Doctor Botherum, an itinerant medicine vendor (perhaps based on Doctor Bossy) selling his wares on stage with the aid of assistants to a raucous crowd. Coloured etching by T. Rowlandson, 1800.
- Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827.
- Date:
- 6 March 1800]
- Reference:
- 20582i
- Pictures
- Online
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Publication/Creation
[London?] : [publisher not identified], 6 March 1800]
Physical description
1 print : etching and aquatint, with watercolour
Contributors
Lettering
Doctor Botherum. The Mountebank. ...
Lettering continues: "High oe'r the gaping crowd, on market day. While Andrew drolls the blockheads pence away, see the bold rogue pretending to restore, loves long lost fountain, that must flow no more. To heal wounds, or ease the raging gum, and [cure] all ills - past, present and to come. With balm Hippocrates had neir in use, powder of post commix'd, with fat of goose. Thus melts the coin obtain'd by labours rules. That cunning knaves may thrive and laugh at fools thus bashless impudence provokes to give, while modest merit means the means to live."
References note
J. Grego, Rowlandson the caricaturist, London 1880, vol. 2, pp. 3-5 (detailed description of the scene)
Reference
Wellcome Collection 20582i
Type/Technique
Languages
Subjects
- Merry Andrew
- Medicine shows
- TeethExtraction
- Direct selling
- SellingDrugs
- Traveling sales personnel
- Audiences
- Collective behavior
- Fairs
- City and town life
- Performing arts
- Manners and customs
- Infants
- Food habits
- Sexual attraction
- Jealousy
- Peddling
- Dogs
- Characters and characteristics
- CostumeGreat Britain18th century
- Doctor Botherum, active 1800.
Where to find it
Location Status Access Closed stores