King George IV and the Marchioness of Conyngham grieve over the body of a dead giraffe, which had been sent to them by Mehmet Ali, Pasha of Egypt. There is a black mourning border around the image. Left, two Nubians lament. Right, the Lord Chancellor Lord Eldon plays a dirge on the bagpipes (the King called him "Old Bags" because of the purse containing the Privy Seal carried by the Lord Chancellor), while next to him are a pillbox and a prescription signed "Abe[rne]thy", representing unsuccessful medicine for the giraffe
Description:
Title from text below image., Two lines of text beneath title: Suppose and suppose the giraffe it should die, Old Bags he should play over him, we'd sit down and cry., and Matted to: 32.5 x 41.6 cm.
Publisher:
Published by T. McLean, 26 Haymarket
Subject (Name):
George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Conyngham, Elizabeth Conyngham, Marchioness, -1861, Eldon, John Scott, Earl of, 1751-1838, Abernethy, John, 1764-1831., Conyngham, Elizabeth Conyngham, Marchioness, -1861., Eldon, John Scott, Earl of, 1751-1838., and George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830.
Subject (Topic):
Giraffe, Pets, Death, Bagpipes, Medicines, Bagpipe, Medicine, Giraffes, and Grief