An adaptation, in reverse, of 'the oracle' by john dixon, see bmsat 5225. Time, with a magic-lantern, throws upon a curtain an allegorical representation of revolution in america. He points this out to four female figures personifying the four quarters of the world. [see j. H. Hyde, 'l'iconographie des quatre parties du monde dans les tapisseries'; 'gazette des beaux-arts', paris, 1924, pp. 253 ff. ] dixon's britannia, hibernia, and scotia have been transformed into europe, asia, and africa. Europe and asia sit side by side, asia's arm on europe's shoulder. Asia, a fair woman, holds on her lap a censer, from which pour clouds of incense. Europe wears a plumed helmet, and has a spear and a shield on which is a horse; both wear pseudo-classical draperies. Africa, a black woman wearing a turban, stands behind europe gazing in horror at the vision. This group is on the right. On the left sits america exactly as in dixon's mezzotint. On the bale of goods behind her are the letters "c. G. ", and beneath them "4 f. "; on the bale on which she sits is an inverted "m". The letters c. G. Are the initials of the artist. [nagler, 'die monogrammisten', ii, 27. ]
time also is copied from dixon; his magic lantern throws a circle of light on a heavy curtain. In the centre of the vision is a tea-pot (resembling a coffee-pot) placed over a fire in which stamped documents are blazing. A cock, the emblem of france, is blowing at the fire with bellows. [impressions with the cock are rare, as the engraver was compelled to remove this emblem. Portalis et béraldi, 'graveurs du 18me siècle', 1881, ii. 363. ] the contents of the tea-pot are exploding, and a serpent and the cap of liberty on its staff are being shot from it into the air, surrounded by rays of light and clouds of smoke. This represents the consequences of the stamp act and the tax on tea. For the snake emblem on the american flag see bmsat 5336, &c. Beneath the clouds of smoke under the fire a prostrate lion is partly visible, and below, a flag with three leopards, representing the british royal standard, torn, its staff broken. By it lies part of a map, showing the english channel, inscribed "detroits. . " and the head of a spiked club. On the left three beasts of prey are fighting. They appear to be a lion, a bear, and a puma or lioness. Within the circle on the right. American soldiers are advancing with a striped flag on which is a serpent. Before them advances an allegorical figure of america resembling the woman watching the vision; her upstretched hand appears about to grasp the cap and staff of liberty which is shooting up from the exploding tea-pot. Behind her is a mounted officer with a drawn sword followed by soldiers with fixed bayonets. The muzzles of two cannon are also visible, with a man holding a cannon ball. On the left, british soldiers are fleeing in disorder, the heads of the rearmost men being under a yoke. A storm with darts of lightning rages over their heads. The heavily festooned curtain shows pillars, and on the wall (right) is a picture or tapestry of two nude men fighting, one lies prostrate. In the centre of the lower margin are two medallions: one (left) is inscribed "auto da fe" and "holland. 1560"; it represents a man tied to the stake, while a monk, holding up a crucifix, holds a torch to the pile. On the right. Is "wilhelm tell, switzerland. 1296". Tell aims with a cross-bow at the apple on his son's head, while gessler on horseback points at the child. Between the medallions is part of an oak-tree. The medallion representing holland is supported (left) by the dutch lion holding in his paw a sheaf of seven arrows representing the united provinces. Hercules with his club (right) supports the medallion of switzerland. 1778
etching. Date: 1778. Dimensions: Height: 408 mm; Width: 488 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Time. Collection: British Museum.
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