King Pitt : a cut purse of the empire and the rule that from a shelf the precious diadem stole, and put it in his pocket. Hamlet / Michael Angelo deleniavit [sic] ; Marc Antonio sculp.

Image not available

etching and aquatint with roulette and ink wash

plate mark: 448 x 340 mm; sheet: 439 x 299 mm

Peel 2696

Published:

[London] : Publishd. by Mr. Bradshaw, Coventry Street, Miss Humphrys, Bond Street, No. 51, [December 29, 1788]

Provenance:

Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.

Inscription:

Inscribed Decbr 27" in ink following imprint at lower left.

Notes:

Title etched below image.
Date from British Museum onlne catalog; some states of this print include the date preceding publisher's statement in imprint.
Six lines of verse in two columns on either side of title: Still inimical to their country, see ...

Summary:

"The Prince of Wales lies on his back, much foreshortened, his head towards the spectator, arms outstretched, his feathers and coronet by his left hand. On his body stand the Duke of Grafton (left) and the Duke of Richmond (right); the former's right foot is on the Prince's left hand, his left foot on his chest, Richmond's left foot is on the Prince's right hand, his right foot on his chest; he stoops to look at the Prince, resting his hands on his knees. Lord Sydney, partly concealed by the legs of the two dukes, sits on the Prince, his head turned in 'profil perdu'. Pitt stands with his right foot on Grafton's shoulder, his left on that of Richmond, reaching up to a shelf on which is the crown on a cushion. In his right hand is a document inscribed 'Jo. Durnford's address'. Between Pitt's legs and above Sydney's head is a baron's coronet. Below this hangs a tailor's goose."--British Museum online catalogue.

Catalog link:

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Century:

18th century

Classification:

Department:

Drawings and Prints