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Catalogue information
LastDodo number
6078115
Area
Drawings / paintings
Title
Church militant
Artist
Art object
Art Movement / style
Genre
Material
Technique used
Colouring
Dimensions
20.5 cm x 15 cm
Series / hero
Collection / set
Number
Addition to number
Year
1893
Country
Language
Details
Original political cartoon, watercolour on card from ‘Cartoons Social and Political’, 1893, shows an angel of peace holding an olive branch and a flag with ‘peace on earth, goodwill to men’ saddened and downcast by the antics of the ‘church militant’ behind her. Different religious denominations, e.g. Catholics, Anglicans, Protestants, Church of England, non-conformists, in Britain and elsewhere are shown involved in inter-church squabbles on doctrine. This looks more like a pitched battle and is distracting the churches from their real purpose of promoting peace and goodwill. While to the modern eye this cartoon does not seem particularly offensive, the Cynicus cartoons in general were described by contemporary critics as having ‘savage force’ and of being too scathing compared to for instance cartoons from Punch and similar publications. Framed and mounted for an overall size of 37.5 cm x 30 cm, image size 20.5 cm x 15 cm, signed lower left and stamped ‘hand painted - copyright’ lower right and numbered ‘14' upper left. Very slight staining in left border, otherwise in very good condition.