Staggering-Bobs, a Tale for Scotchmen, or Munchausen Driving his Calves to Market
George Hanger, who fought in Prussian, British and Hessian armies during the American War of Independence rides a pony piled with calves intended for market (text at upper left mentions the horse dealer Richard Tattersall and the print is dedicated to George Hay, 16th Earl of Errol, a Scottish representative peer. After the war, Hanger became a close friend of George, Prince of Wales who appointed him Equerry in 1791. This print responds to the subject's money troubles which led him to move regiments multiple times–in 1795 he purchased a Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 125th Foot, exchanged this six months later for a commission in the 1st Battalion the 82nd Foot, then sold the latter in 1796 to purchase an ensigncy in the 70th Foot. By June 1798, his debts led to a ten-month stint in the King's Bench Prison.
Artwork Details
- Title: Staggering-Bobs, a Tale for Scotchmen, or Munchausen Driving his Calves to Market
- Artist: James Gillray (British, London 1756–1815 London)
- Publisher: Hannah Humphrey (British, ca. 1745–1819)
- Date: December 1, 1796
- Medium: Hand-colored etching
- Dimensions: Plate: 13 7/8 × 10 in. (35.3 × 25.4 cm)
Sheet: 15 1/8 × 10 9/16 in. (38.4 × 26.9 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Gift of Jill Spalding, 2022
- Object Number: 2022.309.13
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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Multiple artists/makers
June 13, 1781
Multiple artists/makers
[1830]
James Gillray
June 19, 1780
Multiple artists/makers
after April 1785
James Gillray
Hannah Humphrey
July 16, 1805
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