John Law, the instigator of the Dutch share boom of 1720, lies collapsed with his head in the lap of 'Madame Compagnie' (the Mississippi Company). Etching by and after Philibert (Filibert) Bouttats, 1720.

Date:
[1720?]
Reference:
812497i
Part of:
Groote tafereel der dwaasheid.
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About this work

Description

In the foreground the "Bubble lord", John Law, lies collapsed on the ground; his head lies in the lap of "Madame Compagnie" (the Mississippi Company); around him speculators weep

Publication/Creation

[Amsterdam] : [publisher not identified], [1720?]

Physical description

1 print : etching, with engraving ; platemark 26.8 x 18.3 cm

Lettering

De stervende bubbel-heer in den schoot van Madame Compagnie Translation of lettering: "The dying Bubble lord in the lap of Madame Company". Beside the image, Dutch verses printed in letterpress in two columns

References note

Frederik Muller, De nederlandsche geschiedenis in platen. Beredeneerde beschrijving van nederlandsche historieplaten, zinneprenten en historische kaarten, Amsterdam 1863, part 2, no. 3607 (72)
British Museum, Catalogue of political and personal satires, vol. 2, London 1978, no. 1615
Arthur H. Cole, The great mirror of folly (Het groote tafereel der dwaasheid). An economic-bibliographical study, Boston 1949, no. 72

Reference

Wellcome Collection 812497i

Reproduction note

Impression from reworked plate: as originally etched by Philibert Bouttats in 1706, Louis XIV lay collapsed on the ground with his head in the lap of Madame de Maintenon

Notes

'Het groote tafereel der dwaasheid', Amsterdam, 1720, is a collection of literary and pictorial satires relating to the Dutch speculation bubble of 1720, which occurred simultaneously with the South Sea bubble and the Mississippi bubble involving John Law. This print is one of the many in that collection: see A.H. Cole, op. cit.

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