File:Richard Harris'd or the Wolves too keen!!!- (BM 1868,0808.12851).jpg

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Richard Harris'd or the Wolves too keen!!!-   (Wikidata search (Cirrus search) Wikidata query (SPARQL)  Create new Wikidata item based on this file)
Artist

Print made by: George Cruikshank

Published by: J Sidebotham
Title
Richard Harris'd or the Wolves too keen!!!-
Description
English: The stage at Covent Garden Theatre is indicated by a stage-curtain draping the upper and right margins of the design and by the façade of the theatre (left) as part of the scenery; a tent inscribed 'Dieu et Mon Droit' shows that the play is 'Richard III'. Booth, in fashionable modern dress, clutching a large rolled document inscribed 'Previous Treaty', grasps the cloak of a second Booth, dressed as Richard III, who has fallen to the ground between two overturned stools, one inscribed 'Covent Garden', the other 'Drury Lane'. Both Booths are terrified at three wolves which are climbing on to the stage (right); the former declaims: "In spite of Hisses, Groans, or Law, / I'll manage Richard with eclat." The other, frantically waving arms and legs, exclaims: "Give me a horse—bind up my wounds; Have mercy heaven!" ['Richard III', v. 3, misquoted]. Behind them stands a lawyer in wig and gown with the face of an owl; he holds up both hands, saying, ""A plague o' both your houses" Gentlemen this is a dirty action, but I think we can show cause, to over rule it, it being a Minor offence—" Above his head and on the façade of Covent Garden is a bill: 'A Lying Affidavit by a lying Lawyer'. The three wolves, wearing fashionable tail-coats on which is the word 'Opposition!', advance with savage gestures; one cries: "That's right, Go it my Boys! I'ts all Dickie with Jack o' both sides." By them lies a paper: 'Principles of the Wolf Club at one view'.


The tent is filled by a large couch from which a crown and sceptre are falling; beside it are a shield with the Royal Arms, corslet, and helmet. From behind the tent another Richard (Kean) looks furtively out at the wolves, saying, "What! will the aspiring blood of Lancaster sink into the Ground?" ['3 Henry VI', v. 6. 61-2, Gloucester's words after murdering Henry VI]. In the middle of the stage stands a pole supporting a placard: 'Mr Booth has Acted wrong.' In front of the two Booths lie papers: 'Junius's Letters or Mr Booth's appeal to the Public—'; 'Theatre Royal Covent Garden Richard ye Third Gloster by Mr Booth with ye Farce of the Weathercock'; 'A Bundle of Proverbs—Between two Stools the — goes to ye ground'; [Theatre] 'Royal Drury Lane Othello — Iago Mr Booth with the new Farce Frightn'd to Death—!!'
8 March 1817


Hand-coloured etching
Depicted people Associated with: Edmund Kean
Date 1817
date QS:P571,+1817-00-00T00:00:00Z/9
Medium paper
Dimensions
Height: 275 millimetres
Width: 380 millimetres
institution QS:P195,Q6373
Current location
Prints and Drawings
Accession number
1868,0808.12851
Notes

(Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', IX, 1949) A satire on the riot at Covent Garden on 25 Feb. when Booth attempted to play Richard III, having disappointed a packed audience at Drury Lane on 22 Feb., where he was billed to play Iago to Kean's Othello, see No. 12918. At the end of the (inaudible) play Booth came forward with a placard beginning: "I have acted wrong . . ." The Wolves Club was a tavern society founded and presided over by Kean, see No. 13367. Among the letters to the newspapers relating to the affair was one asserting that the Wolves had pledged themselves to drive Booth from the stage; Kean asserted that the Wolves had ceased to exist and defied anyone to prove that he had directly or indirectly instigated any opposition to Booth. Playfair, 'Kean', p. 175. Henry Harris, Manager of Covent Garden, also wrote to the papers. An information was filed in Chancery by the Drury Lane Management to restrain Booth (b. 1 May 1796) from performing at Covent Garden, but withdrawn on the ground that he was a minor.

Reid, No. 664. Cohn, No. 1902.
Source/Photographer https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0808-12851
Permission
(Reusing this file)		 © The Trustees of the British Museum, released as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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