John Bull, baited by the dogs of excise, en sanguine engraving 1790, British satire
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John Bull, baited by the dogs of excise, en sanguine engraving 1790, British satire
John Bull, baited by the dogs of excise, en sanguine engraving 1790, British satire on efforts by William Pitt, George Rose, and some members of Parliament to impose new Excise duties on tobacco (cf. Tobacco Excise Bill). The additional tax burden on British citizens is implied by the image of a bull, muzzled and blindfolded, with legs chained to a stump, being harassed by dogs (depicted with heads of members of Parliament). Edward Thurlow, also shown as a dog, registers his opposition to these New Excise Fetters for John Bull by urinating on tobacco leaves. Among the members of Parliament depicted are: William Wyndam Grenville, Henry Dundas, Charles Lennox Richmond, Charles Jenkinson, Richard Pepper Arden, Sir Charles Pratt Camden, and possibly Francis Osborne Carmarthen
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Media ID 12860125
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1790 Additional Bill Blindfolded Bull Burden Camden Chained Charles Citizens Depicted Dogs Dundas Duties Edward Efforts Fetters Francis George Grenville Heads Henry John Leaves Legs Lennox Members Nostalgia Nostalgic Old Fashioned Opposition Osborne Parliament Pitt Possibly Richard Richmond Rose Sanguine Satire Shown Stump Thurlow Tobacco Traditional William Arden Baited Carmarthen Excise Harassed Implied Impose Jenkinson Muzzled Pepper Pratt Registers Urinating
EDITORS COMMENTS
The captivating print titled "John Bull, baited by the dogs of excise" is a remarkable piece of British satire from 1790. This sanguine engraving serves as a scathing commentary on the efforts made by William Pitt, George Rose, and certain members of Parliament to impose new Excise duties on tobacco through the Tobacco Excise Bill. In this thought-provoking image, we witness John Bull personified as a bull who finds himself muzzled and blindfolded with his legs chained to a stump. He becomes an easy target for harassment by dogs symbolizing the heads of Parliament. The visual metaphor implies that these additional taxes burden British citizens. Notably, Edward Thurlow also appears in canine form and registers his opposition to these New Excise Fetters for John Bull in an unconventional manner - he urinates on tobacco leaves. Amongst the other depicted members of Parliament are prominent figures such as William Wyndam Grenville, Henry Dundas, Charles Lennox Richmond, Charles Jenkinson, Richard Pepper Arden, Sir Charles Pratt Camden, and possibly Francis Osborne Carmarthen. This vintage print showcases exquisite retro styling with its engraved technique reminiscent of Victorian art and culture. It offers us a glimpse into history while evoking nostalgia for times gone by. With its old-fashioned charm and traditional illustrative approach, this historic artwork transports us back to an era where political satire was both powerful and provocative.
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