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Catalogue information
LastDodo number
5306521
Area
Drawings / paintings
Title
...Sitting up with a sick friend, s’elp me!
Artist
Art object
Art Movement / style
Genre
Material
Technique used
Colouring
Dimensions
30 x 24 cm
Series / hero
Collection / set
Number
Addition to number
Year
1963
Country
Language
Details
Original editorial cartoon on card in pencil, 1963, probably published in the New York Journal, shows John Bull coming home to ‘Britannia’ with lipstick all over him and smelling of ‘eau de profumo’. John Bull represents the conservative party which was badly damaged by the ‘Profumo scandal’ This political scandal originated with a brief sexual relationship in 1961 between John Profumo, the Secretary of State for War in Harold Macmillan's government, and Christine Keeler, a 19-year-old would-be model. In March 1963 Profumo denied any impropriety in a personal statement to the House of Commons, but was forced to admit the truth a few weeks later. He resigned from the government and from Parliament. The repercussions of the affair severely damaged Macmillan's self-confidence, and he resigned as prime minister on health grounds in October 1963. His Conservative Party was marked by the scandal, which may have contributed to its defeat by Labour in the 1964 general election. Card size 30 x 24 cm (11 x 9 inch), image size 24 x 20.5 cm, caption in pencil on upper border together with date, June 11 , printing instructions on lower border, signed lower centre. The words ‘eau de’ have been written on a pasted-on piece of card, otherwise in very good condition.