"A staff dinner in a large open tent. At the head of the table the Duke of York carouses; a fat Flemish woman seated on his knee plays with his sword; he raises a full glass, looking down at the woman. He is seated on a drum, his left foot rests on a tattered British flag, beside which lies a bundle of muskets. On the table is a punchbowl ornamented with the royal arms. On one side (next the Duke) sits the Prince of Orange, a fat and stolid Dutch officer smoking a pipe and holding a small tankard. Facing him is a savage-looking (?) Austrian officer wearing a cap; his drawn sabre is on the table, he drinks wine voraciously from a bottle, his left arm round the waist of a stout Flemish woman seated beside him on the cannon which forms a seat; she raises her glass, holding a smoking pipe. Next the Dutchman a British officer and a fat Flemish woman are kissing. Behind the seated officers stand bandsmen wearing cocked hats and blowing wind instruments with great energy; a negro clashes his cymbals behind the Duke. On the extreme right two files of gaunt and emaciated British foot-guards advance behind the Duke carrying wine-bottles, glasses, and a punch-bowl, also with the royal arms. Empty bottles are stacked under the table. Behind (left), a file of conical tents recedes in perspective; the three flags which fly from them are British, Austrian, and Hanoverian. Dutch and Austrian officers are caricatured, but not the Duke, who is handsome and florid. The Flemish women with their wide straw hats are studies of type and costume."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched at bottom of image. and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Publish'd May 20th, 1793, by H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Frederick Augustus, Prince, Duke of York and Albany, 1763-1827 and William V, Prince of Orange, 1748-1806
