‘The Cheerful Cobler’, 1807

Mounted hand coloured etching, entitled ‘THE CHEERFUL COBLER’, designed by George Moutard Woodward, etched by Charles Williams, and published by Thomas Tegg around 1807.

Set in a village street this caricature reveals the traditional view of the apothecary (along with other medical practitioners) as being a figure of limited expertise.

On the far side of the road a half-timbered house has a signboard of a pestle and mortar and two coats of arms, lettered: ‘JOHN HEAVEN Apothecary and UNDERTAKER’. Next to this is a thatched cottage with a sign above the door: ‘Abraham Amen Parish Clerk and Sexton’; the parson stands in the doorway.

Opposite a cobbler sits working on a bench outside his shop reciting a nonsense rhyme: “When a twister a twisting will twist him a twist …” Two sailors in shore rig listen, one says: “Scuttle my Hammock Jib if this fellow does not beat our Parson”, the other replies: “I think so Messmate and the Surgeon into the bargain”.

In their opinion all three (the apothecary, p