The World of Playing Cards Logo

Pam is the Knave of Clubs

Published November 25, 2024 Updated November 26, 2024

Playing cards as metaphors in 18th century art - from fate, chance and social hierarchy to critique of the ruling classes and political events.

1798 United Kingdom Robert Dighton Art & Design Political Satire Symbols Loo

A still-life composition by Robert Dighton including a bulging money-bag resting on the “Court Kalendar”, with mother-of-pearl gaming counters. Against the bag lean five playing-cards showing William Pitt (then prime minister of Great Britain) as Knave of Clubs with a sequence of diamonds. The bag bulges with guineas and bank-notes. The amount (Te)n Thous(and)' can be seen. Behind is another bag inscribed '£100-000'.

Interpretation: the phrase "Pam and Flush, we are all Loo'd" is related to the card game Lanterloo (or Loo), which was popular in the 17th and 18th centuries. In this game, "Pam" refers to the Knave of Clubs, which is a permanent top trump. A "flush" is a hand of cards of the same suit, and the best flush includes the Pam card. The term "Loo'd" means that players have to pay into the pot, except those holding the Pam or a higher flush. So, the title humorously suggests that in the game, everyone except those with the best hands (Pam and Flush) ends up losing and having to pay. Thus the etching is a political satire on Pitt's heavy taxation.

“Pam and flush. We are all loo'd” hand-coloured etching by Robert Dighton, 1798. © The Trustees of the British Museum

Above: “Pam and flush. We are all loo'd” hand-coloured satirical etching by Robert Dighton, 1798. © The Trustees of the British Museum • number 1868,0808.6691

Reference

Wikipedia: Lanterloo


Robert Dighton (c.1752–1814) was an English portrait painter, printmaker, and caricaturist. Dighton's satirical caricatures included lawyers, military officers, actors and actresses, and even down-at-heel types. From time to time playing cards were included in his compositions. As an artist, he was first offered consistent employment by the publisher Carington Bowles • Wikipedia

 December from The Twelve Months series, print made by Richard Earlom after Robert Dighton, published by Carington Bowles, c.1781. © The Trustees of the British Museum

Above: December from The Twelve Months series, print made by Richard Earlom after Robert Dighton, published by Carington Bowles, c.1781. © The Trustees of the British Museum • number 2010,7081.403


Fear God

A gambler is seated by a circular table on which are cards, dice, and an empty moneybag; he puts his hand to his forehead with a distraught expression. On the wall behind his head hang two pistols and through a window is seen a body hanging from a gibbet.

© The Trustees of the British Museum

© The Trustees of the British Museum • number 1935,0522.3.62

A woman weeps dejectedly with cards and an empty purse on the ground at her feet. In both these details from illustrations titled “Keep within Compass and you shall be sure to avoid troubles which others endure”, playing cards are used as a metaphor for misfortune.

© The Trustees of the British Museum

© The Trustees of the British Museum • number 1935,0522.3.63


A medley with a sheet of music, a portrait and 3 playing cards

A medley with a sheet of music, a portrait, playing cards, title-pages and an initial letter drawn by Bernard Lens II, 1704. Medley paintings and prints were highly valued in the eighteenth century, admired as a virtuoso performance of printmaking and an advertisement of the printmaker's skill. They also contained underlying moral or political messages, sometimes satirical.

The items reproduced in this example include John Smith's mezzotint of William III, a leaf from “Pills to purge Melancholy”, an engraving of a gentleman kneeling before a lady, various other fragments of early printing and literary works and three playing cards. What does it mean?

Medley drawn by Bernard Lens II, 1704. © The Trustees of the British Museum

Above: a Medley drawn by Bernard Lens II, 1704. © The Trustees of the British Museum • number 1991,U.1

Ultimately, it would have been up to the viewer to interpret the medley in relation to their own experiences and concerns. In 18th-century art, playing cards often carried symbolic and metaphorical meanings that went beyond their use in games. They were used to represent themes of fate, chance and social hierarchy, or were used in political cartoons and satirical prints to critique and mock the ruling classes and political events.

For example, this Medley could convey a satirical message about the political and social dynamics of the time. The inclusion of William III suggests a political dimension, while the song from "Pills to purge Melancholy" suggests a critique of certain aspects of society. The engraving of a gentleman kneeling before a lady could add another layer of irony, such as political subservience or courtly flattery. And the playing cards might well represent the element of chance or (mis-)fortune in political affairs.

Please comment below if you have further thoughts...

avatar
1,473 Articles

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.

Related Articles

2018 Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols playing cards illustrated by Stuart Dilks

1798 Pam is the Knave of Clubs

Pam is the Knave of Clubs

Playing cards as metaphors in 18th century art - from fate, chance and social hierarchy t...

1920 Question and Answer Games

Question and Answer Games

A card game called “Impertinent Questions and Pertinent Answers” was launched in the early 1920s by ...

1711 Dr Sacheverell

Dr Sacheverell

Dr. Henry Sacheverell's impeachment in 1710 sparked widespread public unrest and political upheaval,...

1872 Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité

Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité

Political playing cards published by Grimaud et Chartier, Paris, 1872.

1983 Politiker-Skat by Bubec

Politiker-Skat by Bubec

Caricatures of world leaders, including many German politicians, by the artist Bubec.

1983 Le Poker Politique

Le Poker Politique

French politicians and various world leaders caricatured by the German artist Bubec.

1990 Leadmill playing cards

Leadmill playing cards

Promotional pack for an arts centre in Sheffield with designs by Martin F. Bedford.

2024 Agatha Christie and card games

Agatha Christie and card games

Agatha Christie uses card-play as a primary focus of a story, and as a way of creating plots and mot...

2024 English Heritage

English Heritage

52 different colour photos of historic sites managed by English Heritage.

2018 Santo Mexico playing cards

Santo Mexico playing cards

Santo Mexico playing cards designed by Cédric Volon with Mexico-associated symbols.

2022 The Malt Whiskies of Scotland

The Malt Whiskies of Scotland

Three packs featuring photographs by Duncan McEwan of malt whisky distilleries in Scotland.

2010 Typographic Playing Cards

Typographic Playing Cards

Typographic Playing Cards designed by Jim Sutherland, c.2010.

2022 Damn! Fools by Moon

Damn! Fools by Moon

Damn! Fools playing cards designed by Leo Scherfig, 2022.

1812 76: Transitions: Hunt & Sons

76: Transitions: Hunt & Sons

Styles change and technology develops. This means that it's possible to see transition periods in th...

1920 Gibson’s History of England

Gibson’s History of England

History without tears for young and old, 1920s.