The Pictorial Press: Its Origin and ProgressJackson, Mason
History
The Pictorial Press: Its Origin and Progress
Jackson, Mason
Illustration of books; Newspapers -- Illustrations
The Welshman came in for a share of the satirist's wit at the
commencement of the Civil War. He generally figures under the name of
'Ap Shinkin,' and is made to speak English much the same as the Scottish
Highlander does in Scott's novels. '_The Welsh mans Postures, or the
true manner how her doe exercise her company of Souldiers in her own
Country in a warlike manners_,' is a satire of a very broad character,
and is illustrated with a woodcut representing men exercising with the
pike. Shinkin is also ridiculed for the share he took in the battle of
Edgehill, the first important engagement in the Civil War. There is an
illustrated tract with the following title: '_The Welsh mans
Complements: or the true manner how Shinkin wood his Sweetheart Maudlin
after his return from Kenton Battaile_. _Also Fair Maudlin's reply and
answer to all Shinkin's Welch complements, full of merry wit and
pleasant mirth._' The 'merry wit' is certainly not refined, and the
'pleasant mirth' is founded on Shinkin's supposed hasty departure from
the neighbourhood of the fight. The woodcut represents Shinkin and
Maudlin in conversation.
Prince Rupert is often the mark for the satirist's wit. In '_Rupert's
Sumpter, and private Cabinet rifled, and a Discovery of a Pack of his
Jewels, by way of Dialogue between Mercurius Brittanicus and Mercurius
Aulicus_,' there is a discussion as to the Prince's merits and demerits,
and he is charged with aiming at the crown. Both the King and Queen were
brought under the caricaturist's lash. In 1644 there was an illustrated
pamphlet published, representing the King, Queen, and a bishop, with the
following title: '_The Sussex Picture, or an Answer to the Sea-gull_.'
The address to the reader is headed: 'The Sceptre's Submission, the
Distaffs Triumph, and the Crosiers Combination. Reader, If thou hast
view'd that stately Picture, which was lately sent up to the Parliament
by Collonel Morley, and was taken in a Flemish Ship upon the Sussex
Shore; Thou hast beheld therein the weaker sexe triumphing over the
stronger, and by the help of a Miter, thou hast seen a Scepter doing
homage to the Distaffe. If thou hast never seen the Originall, yet here
is to be seen a poore, rude, counterfeit of the chief part in it; use
thy judgement freely, and impartially: let both the Peece itself, and
that which is said by both sides, in judgement thereupon, be put into
one equal ballance. If the Dutch Author be not to undergo censure, as if
he intended an English Storie, yet neither art thou to be censured for
doubting his intention, or for standing amazed at his phancie. Shadows
which are not fashioned by some certain, neer, interposing body present
nothing to the eye, and therefore work nothing upon the understanding.
The language of a picture is to be borrowed from the veritie of the
matter, if that be wanting, neither the Art of the Limner nor the
imagination of the spectator can supply its vocall organs.' This
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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