"The Prince of Wales lies in bed asleep, clasping a pillow with a rapt expression, his closed eyes directed towards a vision of the Princess Caroline who leans towards him floating on clouds, a radiant beauty with outstretched arms. A winged figure with the torch of Hymen (right) holds up her draperies, while a cupid with bow and arrows flying above the Princess's head holds up the heavy curtains of the four-post bed. On the left, also emerging from clouds, the King and Queen, caricatured, crouch over the Prince's bed. The former, a grotesque figure, holds out a large money-bag inscribed '£150000 Pr Annm'. The Queen holds out a book: 'The Art of getting Pretty Children'. Both have expressions of avid delight. On the left and among clouds persons flee in alarm at the approach of the bride: Fox scattering dice from a dice-box, Sheridan as a bearded Jew wearing a broad-brimmed hat. Above them are three women: the most prominent, Mrs. Fitzherbert, with clasped hands; next (?) Lady Jersey, and between and behind them a young woman wearing a cap (cf. BMSat 8611). Above their heads two tiny jockeys gallop off, indicating that the Prince will give up the turf (cf. BMSat 7918, &c). From the foot of the bed (left), which extends diagonally across the design from right to left, rolls a cask of 'Port' on which an infant Bacchus with the head and clumsy figure of Lord Derby is seated astride; he is about to fall, dropping his glass. On the head of the bed is the Prince's coronet with feathers. Beside it (right) is a chamber-pot in which is a bottle of 'Velno' (see BMSat 7592)."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Text below title: "A thousand virtues seem to lackey her, driving far off each thing of sin & guilt." Milton., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: Mythology: Hymen's torch -- Bacchus -- Medicine: velno -- Coronets: George IV's coronet -- Emblems: Prince of Wales's feathers -- Cupids -- Bags of money -- Jews -- Furnishings: bed curtains -- Barrels -- Alcohol: port -- Gambling: dice-box.
Publisher:
Pubd. Jany. 24th, 1795, by H. Humphrey, No. 37 New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Charlotte, consort of George III, King of Great Britain, 1744-1818, Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821, Fitzherbert, Maria Anne, 1756-1837, Jersey, Frances Villiers, Countess of, 1753-1821, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
"Pitt (left), as a toreador, rides a rearing white horse (of Hanover) with a spear directed horizontally against a buil (John Bull) snorting fire and bleeding from many wounds. He wears a short tunic and sash; his saddle-cloth is a leopard-skin on which is a crest: the white horse of Hanover enclosed in a Garter ribbon inscribed 'Honi soit qui mal y pense', and surmounted by a crown. He looks alarmed and spurs his horse viciously. Two tiers of spectators in an arc of the arena are freely sketched. In the upper row George III looking through a glass is in the centre, on his left is the Queen, on his right Loughborough. The man next the Queen is (?) Grenville. In the lower tier Fox is conspicuous with (?) the Prince of Wales on his left; Sheridan stands behind them. The other spectators are members of the Opposition or ragamuffins. Those who can be identified are (right to left): Stanhope, Derby, Grafton, Lansdowne. A chimney-sweep applauds with brush and shovel. ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Three lines of text beginning to the left of title and continuing below it: Description from the royal bull fight of 1795. Then entered a bull of the true British breed ..., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: Opposition -- Treason -- Emblems : the White Horse of Hanover -- Male costume: toreador.
Publisher:
Pubd. Novr. 21st, 1795, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Charlotte, consort of George III, King of Great Britain, 1744-1818, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Lansdowne, William Petty, Marquis of, 1737-1805, Smith-Stanley, Edward, 1752-1834, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Stanhope, Charles Stanhope, Earl, 1753-1816, Grafton, Augustus Henry Fitzroy, Duke of, 1735-1811, and Rosslyn, Alexander Wedderburn, Earl of, 1733-1805