The Entry of the Blue Candidate into Glocester!!!

Ink & watercolour in muted shades of blue, grey, brown & cream. 21 x 32cm, unsigned, laid on to card. The image is unsigned and trimmed close. For the printed version, see Cohn 1092; George 12907. Depicting Robert Bransby Cooper ('Don Ferolo Whiskerandos') the Tory candidate in the contested Gloucester election of 1816 who was defeated by the Whig, Edward Webb. Cruikshank's image shows Cooper entering the city on a donkey, with panniers full of loaves and fishes (indicating Cooper's pursuit of personal gain), pulled on a rope by four men, pushed by two others & cheered on by a crowd outside the Bell Inn. There are two noticeable differences between the watercolour and the engraving published by William Hone in September 1816: in the watercolour, the inn is named 'The Bell', home of the Tory True Blue Club, but in the engraving it is 'The Marsh Bell'; and - clearly added by the engraver - is a blast from the donkey, farting 'God Save the King!!' not present in the watercolour. Webb remained MP until 1832 - and was joined by Cooper at the uncontested 1818 General Election. PLEASE NOTE: For customers within the UK this item is subject to VAT at 20%.…