The Propagation of a Lie.

Henry William Bunbury

The Propagation of a Lie.

London, W. Dickinson Dec. 29^th 1787

Stipple engraving on three sheets

275x1710mm

£2200

One of Bunbury’s very rare, long caricatures. A strip design of a sequence of eighteen male figures, each with his spoken words engraved above his heads. On the left a foppish, excited looking man runs forward exclaiming Tis True. His neighbour, a depressed ‘cit’, says sorrowfully Tis Pity. A stout country squire raises his hand saying As tender as Possible to the man on his left who begs him Don’t mention it. Next, a belligerent couple shout Poo Poo and God zounds hold your tongue to a dandy wearing striped waistcoat and stockings, who mocks Ha, Ha. A skinny clergyman exclaims O La ! to a long-nosed gentleman who remarks Dear me you don’t say so ? While in centre a fat, yawning parson and a grimacing fop exclaim Heigh ho and O Fye. Next, a pot bellied country squire cheerfully exclaims Indeed ! to his neighbour, who wears a brown coat and tiewig and replies There now !. An elderly, dandified man says triumphantly I thought so ! to an angry neighbour who shouts The Devil !. On the right a lean, austere man remarks No sure, while his neighbour bows towards a capering dandy saying Depend upon it, to which the horrified dandy exclaims O Lord, O Lord !. The great subject of rumour, speculation, assertion, innuendo and denial was the marriage between Mrs Fitzherbert and the Prince of Wales. The caricature was first shown to the Royal Family in February 1788 by Fanny Burney. BM 7230.