COLLECTION NAME:
JCB Political Cartoons
Record
Accession number:
31402
Title:
THE EUROPEAN RACE
Place:
[London]. Publish'd according to Act of Parliament
Date:
1738, Sep. 4
Image technique:
Etching
Image dimensions:
21.6 x 37.6 cm. (image)
Narrative description:
A race with England in last place at Gilbratar. Criticism of Horace Walpole's supposed intrigue with France. References to Spanish depredations on English ships and cruelties inflicted upon Englishmen by the Spanish. Images include: Europe, Asia, Africa, and America as judges; Britain as a saddled lion; the dogs of Europe fighting over spoils with the true English breed [a mastiff] separated and facing away from the action; the Devil; Cardinal André-Hercule de Fleury of France as a fox; Holland riding a boar; King of Hungary riding an eagle; Russia as a bear; Winged Time; Turkey on an elephant; King Theodore the 1st thrown from his horse, and the Pope (the monkey) on the distance post does not wear the papal crown or tiara. The British navy stands idle in the harbor.
References:
BM 2334 (1st state)
Notes:
Similar in design to accession # 31401 (BM 2333), reversed and slightly reduced. Engraver's name removed. "Humbly inscrib'd to ye Politicians of Great Britain, France, Spain, Rusia, Turky, Germany, Italy, Holland and Corsica, by their most Obedient Servant. An Englishman," below image. "I returned and saw under the sun, that the race is not the Swift nor the Battle to the Strong ... Ecclesiastes the 9.th. Verse the 11th." below image.
Subject:
European balance of power
Normalized date:
1738
THE EUROPEAN RACE
