A Fine Refiner, or a Search for the Philosopher's Stone!!

ca. 1825

Not on view

This print satirizes a turbulent love affair carred on between the actor Edmund Kean and Charlotte Cox between 1821 and 1824. After the two parted acrimoniously, Charlotte's husband, London Alderman Robert Cox, discovered love letters that Kean had sent to his wife and sued the actor for adultery and eventually won 800 pounds damages. In this image, Cox wears cuckold's horns and feeds letters into a cooking pot as a devil-like satyr stokes the fire. Many had been read in court and reprinted in the press, increasing the notoriety of all involved. Duncombe's Miniature Caricature Magazine, which issued this print, had been established in 1821.

Artwork Details

Title: A Fine Refiner, or a Search for the Philosopher's Stone!!
Series/Portfolio: Duncombe's Miniature Caricature Magazine, No. 5
Artist: Anonymous, British, 19th century
Publisher: J. Ducombe (British, active 1810–48)
Subject: Robert Albion Cox (British, 1772?–1826)
Subject: Edmund Kean (British, 1787–1833)
Subject: Frances Charlotte Cox (British, 1758–1834)
Date: ca. 1825
Medium: Hand-colored etching
Dimensions: Plate: 5 1/16 × 6 5/16 in. (12.8 × 16 cm)
Sheet: 7 in. × 8 11/16 in. (17.8 × 22 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1917
Object Number: 17.3.888-259
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Naumachy and Fair in Hyde Park, London: These festivitys to celebrate the return of Peace, and the centenary of the reign

Anonymous, British, 19th century

ca. 1814

Peace of 1814 and Centennial of the House of Brunswick: "The Effect Previous to Discovering the Illuminated Temple of Peace and Concord in St. James's Park, London, August 1, 1815" [should be 1814], Anonymous, British, 19th century British, Watercolor — Peace of 1814 and Centennial of the House of Brunswick: "The Effect Previous to Discovering the Illuminated Temple of Peace and Concord in St. James's Park, London, August 1, 1815" [should be 1814]
Anonymous, British, 19th century
ca. 1814

Boxed Valentine's Day Card

Anonymous, British, 19th century

1830–50 (?)

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.