Britannia in French stays, or, - Re-form, at the expence of constitution

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Britannia in French stays, or, - Re-form, at the expence of constitution
hand colored etching
image: 33.6 x 23.8 cm; plate: 35.2 x 24.8 cm; sheet: 37 x 26.9 cm
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan, 1900.
Peel 2815
Published: 
[London] : H. Humphrey, Jan'y 2d, 1793
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Summary: 

Britannia (left), a buxom young woman, clasps the trunk of a large oak, while Paine tugs with both hands at her stay-lace, placing a large foot on her posteriors. He wears blue and buff with a tricolour cockade on his bonnet rouge. From his coat pocket protrudes a pair of scissors and a tape inscribed: 'Rights of Man'. His face is blotched with drink and his expression is fiercely intent, but he is neatly dressed. Behind him is a thatched cottage inscribed: 'Thomas Pain, Stay-maker from Thetford. Paris Modes, by express.' Britannia looks over her shoulder at the stay-maker with an expression of pained reproach. Her shield leans against the tree; her spear is on the ground; across it lies an olive-branch.

Classification: 
Department: