Messager d'Etat [graphic].Gillray, James, 1756-1815, printmaker[21 May 1798]eng"Sir F. Burdett, standing with his left foot forward, his head in profile to the left, his hat in his left hand, holds out a paper to an official whose presence is indicated by a heavy shadow, and the arc of a circular pavement. He is scarcely caricatured, except for the exaggeration of the crest of hair projecting over his forehead. His dress is as described (except that his cloak reaches almost to the ground instead of being short): 'A long white waistcoat [tunic], a blue sash, blue pantaloons, a short blue cloak with red lappet; a black round hat, with a white feather streaked with blue and red: half boots', op. cit., p. 6. Cf. BMSat 9182. In the print the red lining of the cloak predominates. A pilastered wall and stone-flagged floor form a background."--British Museum online catalogueTitle etched below image.Printmaker from British Museum online catalogue.Twelfth plate in the series "French habits." First plate in the series has series title "Habits of new French legislators and other public functionaries."Sheet trimmed within plate mark.Temporary local subject terms: French costume: Directory Messager d'Etat.1 print : etching & aquatint on wove paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 26.4 x 19.5 cm, on sheet 37.1 x 26.7 cm.Mounted on leaf 52 of volume 4 of 12.