Lord heathfield sits in an armchair surrounded by the fortifications of gibraltar. His gouty legs are swathed and one rests on a stool. In his left hand is an open book: 'military traties'. He directs the operations of three cats, one of whom (a tabby) is heating cannon-balls (inscribed 'spanish pills') in a fire; a white cat shoulders a musket, and another (right) fires a cannon by urinating on the touch-hole. He turns his head in profile to the left, saying, "take care miss tabby you dont singe your tail". He wears regimentals with the star of the bath. In the background are fortifications with a circular tower flying a union flag. Over heathfield's head is a scroll: 'once a man & twice a child'. 12 june 1790. Hand-coloured etching. Date: 1790. Dimensions: Height: 250 mm; Width: 345 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: George Augustus Eliott, 1st Baron Heathfield. Collection: British Museum. Terror to the dons or the governor-instructing his little family (BM 1851,0901.479)
Loading...
