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File:The Pitt Fall (BM 1868,0808.5899).jpg

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The Pitt Fall   (Wikidata search (Cirrus search) Wikidata query (SPARQL)  Create new Wikidata item based on this file)
Artist

Attributed to: Frederick George Byron

Formerly attributed to: Thomas Rowlandson
Published by: William Holland
Title
The Pitt Fall
Description
English: Pitt and his followers are in wild pursuit of the crown which soars on widespread wings in the upper right corner of the design. Pitt, reaching up to it, is about to fall over a cliff into the pit of hell, from which flames and smoke are rising. He says, "I'll have thee or perish in the attempt, for my ambition knows no bounds". Richmond falls head first into the pit, saying to two demons who wait for him with extended pitchforks, "Spare me this time and you shall have Coals in future without duty" (an allusion to the 'Richmond shilling'). One answers, "All your Great grandfather's [Charles II's] Whores are waiting dinner for you". Immediately behind Pitt runs Thurlow, his wig falling from his head; he raises the mace in both hands to strike at the flying crown, saying, "Bl-st my eyes I'll have a knock at it" (cf. BMSat 7320). Behind him, and on the extreme left, Grafton runs forward, saying, "Junius has lamed me, or I'd have a knock at it too." The demon who awaits Pitt says, "You will be elected Regent in our Dominions, Nem-con." January 1789?
Hand-coloured etching
Depicted people Associated with: Charles II, King of England
Date 1789
date QS:P571,+1789-00-00T00:00:00Z/9
Medium paper
Dimensions
Height: 367 millimetres
Width: 265 millimetres
institution QS:P195,Q6373
Current location
Prints and Drawings
Accession number
1868,0808.5899
Notes

(Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VI, 1938) One of many satires on the Regency crisis (see BMSat 7377, &c.) in which Pitt is depicted as aiming at the crown, cf. BMSat 7382, &c. For Junius and Grafton see BMSats 4233, 4292; for the Richmond shilling, BMSats 7389, 7393. Grego, 'Rowlandson', i. 243-4.

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The attribution to Byron was made by David Alexander (personal communication, February 2009) who points out that the title is executed in the style of capital associated with Byron; he also suggests that the print was published by William Holland as he lists it among prints "Just Pub[lishe]d" on 'The Grand Procession', 29 April 1789 (BM 7525). The title also appeared in a list of prints advertised by William Holland in "The World", 20 August 1789 (information from Tim Clayton).
Source/Photographer https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0808-5899
Permission
(Reusing this file)		 © The Trustees of the British Museum, released as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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current02:23, 9 May 2020Thumbnail for version as of 02:23, 9 May 20201,150 × 1,600 (616 KB)Copyfraud (talk | contribs)British Museum public domain uploads (Copyfraud/BM) Satirical prints in the British Museum 1789 #1,202/12,043

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