Description:

Isaac Cruikshank
[London], [ca. 1791]
Isaac Cruikshank 1791 Satire Engraving: "Self Murder of the Wolf", Post-Birmingham Riots
Art
A fantastic satire by Isaac Cruikshank titled "Self Murder of the Wolf tried and Convicted on his own Evidence." Published by S. W. Fores, Piccadilly, London, August 28, 1791. Hand-tinted etching measuring 9.75" x 14.5". Handsomely matted in cream and set into a dark wood frame with overall dimensions of 20" x 16". Fine condition, not examined out of frame. BM Satires 7899.

In July 1791, riots broke out in Birmingham over the perceived threat to the Church by religious dissenters, most notably Joseph Priestley (1733-1804). A scientist and theologian who sought to square the rationalism of Enlightenment thought with Christian religion, Priestley promoted the free and open exchange of ideas and advocated for tolerance of religious dissenters. He also was an outspoken supporter of the American and Revolution.

These liberal views made Priestley the target of much government and popular enmity, which culminated in the burning of his church and home in Birmingham, July 1791. Twenty-six other dissenters' homes and three more churches were also destroyed during the three days of rioting and violence. Not all of the population were heartbroken by the destruction; King George III, for example, exulted: "I cannot but feel better pleased that Priestley is the sufferer for the doctrines he and his party have instilled, and that the people see them in their true light." Naturally statements like these led to speculation that the riots had actually been orchestrated by Birmingham magistrates and others in politics, not by an alarmed populace.

In this fine satire, Priestley is shown hanging from the gallows wearing a sheepskin and with snakes slithering beneath him, while fellow radical Richard Price (who ironically died in April 1791) sits atop the scaffolding and fires a cannon at nearby bishops who are warning one another about "a wolf in sheep's clothing." John Wesley (another dissenter and leader in the Methodist movement), appears floating as a clawed, bird-like figure at left who crows "I now come forward in a Glorious Cause." At the right of the gallows, a number of other religious dignitaries of the church are portrayed as caterpillars, with the legend "If we are Destroyed an Hundred will Appear"! Of course there could be no satire about the church without the devil, and one appears at right "watering" a dignitary as one would water a growing plant.

Isaac Cruikshank (1764-1811) was a Scottish painter and caricaturist known for his political satire; the father of George Cruikshank.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!  

  • Dimensions: 20" x 16"
  • Medium: Art

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

October 30, 2024 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000