Reynard put to his shifts

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Thomas Rowlandson
1756-1827
Reynard put to his shifts
etching
image: 227 x 332 mm; sheet: 241 x 342 mm
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan, 1900.
Peel 2480
Published: 
[London] : Pubd. April 23rd. 1784 by G Humphrey N 48 Long Acre, [1784]
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Notes: 

Evidently an earlier state than that described by George, lacking the numbering at bottom left and without the addition of "London" after the imprint.

Summary: 

The Duchess of Devonshire stands, her feet apart, raising her skirt to allow a fox (Fox) to take cover under her petticoats. She turns her head in profile to the right towards a huntsman on foot who halloos to his hounds, "Tally O my good Dogs"; his two dogs bark, "No Coalition" and "No India Bill". The duchess says, "My dear Fox get into Cover". She looks very-handsome and bold, a sash round her waist streams out in the wind; in her hat are the usual ostrich plumes (cf. BMSat 6530, &c), fox's brush, and favour inscribed 'Fox'. The fox crouches under her feet, looking round at his pursuers in alarm. Cf. British Museum online catalogue.

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