The vulture of the constitution., James Gillray, 1789

A vulture with the head of pitt (in profile to the left) grasps in the left claw the crown and sceptre, in the other (outstretched) the coronet of the prince of wales; the latter he crushes under the weight of his powerful talons, while he bites at the prince's feathers, one of which he has already plucked out. The gorged bird's bulging breast is inscribed 'treasury'; under the crown lies 'magna charta', torn. The spread of the creature's wings and the stretch of its long heck towards the feathers give an impression of savage rapacity. 3 january 1789 etching. Date: 1789. Dimensions: Height: 246 mm; Width: 350 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: George IV, King of the United Kingdom. Collection: British Museum. The vulture of the constitution. (BM J,3.95)