Paintings, Prints & Drawings — 1807-03-26
John Bull forming a Catalini of his own!
Isaac Cruikshank (1756-1811) developed with another caricature artist, James Gillray, the famous figure of John Bull, the personification of British national identity in the form of a country yeoman.
Here the prejudice against foreign performers is highlighted with the Itailan soprano Angelica Catalani represented by a cat. Catalani made her debut in London in 1806 when she was hired by theatre manager John Kemble to sing for forty nights at Covent Garden. At this time at the height of the Napoleonic Wars Britain received few overseas visitors and travel abroad was impossible. The figure of John Bull is playing 'O the Roast Beef of England' and complaining about the fees which the singer will earn from private concerts. Kemble provoked much public anger by this engagement and riots occcured at his theatre.
- Category:
- Paintings, Prints & Drawings
- Object ID:
- A24259
- Object name:
- John Bull forming a Catalini of his own!
- Object type:
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1807-03-26
- Material:
paper, ink
- Measurements/duration:
- H 227 mm, W 312 mm (paper)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.