‘The Cheerful Cobler’, 1807

Description

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