Opening the Sluices or the Secret Expedition

attributed to John Cawse, 1799-10

In August 1799, a joint British-Russian force invaded the province of North Holland. The purpose of their ‘Secret Expedition’ was destabilization of the Batavian Republic and the restoration of Stadtholder William V to power. However, expected reinforcements never arrived and the local population turned against the invading forces. Dutch women and frogs here open the sluices of a new defensive ‘water line’ and wash all the soldiers away.

  • Artwork typeprint, cartoon
  • Object numberRP-P-1981-43
  • Dimensionsheight 400 mm x width 252 mm
  • Physical characteristicsets, met de hand gekleurd

Identification

  • Title(s)

    Opening the Sluices or the Secret Expedition

  • Object type

  • Object number

    RP-P-1981-43

  • Description

    Spotprent waarin drie grote dikke Nederlandse viswijven met strohoeden copieus staande urineren, in de waterstroom worden de Britse soldaten weggespoeld. Drie kikkers doen hetzelfde. Spotprent op de onverwachte tegenstand van de Nederlanders tijdens de Brits-Russische invasie in Noord-Holland in 1799.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    • collector's mark: Lugt 2760
    • collector's mark: Lugt 2228
    • collector's mark: ‘E’
    • inscription: ‘I.N: 1944 / 5809’
  • Catalogue reference

    FMH 5557-A


Creation

  • Creation

    • printmaker: attributed to John Cawse, London
    • publisher: Samuel W. Fores (mentioned on object), London
  • Dating

    1799-10

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    ets, met de hand gekleurd

  • Dimensions

    height 400 mm x width 252 mm


Explanatory note

  • Niet in Frederik Muller; door het RPK toegevoegd nummer.


This work is about

  • Subject

  • Period

    1799


Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    Purchased with the support of the F.G. Waller-Fonds

  • Acquisition

    purchase 1981

  • Copyright


Documentation


Persistent URL