Mrs. Fitzherbert (left) and the Prince of Wales (right), their arms round each other's shoulders, leap over a broom-stick (see BMSat 6929), inscribed 'Pro Salute Animæ', held out by Weltje who kneels (right) in profile. With his right arm he pushes the Prince forward. George Hanger (left) kneels facing him, he is helping Mrs. Fitzherbert to leap the broom-stick. She is also pushed forward by Weltje, who stands behind Hanger. The Prince is stout with a double chin, unusual in prints of this date. On the wall are two half length portraits, their heads turned away from the group with the broom-stick: Mrs. Robinson (Perdita) in profile to the left, a free copy of Reynolds's portrait now in the Wallace Collection, and (?) the Duchess of Devonshire (right) in a large feathered hat, perhaps deriving from Gainsborough's famous whole length portrait. Both frames are decorated with the ostrich plumes of the Prince of Wales--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Figures identified on print as: M.A. Taylor, G. Hanger, Mrs. Fitzherbert, P. Wales, Weltjce., Temporary local subject terms: Morganatic marriages -- Pictures amplify subject -- Emblem: Ostrich feathers for Prince of Wales -- Motto on stick: Pro salute animae., Watermark in center of sheet., Stamp on verso: British Museum 1868., and Another stamp on verso: "British Museum Duplicate" with "CD" written in center of stamp.
Publisher:
Publish'd March 25, 1786, by I. Mills, Strand
Subject (Name):
George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Fitzherbert, Maria Anne, 1756-1837, Hanger, George, 1751?-1824, and Taylor, Michael Angelo, 1757-1834