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John Bull Visited with the Blessings of Peace, 21 October 1801

 Item — Box: LF104/6 Box 1
Reference code: LF104/6/72

Scope and Contents

By Charles Williams. A farmhouse interior. John Bull, fat and rustic, sits in a low chair, grinning delightedly at five men who approach from the right. A butcher offers an enormous joint of beef on a dish, saying, "Now Johnny you may Treat you Family with a bit of Beef it's only 4 1/2 a Pound." Beside him stands a countryman with a goose, saying, "Here Neighbour I bought this goose for 2s." A baker with a basket of bread on his shoulders says: "Here is Bread only 6d the Quartern loaf & the Monopolizers are all going Mad, shooting and hanging themselves". A yokel in a smock, on the extreme right, asks: "did you want a Pig or two to fatten Johnny, I have got a rare lot left on hand." A stout prosperous-looking man behind the others says: "Johnny are your Sons home yet? you may send them to our Manufactory we want a rare sight of hands". Behind John (left) stands a comely young woman holding up a smiling infant, in whose cap is a 'Peace' favour. In the foreground (left) stand a little girl, rather thin, and a younger boy, plump, and capering with delight; both children are ragged and bare-footed. Beside John is a table on which are a large frothing tankard, inscribed 'Peace' and ornamented with an olive twig, a loaf, and a small piece of cheese. In the casement window in the centre of the wall are twelve lighted candles, an illumination for peace. In a wicker cage hung from the roof a bird chirps 'Peace, Peace, Huzza.' Description from the British Museum.

Dates

  • Creation: 21 October 1801

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

Contact:
Western Bank Library
University of Sheffield
Western Bank
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