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Cartoon, The Sleeping Palace (of Westminster)
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Cartoon, The Sleeping Palace (of Westminster)
Political cartoon, The Sleeping Palace (of Westminster), at the end of a long and weary House of Commons session - a parody of a painting by Burne-Jones, The Garden Court Date: 1891
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Media ID 32261870
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1891 Asleep Burne Churchill Commons Goschen Harcourt Jones Journal Judy Parkinson Parliament Parody Serio Comic Session Sleep Sleeping Tired Weary Westminster
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The Sleeping Palace of Westminster
EDITORS COMMENTS
is a political cartoon by renowned British satirist, William Parkinson, published in Judy, a serio-comic weekly journal, in July 1891. This intriguing print offers a humorous take on the end of a long and weary House of Commons session, drawing inspiration from the painting "The Garden Court" by the Pre-Raphaelite artist, Burne-Jones. In the cartoon, the hallowed halls of the Palace of Westminster, the seat of British politics, are transformed into a surreal slumber party. The exhausted Members of Parliament (MPs) and Lords, including prominent figures such as Arthur Balfour (future Prime Minister), Lord Goschen, and Lord Harcourt, are depicted reclining on the benches, fast asleep. Winston Churchill, who was then a young MP, is shown slumped over in the background, seemingly oblivious to the chaos around him. The scene is reminiscent of Burne-Jones' painting, with its ethereal, dreamlike quality. However, Parkinson's interpretation adds a satirical twist, poking fun at the tedious nature of parliamentary proceedings and the politicians' propensity for exhaustion. The cartoon's title, "The Sleeping Palace of Westminster," cleverly plays on the dual meaning of the term "palace," referring both to the physical building and the political establishment itself. This print, with its rich historical context and sharp wit, offers a unique glimpse into the political landscape of late-Victorian London and the human side of those who shaped it. The Sleeping Palace of Westminster remains a fascinating reminder of the enduring power of political satire to entertain, provoke thought, and hold a mirror up to society.
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