Charles Williams

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Charles Williams
Modern Harpies polluting the feast of loaves and fishes!!
1805?
graphite on paper.
423 x 488 mm (16 2/3 x 19 1/4 inches)
Peel 3440
Notes: 

Title from item
Caption and border in pen and black ink.
With 5 lines from Virgil and 4 lines from Burke's "Letter to a noble lord" written out below the caption title.
See published etching BM Satires no. 10417, "The Harpies spoiling the feast an ancient Classical story. Adapted to the ninteenth century", issued London, June 1805, by William Holland, and attributed to Charles Williams. The print resembles the Morgan's drawing in composition and execution, but with Pitt as the sole diner, taking Burke's place at right and similarly wielding a knife and fork.

Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Summary: 

Pitt, at far left, and Burke, at far right, clutching a knife and fork, share a table with two others; they look up in dismay as they are set upon by a flock of harpies who have the heads of member of the Opposition, including Fox and Sheridan, who defile the food, causing one man to hold his nose against the stench.

Associated names: 

Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, Possible attribution.
Peel, Robert, 1788-1850, former owner.

Century: 
Classification: 
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