fores. Mrs. Fitzherbert and the Princess of Wales dispute over the education of the Princess Charlotte. The Princess (left) sits weeping on a settee, averting her eyes from a bust profile portrait of Princess Charlotte, to which her rival points. Mrs. Fitzherbert, a fat virago, stands (right), declaiming: "I say I have an undoubted right to have the care of her, & to bring her up as I like do I not Rule the Roast." From her neck hangs a large crucifix, from her waist a long rosary. In her left hand is an open book: 'Directions from the Clergy respecting the Duty of a true Catholic in Converting all &c.' Just behind her (right) a fat bare-footed monk looks round the door to say: "Well done my Child you are now serving our holy Religion: you shall next use your Influence to procure me an Emancipation." He holds a paper: 'Plan for rebuilding Monasteries'. The Princess, who is flatteringly depicted and youthful, holds an open book: 'Mothers advice to her Daughter respecting the true principles of the Protestant Religion'. She wears suspended from her neck a miniature, apparently a profile head of the Prince. Both ladies wear triple ostrich plumes in their hair, those of Mrs. Fitzherbert are the more erect. On a table between them are four books: '[Congreve's] Mourning Bride'; '[Fielding's] Modern Husband'; 'Alls Well that Ends [Well]', and open, beside the Princess, '[Steele's] The Tender Husband a Romance'. Description from the British Museum.
Dates
- Creation: 9 January 1805
Conditions Governing Access
Available by appointment in our Reading Room
Extent
1 Item(s)
Language of Materials
English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository
Western Bank Library
University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield South Yorkshire S10 2TN United Kingdom
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