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William Humphrey
The political game cocks
Published
[London] : Pub May 25 1784 by W. Humphrey, No 227, Strand, [1784]
etching :
image: 202 x 312 mm; plate mark: 229 x 320 mm; sheet: 225 x 312 mm
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan, 1900.
Peel 2498
Notes
Library's copy trimmed within plate mark.
Provenance
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Summary
Two fighting-cocks with the heads of Fox (left) and Pitt (right) on the floor of the House of Commons. The steel spur on Fox's leg is inscribed 'Coalition', on that of Pitt, 'Prerogative'. Between them stands a full moneybag or small sack, inscribed 'The Purse of the Nation'. In the centre, behind the heads of the two cocks, is the Speaker (Cornwall) in his chair; seated members form a background, symmetrically arranged, right and left, a sea of heads being indicated by freely-drawn circles. Cf. British Museum online catalogue.
Associated names
Humphrey, William, approximately 1740-approximately 1810, publisher.
Peel, Robert, 1788-1850, former owner.
Peel, Robert, 1788-1850, former owner.
Artist
Classification
Department
Century prints
Catalog link