Men attempt to quell the flames of the House of Commons with water piped from fire engines and a rocket attached to a man's back inscribed 'war'. Lithograph by C.J. Grant, 1834.

  • Grant, C. J. (Charles Jameson), active 1830-1852.
Date:
Oct 27 1834 :
Reference:
643195i
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view Men attempt to quell the flames of the House of Commons with water piped from fire engines and a rocket attached to a man's back inscribed 'war'. Lithograph by C.J. Grant, 1834.

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Credit

Men attempt to quell the flames of the House of Commons with water piped from fire engines and a rocket attached to a man's back inscribed 'war'. Lithograph by C.J. Grant, 1834. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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About this work

Description

Much of the Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire on 16 October 1834. The figure of Guy Fawkes appears top right pointing at the flames. A rocket launcher inscribed 'war' is aimed at the House of Commons by a woman dressed as a prostitute. The figures operating the water machine appear to be parliamentary figures angered by the loss of bills. A figure in rags attempts to kill rats escaping from the scene with a stick and a rat cage. Behind him a fat man struggles beneath the weight of a large sack labelled 'budget' that is on fire. Other figures far right appear to rejoice at the scene by dancing and raising their hats

Publication/Creation

London (Caricature Depot, 54 Leicester Square) : J. Kendrick, Oct 27 1834 : ([London] (Grays Inn road) : S. Lingham)

Physical description

1 print : lithograph ; image and border 24.7 x 43.1 cm

Contributors

Lettering

Something like a flare up! There are numerous speech bubbles within the scene including: 'That this is the work of the radicals not a doubt remains . It seems the villains hadn't paticne to wait till the 5th of November', 'Aye the member for Middle(se)x knows best about that. I trow- his motion for a new house is now carried without a division', 'Here's evident proofs of the march of reform & no mistake - see all our favorite bills are thrown out & the parlliament dissolved ad infinitum'. Numerous bills including 'corn bill', 'poor laws bill', 'dead body bill' float above the flames that rise from the House of Commons. Further bills lie on the floor bottom left

Reference

Wellcome Collection 643195i

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