The resurrection or An internal view of the museum in W-d-m-ll Street, on the last day

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Thomas Rowlandson
The resurrection or An internal view of the museum in W-d-m-ll Street, on the last day
etching
image: 163 x 305 mm; plate mark: 188 x 313 mm; sheet: 199 x 328 mm
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan, 1900.
Peel 2361
Published: 
[London] : Pubd. as the Act directs Feby. 6th. 1782 by H. Humphrey No. 18 New Bond Street, [1782]
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Notes: 

Attributed in some sources to Thomas Rowlandson. Cf. British Museum online catalog.
Title from item.
"The anatomical collections here satirized are now in the Hunterian Museum of Glasgow University."--Curatorial comments, British Museum online catalog.

Summary: 

Print shows the interior of a large circular building, the roof supported by two tiers of columns. This is the anatomical museum of William Hunter (1718-1783), who in 1770 built a house with a lecture-theatre, dissecting-room, and museum for his anatomical and pathological collections. A row of figures extends across the foreground: in the centre is William Hunter in a tie-wig, saying, "O what a smash among my Bottles and Preparations! never did I suppose that such a day could come". The other figures, those of specimens, either nude figures or skeletons, are (left to right): a man saying, "My wife risen again! - that's one Rib more than I wish'd to find". Next, a man turning his head to the right holds out a leg, his own left leg having been amputated above the knee, saying, "What this! arrah be easy my Dear Devil burn me if it be not my own I know it by the lump on the Shin here". His neighbour, whose left leg is also missing, says to him, "Damn me Sir that's my Legg". A headless man addresses Hunter saying, "Where's my Head".On Hunter's left hand an old woman with a stick says to him, "Restore to me my Virgin-honor did I keep it inviolated 75 Years to have it corked up at last". Next are two skeletons shaking hands with each other: one says, "Prodigously oblig'd to you Sweet Sir", the other says, "My dear Madam I hope you are well I am over-joyed to see you". A fat man in profile to the right says, "Lack a day' did nobody see an odd large Stomach O what shall I do if I have lost my Stomach". Behind is a small hunchback, ringing a bell and shouting. Under the colonnade in the distance are minute figures: a demon, two persons embracing, and a gesticulating figure. Under the upper colonnade stands another demon (right). Cf. British Museum catalog.

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