Illustration by Shade

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William Dent
active 1783-1793
Illustration by Shade
[London] : Pubd as the Act directs by W Dent ; Sold by W Dickie, opposite Exeter Change, Strand & W Moore, No48 New Bond Street, May 23, 1788
Peel 1601
Published: 
[London] : Pubd as the Act directs by W. Dent ...; Sold by W. Dickie, opposite Exeter Change, Strand & W. Moore, No.48 New Bond Street, May 23, 1788.
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Notes: 

Library's copy trimmed to image.

Summary: 

Print shows five persons, in profile to the right, stand in a row arranged left to right and diagonally, the figures diminishing in perspective from the nearest, George III, who is on the extreme left. They cast shadows which are supposed to indicate their true characters. The King holds his crown in both hands, his shadow holds a box inscribed "Bulse" and his legs are joined to his shoulders, showing that he has no body and is Nobody. Next is Thurlow, in Chancellor's wig and robes, wearing a hat and holding the bag of the Great Seal; his shadow is that of a short and very obese man holding a money-bag inscribed "Omnis". The central figure is Hastings, in oriental dress, wearing a jewelled turban and holding a sword whose blade is inscribed "Justice"; his shadow is that of a demon holding an axe inscribed "Perversion". Next is Pitt holding a key to which is attached a label inscribed "Manhood"; his shadow is a little girl holding a rattle labelled "Childhood". On the extreme right is Sydney, holding a pen and a document inscribed "To Secretary of S------"; his shadow is a headless man holding pen and a paper addressed "To Tom Fool".

Classification: 
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