John Nichols, the printer stands in anger behind a desk as his hands rest on two volumes. Etching, 1790, by T. Rowlandson.

Caricature of John Nichols as a printer and editor of the Gentleman's Magazine, as expressed by Wolcot in his 'A benevolent epistle to Sylvanus Urban, alias Master John Nichols, printer'. Wolcot suggested that Nichols was himself no scholar but dependent on Gough, Walpole, Hayley, Miss Seward, Miss Hannah More, and other contributors to the Gentleman's Magazine of which Nichols was editor

Nichols slams his hands down on copies of 'Q. Eliz: Prog' (i.e. Nichols The progresses, and public processions, of Queen Elizabeth, London 1788) and 'Anecdotes of Mr B.' (i.e. Nichols's Anecdotes, biographical and literary, of the late Mr. William Bowyer, printer, London 1778). In the background is Parnassus, with the temple of Fame, on which is poised Fame blowing a trumpet. A tall ladder rests against the mountain up which a dog scrambles. A man (William Hayley) on stilts advances towards the mountain with his 'Essay on old maids' in his pocket. On the ground are numerous books, among them the 'Gentlemans magazine'

1790

1 print : etching ; image 22.1 x 19.7 cm

With anger foaming and of vengeance full, why belloweth John Nichols like a bull?

British Museum, Catalogue of political and personal satires, vol. vi. London 1978, no. 7734

Wellcome Collection 590705i

Off-setting on the verso of this print bears the lettering 'Benevolence...', among other type