page_title: Julius Soubise
section_title: Caricature Depictions
hierarchical_section_title: Julius Soubise / Caricature Depictions
caption_attribution_description: English: Title: The Duchess of Queensberry and Soubise Abstract: A fencing match between a Black man and the Duchess whose face is concealed by a fencing mask. Physical description: 1 print&#160;: engraving. Notes: Forms part of: British cartoon Prints collection (Library of Congress).
context_page_description: Julius Soubise was a freed Afro-Caribbean slave who became a well-known fop in late eighteenth century Britain. The satirized depiction of Soubise, A Mungo Macaroni, is a relic of intersectionality between race, class, and gender in eighteenth century London. His life of luxury as a free man of color allowed him to excel in elite activities such as fencing and made him notorious in London’s social scene as an exception to norms.
context_section_description: Soubise became socially prominent enough to become the subject of several caricatures. Most notably, Soubise is attributed as the muse for A Mungo Macaroni (published September 10, 1772), part of a famous 1771–1773 satirical series of engravings depicting fashionable young men, published by Matthew and Mary Darly. The term "macaroni" was a contemporary name for a fashionable young man, a dandy, while "Mungo" was a name of an officious slave from the 1769 comic opera The Padlock by Isaac Bickerstaffe. In previous contexts, use of the term “mungo” was often aimed towards luxury slaves, an application of the character to those treated theatrically like elite’s pets. Applying the epithet to Soubise in combination with “macaroni” was intended to mock the identity he had assumed for himself.
  William Austin's well-known satirical print, The Duchess of Queensbury and Soubise (published May 1, 1773) shows the pair engaged in a fencing match.  Austin’s engraving was based on illustrations of fencing compiled by the Angelo fencing dynasty, combined with accounts of Soubise from Henry Angelo’s memoir. These accounts were satirized by Austin in a way which addresses Soubise and the duchess’ uncustomary relationship, depicting Soubise as Mungo the servant. In the print, text shows Soubise saying, “Mungo here, Mungo dere, Mungo every where; Above and below. Hah! Vat your gracy tink of me now?,”  direct lines from the Mungo character. This work has reappeared historically under several titles, including  “The Eccentric Duchess of Queensbury fencing with her protégé the Creole Soubise (otherwise ‘Mungo’)” and “The Duchess of Queensberry playing at foils with her favorite Lap Dog Mungo after Expending near £10,000 to make him a—.”
caption: Print by William Austin, "The Duchess of Queensberry and Soubise"
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