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THOMAS ROWLANDSON (1757-1827)

The Prospect Before Us.

20 Dec 1788

RCIN 810294

A hand-coloured print of William Pitt holding Queen Charlotte's scarf. Both have half a crown suspended above their heads denoting their wish to share power during the King's illness. In front of the Queen walks Mrs Schwellenberg (her dresser) holding the Lord Chancellor's purse and mace, symbols of royal authority. In the background and emerging from the Treasury are spectators including Warren Hastings, the disgraced Governor of India, who wears a turban. One of the prints commissioned by the Prince of Wales to support his bid for a regency (see Matthew and James Payne, 'Henry Wigstead, Rowlandson's fellow-traveller' in the British Art Journal, autumn 2003). Like other prints made by Rowlandson for the Prince of Wales at this time, the print was published under a pseudonym. Inscribed in the plate: Pubd. Decr 20 1788 (according to act of Parliament) by Tom Brown / Spa Fields Chelsea
  • Bibliographic reference(s)

    BM Satires 7383 (BM Satires : Catalogue of political and personal satires preserved in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum ... 11 v. in 12.)


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