"Portrait, whole-length seated directed to left, looking away to right, wearing fur-trimmed robe and chain of office, gesturing outwards with right hand, left hand holding scroll labelled 'Magna Charta', leaning to right with left elbow on a table littered with papers inculding a copy of his letter 'To the Gentlemen Clergy & Freeholders of the County of Middlesex', sword, inkstand and coronet, with plaque showing Hercules defeating the hydra on the wall; reworked state republished after 1775."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Right Honorable John Wilkes Esqr., Lord Mayor of the City of London
Description:
Title from text below image., Artist tentatively identified as John Dixon in the British Museum online catalogue, registration no.: 1927,1126.1.10.12., "This appears to be a copy in the same direction of a mezzotint by John Dixon dated 1768"--Curator's comments for an earlier state, British Museum online catalogue, registration no.: 2010,7081.748., Reworked state, with alterations to both inscription and image. Among the image alterations are the chain around Wilkes's neck being changed into a collar of office; a mace and sword being added to the right; Wilkes's waistcoat having embroidery added; and the tablecloth having a fringe added. For the earlier state published in 1770, see British Museum online catalogue, registration no.: 2010,7081.748., Sheet trimmed to plate mark., and Plate numbered "308" in the lower left corner.
Publisher:
Printed for Carington Bowles, at his Map & Print Warehouse, No. 69 in St. Pauls Church Yard, London
