A satire on the hoax the 'Venetian Secret', or the secret of Titian's coloring which Ann Jemima Provis, a student of painting aged 20, claimed to have discovered, and imparted to those who paid ten guineas each and pledged themselves to secrecy.
At head of image: Ah! ha! - Ah! ha! Messrs Van-Butchell! - Ireland! - Charles! - Lane & Lackington! - what are you now? - ah! ha! - ah! ha! - ha! ha! ha!!!
Print shows a rainbow which supports a woman (Miss Provis) who stands at a large canvas painting a goblin-like bearded figure intended for Titian. At her feet an ass with the wings of Pegasus kneels to drink greedily from a paint pot. His wings are covered with words: 'Review', 'Magazines', 'Advertis[er]', 'Squib', 'Herald', 'Times', 'True Briton', 'Puff' [repeated many times], 'World', 'Morning Chronicle', 'Evening Post', 'Star', 'Sham Abuse', 'Squibbs', 'Oracle', 'Courier'. Above the canvas, and at the apex of the design, is an eagle surrounded with flames, and the centre of rays which illuminate black clouds in the upper part of the print; in its claws is a scroll: 'Venetian. Manuscript'. The artist wears a vast train held up by three naked Graces. Along the rainbow is etched: 'redeunt Titianica regna, jam nova progenies coelo demittitur alto'. A winged figure sits astride the rainbow blowing a trumpet, from which issue the words: 'You little Stars, hide your diminish'd Head[s].' These words terminate in thick clouds from which five stars fall like meteors, leaving trails inscribed: 'Rubens', 'Correggio', 'Michael Angelo', 'Raphael', 'Parmegiano'. Beneath the rainbow is a paved floor and in the foreground (left) the head and shoulders of (the ghost of) Sir Joshua Reynolds emerge, pushing up one of the stones. Behind him is a headless statue of Apollo on a pedestal against which leans a pile of portfolios inscribed: [1] 'Cosway', 'Sandby', 'Bartolozzi', 'Rooker', 'Turner', [2] 'Loutherbourg', [3] 'Beechey Pinxt', [4] 'Fuselli'. A grinning ape crouches at the feet of the Apollo, urinating upon the portfolios and supporting himself on a large volume: 'List of Subscribers to the Venetian Humbug at Ten Gs each Dupe'. Three men run off furtively to the right: nearest to the spectator is a small man carrying on his head an open sack inscribed 'Lottery 5 Gs a dip'; this sheds its contents: small papers inscribed 'Ticket', 'Picture' or '2 Pict[ures]'. From his coat-pocket projects a large book: 'Bible by Mack[lin]'. He says: "Damn their secrets, I say! - I've got a fine Load of them here! - come who'll have a Dip in my Lucky bag! - all Prizes here!" Next him is Alderman Boydell in his furred gown, a large 'Shakespeare' under his right arm. He says: "How? - What? - another Gallery? - Mr President! I'd see them all starve first, the Villains! O my money! my Money!!!" On the extreme right is West, President of the Academy, saying to Boydell: "Charming Secret Friend, for thee to dash out another Gallery with! - but I'm off!!" In the light of the rainbow sit seven painters (identified as Farington, Opie, Westall, Hoppner, Stothard, Smirke, and Rigaud) seated in a row, each with palette and brushes and holding on his knees a canvas.