Prints: P1269

Mr Mathews in his various characters in his comic annual

Mathews, Charles

Fairburn, John

1830

height: 24cm
width: 38.4cm

Hand coloured etching

"Pub. may 12, 1830, by J. Fairburn Broadway Ludgate Hill, London/ A. Sharpshooter fec./ MR MATHEWS in his various CHARACTERS in his COMIC ANNUAL - 1830/ Mrs Dunbird/ the Housekeeper/ Well, let me read Sir/ Chevy's letter - "Old/ Mother Dunbird" - how/ affectionate"" - Old/ Mother Dunbird!/ Andrew, the Groom./ What shall I do? What a/ night! - I was in the cow/house weaning a bull calf/ when I saw four of them/ in the ditch - Oh! what/ Shall I do?/ French Cook./ Where d diable/ are the rascals? I/ sal shoot dem- I / sal beat 'em vin in/ von inch of his life./ Andew._/ now then for the dance/ now the doctor will oblige/ us with a dance - there/ now then./ Jerry Abershaw./ So gentlemen, your servant - your money/ or your lives./ Mr Dispepys./ Mathews are you asleep/ Wonder whats the matter/ with me - I can't go to sleep./ It can't be anything I've/ eat - what fine pie crust/ to be sure that was. / Ap Leeks,/ the gardener-/ What noise was/ that-wheres/ my pistols they/ are loaded with/ slugs./ Jack Shephard. / I'm the lad - the fancy/ chap- the knowing one damme pippe- I'm/ rumpty tum with the/ chill off- damme pipps./ Captain Grapnell/ now then where are you all? / Bring the pistols and fire/ away - here's one of their/ legs sticking in the chimney - / we'll sette 'em".

Formerly in the collection of Professor Jim Davis, acquired by the Garrick Club in 2024

E0162

This print depicts Charles Mathews in nine different characters.. The chracters are depicted within a bedroom, from left to right are: Mrs Dunbird, Andrew the Groom, French Cook, Andrew, Jerry Abershaw, Mr Dispepys, Ap Leeks, Jack shephard, Captain Grapnell. Mr Dispepys appears to be in a four poster bed, at the foot of which is a table covered in green and yellow cloth set with two berass candles. In other images Charles Mathews usually stands behind a table such as this. The character of Andrew is playing some pipes and a fiddle, and has a drum at his feet, which he plays with an attachment to his leg.