State Butchers
Medium
Hand-colored etching
Dimensions
Sheet (trimmed): 10 5/16 × 14 7/8 in. (26.2 × 37.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959
Accession Number
59.533.2053
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Created in the turbulent political climate of late 18th-century Britain, *State Butchers* is a hand-colored etching that captures the sharp wit of Georgian satire. Dated January 28, 1789, the print brings together prominent figures including William Pitt the Younger, Lord Thurlow, and the Prince of Wales, portrayed in a scene that lampoons their roles in state affairs. The medium of etching, often hand-tinted for wider circulation, allowed artists to reach a broad audience with timely commentary on current events. The work reflects the intense partisan debates surrounding the Regency Crisis of 1788–89, when King George III’s illness raised questions about royal power and succession. By depicting these statesmen as “butchers,” the image uses dark humor to critique perceived ruthlessness in political maneuvering. Thomas Rowlandson’s involvement underscores the print’s place within the flourishing tradition of British caricature, where exaggerated features and symbolic settings conveyed complex ideas to viewers both inside and outside Parliament. Today, this lively etching offers modern visitors a vivid glimpse into the ways art and politics intertwined during a pivotal moment in British history, reminding us that visual satire has long served as a powerful tool for public discourse.
About the Artist
Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow|William Pitt|Thomas Rowlandson|Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney|Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville|Augustus Henry Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton|George, Prince of Wales (British|British|British) · 1759 |1731 |1757 –1806 |1806 |1827
British, 1759–1806|British, Norfolk 1731–1806 Brighton|British, London 1757–1827 London