Title

Costume of the Glaciers', 1875.

Caption

'Costume of the Glaciers', 1875. Caricature of British clergyman, geologist and palaeontologist William Buckland (1784-1856), 'scratched' by his friend and fellow geologist Thomas Sopwith, ('scratched' being a reference to grooves made by glaciers). The explanation reads: 'The rectilinear course of these grooves corresponds with the motions of an immense body, the momentum of which does not allow it to change its course upon slight resistance'. Buckland tried to reconcile the then generally accepted (at least by the Christian Church) date of Creation of 4004 BC with new geological discoveries. The two 'specimens' make fun of this: one was 'scratched' 33,333 years 'before the Creation', and the other was 'scratched by a cart wheel on Waterloo Bridge the day before yesterday'. Buckland is dressed in field gear with cape, top hat and fur boots, and a parcel containing maps of glaciers.

Date

1875

Credit line

Photo12/Heritage Images/The Print Collector

Reference

HRM19F04_418

Model release

No

License type

Rights managed

Available size

57,8Mb (3,0Mb) / 12,4in x 18,1in / 3720 x 5430 (300dpi)

Keywords

engraving caricature satire portrait people male job man men hat cold time religious protection religion exploration science geology guy occupation fur clothes British equipment protected Christian Christianity dress scientist Victorian century protect Britain profession coat protective clothing clothing creation concept top hat controversy B&W MONOCHROME controversial cleric clergyman paleontology 19th century black & white black and white B W paleontologist geologist nineteenth century The Print Collector glaciology William Buckland caricature satire engraving portrait Unknown William Buckland tophat Thomas Sopwith Sopwith Thomas