"Lady Hertford, seated regally on a small sofa, cuts locks from the head of the Regent who reclines against her knees, asleep. The locks already cut are on the ground inscribed respectively 'Sheridan', 'Norfolk', 'Moira', 'Holland', 'Erskine'. She is about to shear off one inscribed 'Grenville'; the last, 'Grey', is still on his head. The Prince, who is conventionally handsome, and wears uniform, holds a paper signed '[Gren]ville / Grey'; his garter, inscribed 'Honi so . . .', is loose, and his left hand hides the star on his breast. Lord Yarmouth (right) stands holding a guttering candle; he points to the uncut lock, saying, "Don't forget that lock laying [on] the shoulder its Grey dy'ye see!" In his pocket is a pamphlet: 'Art of Milling' [see British Museum Satires No. 11842]. To leave no doubt as to his identity, a basket of fish is beside him inscribed '[Y]armouth Herrings'. Lady Hertford is heavily handsome; a small crown, which might pass as a tiara decorates her head; one foot rests regally on a footstool. A pillar and drapery behind her suggest regal state. On the sofa beside her is a rolled document headed 'Road to Hertford from Pall Mall'. On the ground (left) are empty wine-bottles; on a book by the Prince's feet, 'Economy of Human Life', lies a broken bottle from which wine pours. Behind (left) stands Perceval in his Chancellor of the Exchequer's gown, watching from behind a curtain which he holds aside; Castlereagh stands behind him, saying, "By Jasus, but she's as pretty a Barber as ever I clap't my eyes upon." Perceval answers: "Hush! Hush! you'l wake him before they are all cut."."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Delilah depriving Sampson of those locks in which consisted his strength
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed., and Album paper pasted over edge of plate at top.
Publisher:
Pubd. Feby. 1812 by Walker and Knight, No. 7 Cornhill
Subject (Name):
George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Hertford, Isabella Anne Ingram-Seymour-Conway, Marchioness of, 1760-1834, Hertford, Francis Charles Seymour-Conway, Marquess of, 1777-1842, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Perceval, Spencer, 1762-1812, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823., Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845., Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816., Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834., Norfolk, Charles Howard, Duke of, 1746-1815., Holland, Henry Richard Vassall, Baron, 1773-1840., Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of, 1754-1826., Samson (Biblical judge), and Delilah (Biblical figure)
"The Regent, as Macheath, wearing military uniform and heavily shackled, stands between Mrs. Fitzherbert, who kneels at his feet (left) removing his leg-irons, and Lady Hertford (right), who stands beside him taking the fetters from his wrists (inscribed 'Restri[ctions]'), He sings "How happy could I be with either." Mrs. Fitzherbert, a long rosary dangling from her waist, says: "The Benediction of His Holiness light on the Defender of Our Faith." Lady Hertford, sultana-like in a jewelled turban, says: "You heard of the Row & the Rowly Powly Song before Our house the Other Night?!!" Behind and on the right Eldon stands full-face between Perceval and McMahon, who face each other in profile. Perceval, in his Chancellor of the Exchequer's gown, and holding a brief-bag, says: "The Greys won't move without their own Coachman tho the Brewer [Whitbread] has offerd his black to do the dirty Work." Eldon, in a huge wig, holds the Purse of the Great Seal; he says: "We must hire Jobs for the Night Work but we are Pro' Rogued." McMahon, in military uniform, has a number of ribbons and stars hanging over his arm; he says: "These Garters & Ribbonds are all returned." On the wall are two pictures: George Hanger, bestriding his pony (as in No. 8889) with a burly bailiff seated behind him, rides in the direction of a sign-post, with a noose hanging from it, pointing 'To the Kings Bench'. This is 'George & his Hanger On, takeing a ride together to a Lodging in Surry'. The other is Sheridan as Bacchus, but dressed as Harlequin (cf. British Museum Satires No. 9916), bestriding a cask of 'Old Sherry'."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Polly & Lucy taking off the restrictions, Polly and Lucy takeing off the restrictions, and Polly and Lucy taking off the restrictions
Description:
Title etched below image. and Watermark: J. Whatman.
Publisher:
Published March 1812 by J. Jonhston, 98 Cheapside
Subject (Name):
Gay, John, 1685-1732., George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Hertford, Isabella Anne Ingram-Seymour-Conway, Marchioness of, 1760-1834, Fitzherbert, Maria Anne, 1756-1837, Perceval, Spencer, 1762-1812, Eldon, John Scott, Earl of, 1751-1838, McMahon, John, approximately 1754-1817, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Hanger, George, 1751?-1824, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845., Whitbread, Samuel, 1764-1815., and Dionysus (Greek deity),
Subject (Topic):
Harlequin (Fictitious character), Military uniforms, British, Shackles, Religious articles, Turbans, Wigs, Bags, and Pictures
