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Farmer Blunts apology : to the Chief Magistrate of the village on an enquiry into his conduct respecting taking a country wench, under his protection.

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Thomas Rowlandson
1756-1827

Farmer Blunts apology : to the Chief Magistrate of the village on an enquiry into his conduct respecting taking a country wench, under his protection.

[London] : Pubd. March 3d. 1809 by Thos. Tegg No. 111 Cheapside, [1809]
etching, hand-colored
image: 320 x 223 mm (including etched text); plate mark: 347 x 245 mm; sheet: 377 x 264 mm
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
1986.732
Notes
Satire inspired by the Clarke scandal, involving the sale and dispensation of military favors and preferments by the Duke of York at the behest of his Mistress, Mrs. Clarke.
Executed by Rowlandson after Woodward. Cf. Grego.
Etching at head of etched text in the form of letter from Farmer Blunt asserting his innocence, beginning: Please Your Honor, I have been most confoundedly puzzled about what you would say to I respecting the little Fox-pan. I had with the girl at the sign of the Shovel ...
Inscriptions/Markings
Library's copy inscribed in pencil at foot of sheet: Woodward & Rowlandson.
Provenance

From the library of Gordon N. Ray.

Summary

Print shows the rustic figure of Farmer Blunt standing before a seated justice; he is saying: I say Master Justice--I be got into a rumish kind of Scrape through this wench of mine. The justice, a portly man with spectacles, replies: Why yes I think you are--you see what it is to go after the Naughty Women--however better men than you have been guilty of the same.

Associated names
Woodward, G. M. (George Moutard), ca. 1760-1809, designer.
Tegg, Thomas, 1776-1845, publisher.
Ray, Gordon Norton, 1915-1986, former owner.
Artist
Rowlandson, Thomas
Classification
Print
Department
Drawings and Prints
Catalog link
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