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An English hobby horse, or, who pays the piper? – Antique Wall Art

An English hobby horse, or, who pays the piper?, London : Pubd. by Willm. Holland, 1791 May 11. — historic print
An English hobby horse, or, who pays the piper?, London : Pubd. by Willm. Holland, 1791 May 11.. Historic print from the Horses collection.

(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

This rare historic print captures An English hobby horse, or, who pays the piper? in remarkable detail. The original is held by the Library of Congress, so what you hang is a true record of its time.

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An English hobby horse, or, who pays the piper?

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The title plays on the old saying "who pays the piper?" and casts John Bull, the national personification of Britain, as the one footing the bill for a game of rival monarchs. The print's record names Catherine II of Russia, Leopold II of the Holy Roman Empire, Frederick William II of Prussia, George III and William Pitt the Younger. It was published by William Holland in London on May 11, 1791, weeks after Pitt's proposed naval buildup against Russia over the Ochakov dispute had been defeated in Parliament. Caricatures like this one used such crises to question whether Britain should spend money and risk war for the ambitions of continental powers.

Created / publishedLondon : Pubd. by Willm. Holland, 1791 May 11.
Medium1 print : etching.
GenreCartoons (Commentary) British 1790-1800.Etchings 1790-1800.
NotesForms part of : British Cartoon Prints Collection (Library of Congress). Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 6, no. 7857 Exhibit loan 4161-L.
SubjectsCatherine--II,--Empress of Russia,--1729-1796. Leopold--II,--Holy Roman Emperor,--1747-1792. George--III,--King of Great Britain,--1738-1820. Frederick William--II,--King of Prussia,--1744-1797. Pitt, William,--1759-1806. John Bull (Symbolic character)--1790-1800. International relations--Great Britain--1790-1800. International relations--Russia--1790-1800. Bulls--England--1790-1800.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan4,096 × 3,318 px · prints to 14 × 11 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-HPA-199039

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