Plebean spirit, or, Coachéé and the heir presumptive

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Charles Williams
1796-1866
Plebean spirit, or, Coachéé and the heir presumptive
hand colored etching
image: 221 x 334 mm; plate mark: 248 x 353 mm; sheet: 263 x 371 mm
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan, 1900.
Peel 1979
Published: 
London : Pubd July 25th 1814 by S W Fores N° 50 Piccadilly, 1814 July 25.
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Notes: 

Lettered "Pubd July 25th 1814 by S W Fores N° 50 Piccadilly."

Summary: 

Princess Charlotte, outside Connaught House, addresses a hackney-coachman who stands hat in hand beside his horses. She rushes towards him, saying, "Coachman will you protect me!!" He answers: "Yes your Highness! to the last drop of my Blood." The front of his coach, with a tattered hammer-cloth, is on the extreme right. The Princess wears a mauve pelisse over a white dress, and a small hat; behind her is the door of Connaught House, where a servant gazes out, his hands raised in astonishment. On the left stands Britannia, clasping her hands, turning up her eyes, and weeping; her spear and shield lean against the porch of the house; beside her is the British Lion, with downcast eyes, also weeping. On the left a man gallops off to the left, cracking a postilion's whip.

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