{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1136670"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1136670/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EG0444/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EG0444/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2010EG0444","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1136670/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1136670","accessionNumber":"S.4604-2009","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"H Beard Print Collection","type":"named collection"}],"summaryDescription":"This cartoon by the prolific British satirist and printmaker James  Gillray, published on 2nd April 1802 by Hannah Humphrey, one of  London's leading female printsellers, shows the playwright and  theatre manager Richard Brinsley Sheridan dressed as Harlequin in a diamond-patterned suit, leading the group of professional actors  David Garrick (rising from the grave in his shroud); the singer Mrs.  Elizabeth Billington; the actors William Thomas Lewis, J.P. Kemble  and Sarah Siddons, in a protest against the members of the  amateur acting group The Pic Nic Society who performed at  London's Tottenham Street Concert Rooms. The name of the venue  is referenced in the title: Blowing up the Pic Nic's [sic], or, Harlequin  Quixotte attacking the Puppets. Vide Tottenham Street Pantomime. The playbill by the stage advertises the production <i>Tom Thumb</i> .\r\n\r\nThe performers on the stage being blown up include Albinia, Countess of Buckinghamshire, amateur actress and obsessive  gambler; George James Cholmondeley, 1st Marquess of  Cholmondeley; Henry Francis Greville, Lieutenant-Colonel, actor and  founder of The Pic-Nic Society; and Richard Edgcumbe, 2nd Earl of  Mount Edgcumbe. Productions by The Pic Nic Society were unwelcome competition to professional actors and theatre managers, considered decadent and extravagant by those who launched attacks against them in the press. Sheridan is shown here  flourishing a quill pen, its feathers inscribed with the names Morning  hronicle, Morning Herald, Morning Post and Morning Courier  -  newspapers in which his diatribes against The Pic Nics were published. Gillray based this cartoon on the incident in the novel <i>Don Quixote</i> by Miguel de Cervantes when Don Quixote destroys Master Peter's puppet show.\r\n\r\nGillray frequently lampooned the exclusive Pic Nic Society that  flourished between 1801 and 1803, because of the type of members they attracted - primarily aristocratic gamblers, epicurean diners and amateur actors or 'dilettante'. They drank expensive wine and champagne and ate lavish meals, one of which is depicted here, tumbling to the floor.\n","physicalDescription":"Etched and hand coloured print entitled 'Blowing up the PIC NIC's; - or - Harlequin Quixotte attacking the Puppets'.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Gillray, James","id":"A13435"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Gillray, James","id":"A13435"},"association":{"text":"etcher","id":"AAT25174"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Spragg, E.","id":"A28215"},"association":{"text":"printer","id":"x30811"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"H. Humphrey","id":"A13436"},"association":{"text":"publisher","id":"x32600"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"},{"text":"wash","id":"AAT11051"}],"techniques":[{"text":"print-making","id":"AAT131119"},{"text":"etching (corroding)","id":"AAT53840"},{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"},{"text":"hand-colouring","id":"AAT133555"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"hand coloured etching, ink and wash on paper","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"},{"text":"Scotland","id":"THES262877"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2010EG0444"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES356578"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"prints","id":"AAT41273"}],[{"text":"etchings","id":"AAT41365"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2nd April 1802","earliest":"1802-04-02","latest":"1802-04-02"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.167-1997","id":"O1138608"},"association":"Copy"},{"object":{"text":"S.4605-2009","id":"O1136671"},"association":"Copy"}],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"36","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Print size","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"25.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Print size","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Print entitled 'Blowing up the PIC NIC's; - or - Harlequin Quixotte (sic) attacking the Puppets'. Published in London by Hannah Humphrey on 2nd April 1802, Harry Beard Collection.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Billington, James (Mrs.)","id":"N9617"},{"text":"Albinia (Countess of Buckinghamshire)","id":"N10372"},{"text":"Cholmondeley, George James (1st Marquess of Cholmondeley)","id":"N10373"},{"text":"Garrick, David","id":"N1281"},{"text":"Greville, Henry Francis","id":"N10374"},{"text":"Kemble, John Philip","id":"N2478"},{"text":"Lewis, William Thomas","id":"N4738"},{"text":"Edgcumbe, Richard (2nd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe)","id":"N10375"},{"text":"Sheridan, Richard Brinsley","id":"N1420"},{"text":"Siddons, Sarah","id":"N926"},{"text":"Pic Nic Society","id":"N10377"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"caricature","id":"x32507"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.4604-2009"],"accessionNumberNum":"4604","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2009,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"H Beard collection numbering","id":"THES50444"},"number":"F.117-17"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2009-09-07","availableToBook":true}}