Sketches from nature.!!! (BM 1865,1111.2013)

A design in four compartments. Beneath the title: 'The very Stones look up to see, Such very Gorgeous Harlotry, Shameing an Honest Nation.'

[1] THE SULTAN RETIRING

The Prince of Wales in flowered dressing-gown and night-cap stands arrogantly with folded arms, saying "Va-ten" [sic], as in BMSat 8807, to the dwarfish Lord Jersey (right), who stands deferentially before him, holding a candle, and raising his hand to his forehead with a senile grin. The Prince stands at the foot of Lady Jersey's bed (left), where she lies expectantly. It is decorated with two earl's coronets, but under it is a chamber-pot ornamented with the Prince's feathers. On the wall (right) is a picture of a turbaned and arrogant Turk, standing among the ladies of his harem, who are seated around him. Probably imitated from BMSat 8807.

Reproduced, Fuchs und Kind, 'Die Weiberherrschaft', i. 153.

[2] FASHIONABLE PASTIME

Lady Jersey sits on a settee, holding her arms above her head, two fingers in each hand extended to simulate horns. Before her is Lord Jersey, bending under the weight of the Prince, who sits on his shoulders; he supports himself by resting his hands on his wife's lap. The Prince, very fat and complacent in his Light Horse uniform (see BMSat 8800), wearing a helmet, with slippers and ungartered stockings, holds Jersey by the head, his fingers extended like Lady Jersey's (as in BMSats 8811, 8816), and putting a hand over Jersey's eyes and mouth. Lady Jersey wears a loose high-waisted dress, with uncovered breast, and flowing hair. Both say: "Buck-Buck how many Horns do I hold up". Jersey answers "one you say & two there is Buck Buck". A cat (left) slinks off to the left. On the wall behind the Prince (right) is a picture of 'Sir Rd Worsley', a free copy of BMSat 6109, the right portion being cut off by the margin of the design.

Reproduced, Fuchs und Kind, 'Die Weiberherrschaft', i. 153.

[3] THE DISCOVERY

The Princess (right) draws aside the fringed curtains of a bed in which lie the Prince (awake and dismayed) and Lady Jersey (asleep). She looks aside, weeping. Above her head are the words 'Give me [sic] all you can & let me Dream the Res [sic]'.[From Pope's 'Heloise to Abelard', often reprinted in the eighteenth century (cf. BMSat 9283).] Behind her head is a half length portrait of the Duke of Brunswick, his head turned towards his daughter but hidden by the Prince's helmet, which hangs from the frame.

[4] CONFIDENCE BETRAYED

The Prince is seated full-face, with a distraught expression, his left hand on his forehead, his right hovers above a pistol which lies on a table beside him. Lady Jersey stands on his left, holding an open letter addressed 'The D------ of B------c'. She puts her forefinger to her nose, saying, "Here would have been a rare Kettle of Fish to have served up to a German Prince". Through an open window (or perhaps in a picture) behind the Prince a landscape is indicated with forked lightning. 28 May 1796.

Hand-coloured etching

satirical print great britain british museum british art couples in bed in art nightcaps headgear in art prints by isaac cruikshank in the british museum satirical prints in the british museum women in bed in art landscape portraits half length portrait prince of wales aristocracy public domain comics

1796

British Museum

https://www.britishmuseum.org/

public domain