Blowing up the Pic Nic's or Harlequin Quixotte attacking the Puppets, April 2, 1802
Hand-colored etchingexpand_more
The Minnich Collection The Ethel Morrison Van Derlip Fund, 1966expand_more P.17,345
Not on Viewexpand_more
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, an Irish playwright and longtime owner of London’s Drury Lane Theatre, leads the attack of professional actors enraged by the amateur performers of the Pic Nic Society. From 1660 to 1843, only Patent Theatres (those licensed by the Crown) could stage performances of serious drama. The Pic Nic not only infringed upon the patents, they had the temerity to rehearse on Sundays.
Sheridan brandishes his pen. In the swirls we read the names of newspapers that printed his anonymous screeds against the Pic Nics. The actors, both professional and amateur, were as recognizable to the London public as our celebrities are to us today. Gillray’s treatment of Sheridan was so well targeted that he was often depicted as a harlequin from this point forward.
Details
- Title
- Blowing up the Pic Nic's or Harlequin Quixotte attacking the Puppets
- Artist Life
- 1756 - 1815
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- P.17,345
- Catalogue Raisonne
- BM Satires 9916 See: Wright & Evans, 467
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.