This is a fine early 19th-century satirical print which is entitled: Drawing for Twelfth Cake. A hint to Cabinet Makers. 

It was designed by John (HB) Doyle -  printed by Charles Etienne Pierre Motte, published by Thomas McLean 21 December 1830s. 

Uncoloured impressions are to be found in the British Museum and the National Portrait Gallery in London. 

An interesting and very topical print - as it shows how the government of the day in the 1830s selects members of the Cabinet. It seems that all the appointments are being made by drawing posts annotated on scraps of paper and attached to sticks - which are stuck into a great big cake. The politicians are blindfolded and pick a stick from the cake - this is their new appointment - regardless of their skills, interests or indeed talents. Aye! not that much has changed over time. They even discuss a member ignoring their Yorkshire constituents and siding with the Westminster cabinet "chummies" instead... yikes! A fabulous image of timeless political skullduggery -  hard to believe that 200 years on and not much has changed! 

The figures represented are as follows: 

John Doyle (1797-1868) was born in Dublin. He was a political cartoonist, caricaturist, painter, and lithographer who worked under the pen name "HB". He also painted miniatures but found his greatest success came from his political cartoons and satires. These could be more easily be reproduced using the new method of printing illustrations: lithography.

Lithography allowed prints to have a more sketchy appearance with fine tonal qualities. This was a change from the more brash lines of coloured etchings of the previous decades.

John Doyle's son, Richard was also a celebrated caricaturist and illustrator who worked for "Punch". His other sons were also artistic; Henry Edward Doyle became director of the National Gallery of Ireland, James William Edmund Doyle was an illustrator and Charles Altamont Doyle was a painter and the father of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of Sherlock Holmes.

A harder-to-find print - in good antique condition. The hand colouring (with watercolour washes) is original to the issue of this print.  The work has never been on display so the colours are all nice and fresh. It is certainly a very rare item of museum quality and interest: there has been a little lightly restore loss to the margin just behind the gentleman seated to the right-hand side - but stable and not noticeable when on display. But generally in a fine and stable condition - and given its rarity and the topical subject - fairly priced. 

It has recently been professionally re-framed with a new acid-free window mount and a simple black frame. It is all ready just to hang on your wall. 

Frame size: 38.5 x 45.5 cm. Image size: 26 x 34 cm

Postage to the UK only - and it will be sent to you with Parcelforce 48 tracked. This will be about £10 and applied at check out.